Scientific Method Retake

Which method would work best to determine today's outdoor temperature?

• Use of a radio

• Use of a thermometer

• Use of an internet report

• Use of a weather forecast

A student heated water in a beaker to see how quickly water heats up. She recorded the following data from her first trial.

What should the student do about the temperature reading after the first trial?

• Ignore it and use the data.

• Rewrite the results to match what the student expects.

• Repeat the investigation and see if the results stay the same.

• Replace the reading at three minutes with the average of the seven readings.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

The drawing below shows Jason's investigation. Jason practices distinguishing observations from opinion. Which of the following statements is an observation that Jason can make about his investigation?

• The temperature of the cup of coffee feels like 89.9° C.

• The temperature of the water is 89.9° C.

• The room temperature is probably too high.

• The thermometer reading is probably incorrect.

What is the first step for a scientific investigation?

• collect data

• interpret data

• define a problem

• make observations

Liam investigates the fizzing of antacid in different liquids and records the following procedure in his laboratory notebook:

What piece of information did Liam NOT include in his procedure to ensure that someone else could repeat his investigation?

• The location of the experiment.

• The type of watch used in the experiment.

• The amount of each liquid used in the experiment.

• The volume of the beakers used in the experiment.

A student wants to know if the number of butterflies in the playground changes from spring to summer.

Which would be the best way to investigate her question scientifically?

• Observe and record the number of butterflies in the playground, once each week, from February to August.

• Ask other students to count the number of butterflies they see in the playground on different days and compare the data.

• Look for information on the internet about the number of butterflies observed in nearby areas during spring and summer months.

• Find out which plants in the playground attract the most butterflies and count the number of butterflies near those plants once each month.

Connor thinks that building a model of an erupting volcano using baking soda and vinegar is an example of an experimental investigation. Alissa says it is not an experimental investigation. Which student is correct and why?

• Alissa, because variables are not identified or controlled

• Connor, because he plans to repeat the investigation more than once

• Alissa, because models cannot be used in experimental investigations

• Connor, because other scientists have done this investigation in the past

Caleb performed an experiment last year. Sarah studied the hypothesis and steps from Caleb's experiment and repeated the experiment, but she chose to skip a few steps that she did not think were necessary. Sarah made notes during the experiment on a sheet of paper and then compared the results with Caleb's results. Their results differed. Which statement describes a possible error that Sarah may have made in her experiment?

• Sarah should have compared her results to experiments performed this year, rather than last year.

• Sarah should have designed her own steps, rather than repeat Caleb's experiment.

• Sarah should have made notes at the end of the experiment, rather than during the experiment.

• Sarah should have followed all the steps from Caleb's experiment, rather than skipping some steps.

Jenn and Sam complete a lab experiment. The rest of the class completes the same lab experiment. The class compares the results. Jenn and Sam find that their results are different from everyone else's results. The teacher asks Jenn and Sam to repeat the experiment. Why does the teacher suggest that Jenn and Sam repeat their experiment?

• to see if the original results were caused by an error

• to change their hypothesis to match their results

• to see if they can get results that prove their hypothesis

• to change their steps to get the same results as the other class

Tags

NGSS.MS-ETS1-3

Scientists always develop a plan when they try to learn something about our natural world. Which sequence correctly shows the steps scientists follow in their plan?

• make observations, develop an idea, obtain evidence, suggest an explanation

• obtain evidence, suggest an explanation, develop an idea, make observations

• suggest an explanation, obtain evidence, make observations, develop an idea

• develop an idea, suggest an explanation, obtain evidence, make observations

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2