Basic and Applied Science

The goal of basic science is:

• to understand the world around us.

• to solve a specific problem.

• to design a new product.

• to apply a new technology to an old problem.

Which of the following describes research that would be considered basic science?

• Doctors in a hospital are developing a new surgical technique.

• A dairy farmer is designing a new machine for milking cows.

• Park rangers are trying to find out why a group of elm trees died.

• A professor at a university is observing the mating behavior of freshwater fish.

The goal of a statement of purpose is:

• to record observations during an experiment.

• to make accurate measurements.

• to test a hypothesis.

• to explain why an experiment is being done.

Consider the following hypothesis.

Hypothesis: Alfalfa plants grow best when given nitrogen-rich fertilizer.

Which statement of purpose best defines the objective of an experiment to test this hypothesis?

• To measure the rate of water absorption by alfalfa plants.

• To test the growth of alfalfa plants with and without nitrogen-rich fertilizer.

• To determine the average height of alfalfa plants.

• To investigate the composition of soil on a farm in Minnesota.

What is a qualitative observation?

• An observation about the length, volume, mass, or temperature of something.

• An observation in which something is measured with precision.

• An observation about the number or amount of something.

• An observation about the color, shape, size, or condition of something.

Which of the following would be considered a qualitative observation?

• The weight of three-week-old chickens is determined.

• The color of flowers is compared.

• The height of radish seedlings is measured.

• The volume of carbon dioxide gas is determined.

What is the purpose of using multiple control groups in an experiment?

• To provide more work so that you look busy when doing experiments

• To ensure that no experimental subjects escape the maze

• To help you determine that your experimental results are valid

• To help you identify the substance that you spilled on the floor

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Why is it a good idea to study experimental subjects in their natural environment?

• So that a specific problem can be solved as quickly as possible

• So that no one else will know what is being studied

• So that the experiment is cheaper and easier to conduct

• So that they respond to the test as they would under normal conditions

What is the purpose of ethical guidelines for the handling of experimental subjects?

• To make sure that an experiment has only one variable

• To ensure the safe and humane treatment of all living organisms in an experiment

• To prove that a hypothesis is correct

• To help scientists remember what measurements to make during an experiment

What is the difference between basic science and applied science?

• Applied science deals with a specific need or problem.

• Experimental results have direct and sometimes commercial benefits.

• It is a source of new tools, services, products, and ways of doing things.

• All of the above