Nature of Science - PMA 3

Scientific inquiry includes many different activities. Which of the following is a process that is typically performed during a scientific inquiry?

• constructing investigations

• formulating questions

• collecting data

• all of these

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

Which of the following statements is true regarding scientific hypotheses?

• Every hypothesis is valuable, whether or not it is testable

• There are no valuable hypotheses

• A testable hypothesis is valuable, even if evidence shows that it is false

• A testable hypothesis is valuable only if all evidence supports it

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-5

NGSS.MS-PS3-5

Laboratory experiments, observational field studies, and model-building are all examples of different forms of scientific investigations. In what way do laboratory experiments primarily differ from other forms of scientific investigations?

• Studies about how things behave in nature or studies involving very large objects are best answered through laboratory experiments.

• Laboratory experiments involve the identification and control of variables.

• A laboratory experiment is the only accepted form of investigation within the scientific community.

• Data can only be generated through laboratory experiments, not other forms of investigation.

Which of the following is a good scientific question?

• How do star fish fall in love?

• Why do crickets chirp?

• Are dragons lizards or birds?

• Does eating less fat increase a mouse's life span?

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

Lillian wonders how fast a train can move around a particular curve before it falls off of the track. Which of the following is the best way for Lillian to figure this out?

• Build a model train and track, and test one train going around one curve at different speeds.

• Build a model train and track, and test different-sized trains going around one curve at the same speed.

• Build a model train and track, and test one train going around several different curves at one speed.

• Drive a train along a curve at different speeds until it falls off of the track.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-1

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

Which of the following is always involved in a scientific inquiry?

• conducting surveys to ask people's opinions on various subjects

• knowing the correct answer before you start

• guessing what would happen instead of doing experiments

• developing solutions to questions through scientific research

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

A hypothesis is a statement that can be tested through a scientific investigation. What is the purpose of writing a hypothesis?

• Hypotheses always match the conclusion.

• Hypotheses help identify the variables.

• Hypotheses give details about the data.

• Hypotheses suggest new questions for further investigations.

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-2

The following chart presents twelve sets of measurements of the pressure vs temperature for Abilene, TX, taken over a period of four days. Which of the following is a scientific question that this data can answer?

• Is the weather nice in Abilene, TX?

• Why does pressure change?

• Does pressure increase when the temperature rises?

• What was the highest temperature in Abilene over the four days shown?

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

Scientific inquiries usually begin with the formulation of a question. Can a scientific inquiry be constructed about any question?

• Yes; it is possible to investigate any question through scientific inquiry.

• Yes; one universal scientific method can be applied to any question.

• No; the question must be testable or scientifically investigable.

• No; only questions about supernatural events may be investigated.

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS3-1

Jamal wants to make a model of a hill near his house to test the way the slope affects how rain runs down the hill. Which type of model would be best for what he needs?

• a scale drawing of the hill, looking down on it

• a scale drawing of a cross-section of the hill

• a chart with measurements giving the height of the hill at various places on it

• a scale-model mound made of the same materials that make the real hill

Tags

NGSS.MS-ETS1-4