Scientific Inquiry

Scientists say that life on Earth evolved from simpler life forms What is this an example of?

• A hypothesis
• A prediction
• A theory
• An Observation

Which of the following describes a scientific theory?

• A scientific theory, once established, can never be changed
• A scientific theory is a good guess made by very smart people
• A scientific theory explains a broad range of observed facts
• A scientific theory is an explanation proven beyond reasonable doubt

A student designed an experiment to test the following hypothesis: The mass of a pendulum bob does not affect how long it takes the pendulum to make one complete swing. Four steps of the activity are listed below, but not in the correct order:In which order should the student conduct these steps?1. Find the masses of the four different bobs2. Construct a table in which to record data3. Time the duration of one swing4. Tie the four bobs to four strings of equal length

• 1-2-4-3
• 2-4-3-1
• 4-2-1-3
• 2-1-4-3

A student hypothesized that robins prefer large birdhouses to small ones. He build four birdhouses of different sizes to test his hypothesis. What was the independent variable in the students study?

• The size of the birdhouse
• The number of birds in the house
• The location of the birdhouse
• The season of the year

What is this?

• Balance
• Triple beam balance
• Mass
• Graduated cylinder

Information that you gather with your senses.

• observation
• variable
• hypothesis
• testable question

A question that can be answered through an investigation.

• hypothesis
• testable questions
• variable
• observation

A carefully controlled test to answer a question.

• variable
• hypothesis
• observation
• experiment

Something that is changed or tested in an experiment.

• independent variable
• dependent variable

Something that changes as a result of changes in the independent variable.

• independent variable
• dependent variable