Nature of Science

Which of the following is an example of a testable scientific hypothesis?

• Peacocks have prettier tail feathers than pigeons do.

• Why do plants grow better in the Sun than in the shade?

• Roses grow faster in the Sun than in the shade.

• Gorillas are happier in the wild than they are in the zoo.

A hypothesis is best described as

• a detailed list.

• a summary.

• an educated guess.

• a conclusion based upon evidence.

When developing a question for a scientific inquiry, the question will ideally

• be measurable.

• not just simply ask why.

• identify variables.

• all of these

Diego hypothesizes that the Earth wobbles on its axis in a pattern that is repeated every 20,000 years.Which of the following ways would be the best way to test Diego's hypothesis?

• make a model

• conduct a controlled experiment

• observe the movement of other planets

• make observations in nature

Annabelle loves to learn about plants. For a class project, she thought of the following question:

Do plants enjoy it when people sing to them?

This question is

• not a valid scientific question because it is not testable.

• not a valid scientific question because it is about plants.

• a valid scientific question because it is testable.

• a valid scientific question because it is about plants.

Tim wants to study how air currents affect weather patterns around the Earth. During his study, he makes several assumptions based on accepted scientific knowledge, including

• the Earth is round;
• warm air rises over cooler air;
• the Sun is the main source of energy for many Earth processes.

Is it acceptable for Tim to make these assumptions during his investigation?

• No; Tim must scientifically prove that all of the assumptions are valid as part of his investigation.

• No; assumptions are never permitted in a scientific investigation.

• Yes; when performing a scientific investigation, accepted scientific facts can be assumed to be valid.

• Yes; a scientific investigation can be based on any assumptions, as long as they are clearly stated.

Nancy needs to do a scientific investigation for her class. She is interested in pottery, plants, and basketball. Which of the following questions would be suitable for use in a scientific investigation?

• How many needles grow on the giant redwoods in California?

• What color of carnation flowers do people find most attractive?

• What is the most number of points ever scored in a professional basketball game?

• What length of time is best to use for the firing of pottery to make it strong?

A hypothesis is

• the result of a scientific experiment performed for the purpose of proving a theory.

• a statement that proposes a possible explanation to some phenomenon or event.

• a summary of events written in a particular fashion.

• the process of experimentation designed specifically to disprove a scientific theory.

A scientist wants to publish a report on general feeding habits of moose in Canada. He should

• study in as many locations as possible but observe only one moose in each location.

• observe just one moose but study it for the rest of its life.

• study in only one location but observe as many moose as possible.

• observe as many moose as he can in as many locations as possible.

Which of the following is the best example of a good hypothesis?

• A cheetah can run fast at night.

• Cheetahs like to run fast.

• A cheetah can run faster than a tiger.

• Cheetahs can run fast.