The Scientific Process Vocabulary Quiz

Which of the following is the correct term for a fact or situation that is observed to exist or happen?

• phenomenon

• evidence

• hypothesis

• investigation

Answer explanation

Lightning is a phenomenon!

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

Evidence is...

• the available body of information that indicates whether an idea or proposition is true or valid.

• a formal inquiry or systematic study.

• a reason or set of reasons given with the aim of persuading others that an action or idea is valid.

• Factors of an experiment that will change throughout the experiment.

Answer explanation

Fossils are evidence of Earth's biological history!

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Which of the following means "to examine in such a manner as to ascertain the elements or nature of the thing examined"?

• Analyze

• Investigate

• Argument

• Hypothesis

Answer explanation

A good scientist will analyze their experimental data before drawing a conclusion!

Which of the following is the correct term for a formal inquiry or systematic study?

• Investigation

• Hypothesis

• Argument

• Theory

Answer explanation

A good scientist will conduct an unbiased investigation!

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-1

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

A (scientific) model is...

• a visual or tangible representation of something (sometimes on a smaller scale).

• the available body of information that indicates whether an idea or proposition is true or valid.

• factors of an experiment that will change throughout the experiment.

• a fundamental truth or law that serves as the foundation for a chain of reasoning. A fact or situation that is observed to exist or happen.

Answer explanation

A climate graph is a model of long-term weather trends in a certain area!

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS1-1

Choose the correct term for a reason or set of reasons given with the aim of persuading others that an action or idea is valid.

• Argument

• Theory

• Hypothesis

• Investigation

Answer explanation

Good science is backed up by strong arguments!

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS3-2

Which of the following is the correct term for a supposition or proposed explanation made on the basis of limited evidence as a starting point for further investigation?

• Hypothesis

• Argument

• Theory

• Principle

Answer explanation

A hypothesis is often worded as an "If......, then......" statement!

An experiment is...

• a scientific procedure undertaken to make a discovery, test a hypothesis, or demonstrate a known fact.

• a supposition or proposed explanation made on the basis of limited evidence as a starting point for further investigation.

• a reason or set of reasons given with the aim of persuading others that an action or idea is valid.

• giving raccoons gummy bears to prevent their rabies.

Answer explanation

A good experiment includes a control group for comparison!

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

Factors of an experiment that will change throughout the experiment are known as...

• variables.

• changables.

• evidence.

• models.

Answer explanation

A good scientist will establish a manipulated variable and a responding variable before conducting an experiment.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

Choose the term(s) that are used to describe the factor that is purposely changed in an experiment.

• manipulated variable

• responding variable

• independent variable

• dependent variable

Answer explanation

The independent variable is what YOU manipulate (or change)!

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2