Scientific Inquiry Review

What are observations?

• ideas people have that may or may not be based on fact

• information collected with any of the five senses or with tools (thermometers, rulers, etc)

• a prediction about a relationship between cause and effect that can be tested; an educated guess

• support for the idea that something is true

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

A good hypothesis should NOT be...

• a prediction about what will happen in an experiment

• written as a statement

• a prediction about the relationship between variables

• written as a question

Which of the following statements could be a hypothesis?

• If the average number of chloroplasts in euglena decreases, will less nitrate be needed in each tank?

• If the nitrate concentration is increased, then the euglena will have a lower average number of chloroplasts.

• If the number of euglena in a tank increases, will more nitrates be produced?

• If the nitrate concentration and sunlight is reduced, then the average number of chloroplasts in euglena will be reduced.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

A student wants to test the hypothesis that an acidic environment will decrease enzyme activity. To test the hypothesis, the student should collect data on the number of oxygen bubbles produced at different

• temperatures

• pH levels

• enzyme concentrations

• concentrations of hydrogen peroxide

What is the dependent variable?

• the variable that you control or change in the experiment

• the variable that you measure

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS3-1

What is the independent variable?

• the variable that you control or change in the experiment

• the variable that you measure

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-1

An experiment was set up to determine the effect of nitrates, a pollutant, on the number of chloroplasts present in euglena. Five tanks were set up, each with euglena and a different concentration of nitrate solution: 0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, and 2.0%. Which statement correctly identifies a variable in this experiment?

• The independent variable is the concentration of nitrate solution used

• The independent variable is the amount of sunlight

• The dependent variable is the number the number of euglena placed in the tanks

• The dependent variable is the number of tanks used

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

What is the independent variable on this graph?

• Number of people

• Year

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

What is the dependent variable on this graph?

• Number of people

• Year

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

What is the purpose of a control group in an experiment?

• To test whether the hypothesis is correct

• To give a comparison or reference point

• The experiment is conducted on this group

• To organize your data