NGSS Scientific Method Questions

Characteristics of a good scientific question or problem

• The problem is testable through an experiment.  

• The problem seeks to find a relationship or pattern between things (variables).  How does changing one thing affect something else?

• The problem compares the effect of different variables. 

• The independent variable and dependent variable can be identified from the problem.

The Format and Examples of Good Scientific Questions

• Does changing _______ affect _______? 

• How does _____ change _____? 

• If I change ______, will it impact ______?

• How does the concentration of a solution affect its boiling point?

• How does amount of sunlight affect the growth of roses?

• As you move from left to right on the periodic table, how does the size of an atom change?

• How does vitamin D affect the blood pressure of elderly people

• Does the density of motor oil impact the lifespan of a motor?

Multiple Choice

Which of these is a good scientific question?

• How can I shoot the cannonball off the screen?

• How far will the cannonball travel if the speed is set to 15 m/s.

• How does increasing the height of the cannon affect the distance a projectile travels?

• How do I hit the target?

Multiple Choice

Which of these is a good scientific question?

• Which angle causes the greatest distance traveled?

• Why does the cannonball hit the ground?

• How far will the cannonball travel if the angle is set at 60 degrees?

• Why does air resistance slow down the cannonball?

Multiple Choice

Which of these is a good scientific question?

• How far will the cannonball travel if the angle is 45 degrees and initial speed is 15 m/s?

• What is the mass of the piano.

• How does the cannon work?

• Does the initial speed of the cannon affect how far the cannonball travels?

Multiple Choice

Problem: How does increasing the height of the cannon affect the distance a cannonball travels? What would be a properly written hypothesis?

• If the height of the cannon is set at 2 M then the cannonball will travel 25 M.

• If the height of the cannon is increased then the distance a cannonball travels will increase.

• If the height of the cannon is decreased will the cannonball still travel as far?

• If the cannon height is increased then the cannonball will stay in the air for a longer period of time.

Multiple Choice

Problem: How does increasing the mass of the cannonball affect the distance a cannonball travels? What would be a properly written hypothesis?

• If the mass of the cannonball is increased then the distance it would travel either increases, decreases, or remains the same.

• If the mass of the cannonball is decreased then will its distance traveled remain constant?

• If the mass of the cannonball is increased then the height a cannonball would travel will increase.

• If the mass of the cannonball is increased then the distance a cannonball would travel will increase.

Multiple Choice

Problem: How does increasing the height of the cannon affect the distance a projectile travels? What would we measure in this experiment?

• the distance the cannonball travels

• the initial speed of the cannon

• the angle of the cannon

• the height of the cannon

Creating a Hypothesis

• A hypothesis is an “If/then” statement that solves the problem.

• The hypothesis must be testable through experimentation

Examples of a Properly  Written Hypothesis:  

• If the surface area of a solute is increased then it will dissolve faster.

• If salt is added to water then it will boil faster.

• If the angle of a cannon is set at 45 degrees then the cannon will travel its farthest possible distance.

• If bacteria is exposed to increased ultraviolet light then their lifespan will decrease.  

• If elderly people consume 100 g of protein a day then their bone density will increase by 20%. 

Characteristics of a Good Hypothesis

Multiple Choice

What is a hypothesis?

• the thing changed on purpose in the experiment

• an explanation about what you observed

• using your 5 senses to gather data

• an educated guess about the outcome of an experiment

Multiple Choice

What two words should be in your hypothesis?

• I think

• If ...then...

• It will

• No idea

Multiple Choice

When is a hypothesis written?

• before you decide on a question

• after the experiment

• before the experiment

• after the conclusion

Planning an Investigation- Characteristics of a good Experiment

• The experiment has 1 independent variable and 1 dependent variable

• All variables are kept constant except for the independent variable

• A control group is used as a comparison (if possible);  the control group lacks the independent variable

• The experimental group and control group are large enough to provide reliable data

• The experiment is repeated in order to confirm the results.  

Variables in an Experiment

Independent Variable: the independent variable is the variable you have control over, what you choose to change, adjust, and manipulate;  the independent variable is the variable you choose to change to see how it affects the dependent variable

Dependent Variable:  the dependent variable is what you measure or observe in the experiment and what is affected during the experiment. The dependent variable responds to the independent variable. It is called dependent because it "depends" on the independent variable. In a scientific experiment, you cannot have a dependent variable without an independent variable.  The data that you measure and collect is describing the dependent variable.  

Controlled Variable:  controlled variables are variables that a scientist holds constant (unchanged) in an experiment. While these variables are not the primary focus of the experiment, keeping their values constant helps establish the true relationships between the independent and dependent variables.  In an experiment, any factor that could impact the dependent variable needs to be held constant.  The only variable that is changed is the independent variable. 
An experiment should have only 1 independent variable.  

• All variables are kept constant (controlled variables) except for the independent variable.  Every variable that could affect the dependent variable is kept constant (the same) except for the independent variable.  

• All experiments have an experimental group and a control group if possible.

Multiple Choice

How does the angle of a cannon affect the distance a cannonball travels? What would be the independent variable?

• The independent variable is the speed of the cannonball.
• The independent variable is the time the cannonball is in the air.

