Scientific Method 6

A scientist is testing the effectiveness of two medicines on sleepiness. Which scenario will tell the scientist the most about the medicines? 

• Give 50 people Brand A and 50 people Brand B, then after one week switch the medications for each group
• Give 100 people one brand, observe the results, and then give them the other brand and observe the results
• Give 50 people Brand A and 50 people Brand B
• Give 50 people Brand A, 50 people Brand B, and 50 people a fake medicine

A scientist is researching the effect long-term exposure to sunlight has on plant growth. Which scenario extends the current understanding of this relationship? 

• Plants exposed to different pH levels
• Plants exposed to different nutrients
• Plants exposed to different temperatures
• Plants exposed to different electrical impulses

When designing a scientific investigation, which of the following should be identified first once a problem has been established?

• Lab equipment needed
• Appropriate sample size
• Useful analysis software
• A testable hypothesis 

Which of the following is a qualitative observation?

• The pen was 12.1 cm long.
• The pen weighs 14.2 grams.
• The pen is black.
• There are 4 pens.

Which of the following is a quantitative observation?

• The pig is pink.
• The pig makes snorting sounds.
• The pig weighs 2.33 kg.
• The pig is brown because it rolled in the mud.

Why do we call a hypothesis an "educated guess?"

• A hypothesis is made by an intelligent person
• After a scientist develops a hypothesis, he/she finds research to support it
• "Hypo" means educated and "thesis" means guess
• A scientists does background research on the initial question/observation before forming a hypothesis

In the scientific method, what step comes after formulating a question?

• Conduct background research
• Analyze data
• Design an experiment
• Draw a conclusion

Which procedure will best measure the amount of growth of a plant after adding fertilizer to the soil?

• Compare the color of the plant before and after adding the fertilizer
• Compare the amount of sun exposure before and after adding fertilizer
• Compare the height of the plant before and after adding fertilizer
• Compare the weight of the soil before and after adding fertilizer

Students are investigating how fertilizers affect the rate of plant growth. What variable should be different in each experiment group?

• Type of plant
• Amount of water
• Amount of fertilizer
• Amount of sunlight

What piece of equipment provides the most precise measurement of the volume of the solution?

• Test tube
• Sponge
• 15 mL graduated cylinder
• 300mL beaker