8th Grade Review: Nature of Science

Scientists throughout the world follow a standard used to guide scientific investigations from the beginning to end. What scientific term is used to describe this universal scientific practice?

• conclusion
• metric system
• materials list
• scientific method

Craig's science lab teacher instructed him to follow these procedures: Step 1: Collect alfalfa seeds. Step 2: Place twelve seeds in three different potting soils. Step 3: Provide them each with the same amount of sunlight and water. Step 4: Record observations. Which of the following statements is Craig most likely testing?

• The effect of potting soil on the germination of alfalfa seeds.
• The effect of sunlight on the growth rate of alfalfa seeds.
• The variant amount of water on the growth of alfalfa seeds.
• The growth rate of different types of alfalfa seed.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

David wants to find out how table salt affects the temperature of boiling water. He believes that adding table salt to boiling water will cause the water to boil at a higher temperature. He measured the temperature of the boiling water before and after adding table salt. He got the following results: What is the independent variable in this experiment?

• amount of water
• amount of salt
• temperature of boiling water
• all of the above

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

Jonathan wants to prove that the bean plant which receives fertilizer will grow at faster rate than a plant that does not receive fertilizer. He did an experiment and collected the following results: What is the conclusion from this experiment?

• adding fertilizer to the plant doesn't affect its growth
• adding fertilizer to the plant increases its growth
• adding fertilizer to the plant decreases its growth
• nothing concluded from this experiment

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

As Mollie prepared to place all of her written parts on her science board, she noticed that one of the parts was not labeled. Mollie could not use her science fair packet to determine which part of the experiment it belonged to because she had left it in her desk at school. Mollie then decides to call a classmate from school to read her the unlabeled part to she if she could help. The image is the unlabeled part to a science project: What should Mollie's classmate tell her about the unlabeled part?

• The unlabeled part must be the conclusion
• The unlabeled part is the results from the experiment
• The unlabeled part has to be a part of the materials
• The unlabeled part is the hyothesis

What is the difference between replication and repetition of an experiment?

• Replication means researchers must be able to carry out the exact same procedure and get the exact same results
• Replication means performing multiple trials for the same experiment
• They are the same
• Repetition is done by others for the same experiment

Seth designed an experiment to see if butterflies preferred a particular color while feeding. He used four different colored sponges which he soaked with a nectar-like substance to attract the butterflies. Seth made the following observations for three hours each Saturday over a one-month period and recorded them in the chart. What is most likely Seth's reason for publishing his finding?

• To present significant results of one finding which show repeatability
• To show the randomization of the sample groups as indicated in the table
• To demonstrate that all of the results obtained meet all of the requirements of the scientific method
• To present significant results of more than one finding which shows repeatability

Deandra's homework assignment for winter recess was to record four different observations about anything occurring in the natural world. Which of Deandra's observations is scientifically testable?

• Observation 1
• Observation 2
• Observation 3
• Observation 4

Charlie created an atomic model similar to the one seen in the picture. Which of the following is not a benefit of using such a scientific model?

• Models allow you to formulate hypotheses about processes.
• Models allow you to study processes that cannot be duplicated.
• Models are often simplfied to help explain complex concepts.
• Models make it possible to duplicate the real thing.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-1

Which theory claims that cells form the basic unit of all living organisms?

• Cell Theory
• Cell Law
• Law of Conservation of Matter
• The Levels of Organization

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-1