• The independent variable is the angle of the cannon.
• The independent variable is the distance the cannonball travels.

Multiple Choice

How does the angle of a cannon affect the distance a cannonball travels? What would be the dependent variable?

• The independent variable is the speed of the cannonball.
• The independent variable is the time the cannonball is in the air.

• The independent variable is the angle of the cannon.
• The independent variable is the distance the cannonball travels.

Multiple Choice

How does the angle of a cannon affect the distance a cannonball travels? What would be some controlled variables?

• the mass of the cannonball, the initial speed, the height of the cannon, and the gravity

• the angle of the cannon and the distance the cannonball traveled

• the distance the cannonball traveled, the time in the air, and the height of the cannonball

• the angle, the height of the cannon, and initial speed

Multiple Select

Problem: How does increasing the height of the cannon affect the distance a cannonball travels? What would we keep constant (unchanged) when setting up an experiment to test this problem? (multiple answers)

• mass of the cannonball

• the initial speed of the cannon

• the angle of the cannon

• the height of the cannon

Multiple Choice

Problem: How does increasing the height of the cannon affect the distance a cannonball travels? What is the only thing we change when setting up this experiment?

• weight of the cannonball

• the initial speed of the cannon

• the angle of the cannon

• the height of the cannon

Multiple Choice

Problem: How does increasing the height of the cannon affect the distance a cannonball travels?

What MUST your data table include when conducting your experiment and collecting data?

• mass of the cannonball and initial speed

• angle of the cannon and the height of the cannon

• height of the cannon and distance the cannonball traveled

• the initial speed of the cannon and distance the cannonball traveled

Multiple Choice

What is the likely independent variable based on this picture?

• distance traveled

• height of the cannon

• initial speed

• angle of the cannon

• mass of the cannonball

Multiple Choice

What is a possible dependent variable based on this picture?

• time the cannonball spent in the air

• height of the cannon

• initial speed

• angle of the cannon

• mass of the cannonball

Multiple Select

What variables would the scientist keep constant if conducting this experiment? Check all that apply.

• time the cannonball spent in the air

• height of the cannon

• initial speed

• angle of the cannon

• mass of the cannonball

Analyzing and Interpreting Data;  Constructing an Explanation/Conclusion

• Scientists use charts and graphs to analyze their results.  

• Scientists record all of their observations and measurements in tables and charts.

• Scientists look for trends and relationships when analyzing data.  

• Specifically, scientists are looking to see if the dependent variable is changing or affected due to the independent variable.  Is the dependent variable increasing, decreasing, remaining constant, or is its value varying?

• When a scientist graphs their results, the independent variable is placed on

  the X axis while the dependent variable is put on the Y axis.

Open Ended

Problem: How does increasing the height of a cannon affect the distance a cannonball travels?

Do you notice everything that is in the data table? It is better to be more descriptive than recording the minimum.

Construct an Explanation 

• Scientists draw their conclusions based on their data.  Scientists state whether their hypothesis is correct and use data (#s) to defend their conclusion.  

• If a scientist cannot state a conclusion or has not solved their problem, they must create a new hypothesis and repeat the scientific method.  

Open Ended

As the height of the cannon is increased then the distance the cannonball travels will ________________.

Open Ended

Hypothesis: If the cannon's height is increased then the distance the cannonball travels will increase.

What data best back up this hypothesis?

Multiple Choice

Investigation: How will music affect student results on exams? 20 students in a quiet room taking a test. 20 students in another room with music playing. What is the independent variable?

• 20 students in quiet room

• 20 students in music room

• Exam results

• Music playing

Multiple Choice

Investigation: How will music affect student results on exams? 20 students in a quiet room taking a test. 20 students in another room with music playing. What is the dependent variable?

• 20 students in quiet room

• 20 students in music room

• Exam results

• Music playing

Multiple Choice

Dilcia wants to know how drinking milk affects how tall a Monica grows. Which is the independent variable?

• Monica's growth
• drinking milk

Multiple Choice

Marcos wants to know: Does the type of gasoline put in a car effect how fast the car can drive? What is the independent variable?

• Type of gasoline
• which car the gas is put into
• how fast the car can drive
• how much gas is put into the car

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct hypothesis for "How will exercising affect your health?"

• IF you have better health, THEN you will exercise.

• IF you exercise, THEN you will have better health.

• Exercising means you're healthy.

Multiple Choice

Does the type of shoe worn during a 30 meter dash affect the speed of the runner? The speed of the runner is the...

• independent variable

• dependent variable

Multiple Choice

How does watching TV during studying affect a student’s test grades? Student's grades are the....

• independent variable

• dependent variable

Multiple Choice

Does the brand of bubble gum affect the bubble size? Which hypothesis is INCORRECT?

• If the subject chews Bubblelicious, then the subject will blow the biggest bubble.
• If the subject chews Big Red, then the subject will blow the smallest bubble.
• If I chew Juicy Fruit, I will blow the largest bubble.
• If the subject chews Hubba Bubba, then the subject will blow the smallest bubble.

Multiple Choice

Does changing the scent of a brand of dog food affect how much the dog eats? How much the dog eats is the...

• independent variable

• dependent variable