Scientific Method

A scientist performs an experiment to see if acids have an effect on the health of a particular type of plant. Three sets of plants were treated with acidic solutions of known pH while the control set was treated with a solution of neutral pH 7.Which is the best conclusion for this experiment?

• Acid has no effect on the health of this type of plant.
• B. High acidity is helpful to this type of plant.
• C. Low acidity is harmful to this type of plant.
• High acidity is harmful to this type of plant.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Carmen conducted an experiment to determine if listening to different types of music would affect a person’s pulse. Her hypothesis was that pulse rate would change with different types of music. Each person listened to seven different selections of music for 30 seconds each. Each person’s pulse was taken before the music and then after each 30-second interval of music. The pulses were taken again after the music selections were completed. Based on her experiment, Carmen concluded that a person’s pulse rate changed when the person listened to different types of music.  Which component is missing from Carmen’s experiment?

• a question
• a hypothesis
• a control group
• a description of the experiment

In an appropriately designed experiment, a scientist is able to test the effect of

•  a single variable
•  multiple variables
•  the hypothesis
•  scientific observations

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-3

Conclusions based on an experiment are most likely to be accepted when

• they are consistent with experimental data and observations
•  they are derived from investigations having many experimental variables
•  scientists agree that only one hypothesis has been tested
•  hypotheses are based on one experimental design

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

A testable explanation to a problem that has not yet been tested. 

• data
• theory
• hypothesis
• fact

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-2

An experiment is performed on plants to see how different liquids affect plant growth. Each plant in the experiment is given a different liquid; water, apple juice, or milk. Each plant has the same amount of soil, sunlight, and listens to the same music. In this investigation, the independent variable is ...

• The type of plant
• The amount of sunlight
• The type of music
• The type of liquid

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

Dependent variable means

• the scientist controls what to test
• educated guess
• ask a question
• what is being measured

Tags

CCSS.6.SP.B.5B

If you increase the amount of spinach you eat, then you will increase the iron in your blood. 
What's the dependent variable?

• increase the amount of iron in your blood
• spinach you eat

If I listen to Mr. Castro's instructions, then I will have less accidents in the lab. What is the independent variable?

• Yes
• Maybe
• Listening or not listening to instructions
• Likelihood of having an accident in lab 

There are 2 windows in the classroom. What type of observation is this?

• Qualitative

• Quantitative