Testable Questions, Variables and Science Processes

In what way is making a PB&J like being a scientist?

• Scientists like to eat

• Scientists have to write specific procedures

• Science experiments have to be repeatable

Which of the following is a testable question?

• How does a paper airplane fly?

• Is Tiktok the best app?

• Does changing the color of t-shirt affect a person's body temperature?

• What makes a plant grow best?

Identify the independent variable in the following testable question. Does changing the shape of a rocket's fins change its speed?

• The shape of the rocket fins

• The speed of the rocket

• The temperature of the air

• The direction the rocket flys

What is the dependent variable in the following testable question? Does the material of an object affect if it will sink or float?

• The temperature of the water

• The material an object is made of

• Whether the water has salt in it

• If an object will sink or float

The __________ variable is the cause of a change. It is what the scientist is choosing to change.

The __________ variables are variables that remain unchanged in an experiment.

The ______________ variable is what you are measuring. It is the effect.

Why is it important for scientists to be specific when writing their procedures for experiments?

• Because results are more consistent

• Because scientists can get the results that they want

• Because experiments need to be repeatable

• Because blowing things up is cool

Write a testable question using the sentence frames. Identify the independent and dependent variable.

What is a hypothesis? (Check all that apply.)

• A guess using background knowledge before an experiment

• Something that is unchanged in an experiment

• What you measure in an experiment

• An educated guess