Scientific Method Quiz

A student would like to determine how heating a liquid changes its volume. The student hypothesizes that the liquid will increase in volume. The following list shows the steps taken by the student in order to test the hypothesis. I. Select the liquid to test. II. Place the liquid in a sealed container. III. Use a Bunsen burner to heat the liquid by 10°C. IV. Measure the volume of the liquid. V. Record the results. What is wrong with how the student conducted the investigation?

• The length of time it took for the liquid to be heated should be measured.

• The student should have increased the temperature of the liquid by more than 10°C.

• The volume of the liquid should be measured before it is heated.

• The hypothesis was not valid because it is impossible for liquids to change in volume.

Jami is doing an experiment to find out how temperature slows down or speeds up the sprouting of bean seeds. To prepare for the experiment, she plans to put soil into three foam cups and place six seeds in each cup. When Jami performs the experiment, which of the following should she keep the same for all of the cups of beans?

1. 1. Amount of sunlight

2. 2. The amount of water

3. 3. The temperature

4. 4. The amount of fertilizer

• 1 & 3 only

• 2 & 3 only

• 1 & 2 only

• 1 & 2 & 4 only

How do the test variables (independent variables) and outcome variables (dependent variables) in an experiment compare?

• The test variables (independent variables) and outcome variables (dependent variables) are the same things.

• The outcome variable (dependent variable) controls the test variable (independent variable).

• The test variable (independent variable) controls the outcome variable (dependent variable).

• The test variable (independent variable) and outcome variable (dependent variable) have no affect on each other.

Darren performed an experiment in which he measured the amount of force that was required to accelerate an object at a rate of 5 m/s². Then, he repeated his experiment four more times and calculated the average force that was needed. Why did Darren repeat his experiment?

• because he made a mistake in each of his previous trials

• to figure out which procedure was best to use

• to increase the reliability of his data

• because all experiments are required to perform exactly five trials

You have decided to do an experiment to learn if a certain type of cactus will grow better in a dark closet or a sunny window. To begin your experiment, you place one cactus in a dark closet and one cactus in a sunny window. Over the next month, you record data about the cacti and their appearance every day. At the end of the month, you determine that the cactus in the sun is alive but didn’t grow and that the cactus from the dark closet is alive and grew one centimeter. Can you conclude that a dark closet is better for this type of cactus’s growth?

• Yes, when you are a student your results will be accepted on small-scale studies.

• No, you need to use one cactus in both conditions.

• No, you need to repeat an experiment multiple times before accepting a conclusion.

• Yes, one cactus can accurately reflect the behavior of all similar cacti.

In an experiment to determine the boiling point of water at different altitudes, a student records the temperature at which water boils at sea level, 1000 meters, and 2000 meters. What is the independent variable in this experiment?

• The temperature at which water boils

• The altitude

• The amount of water

• The type of container used

What is the primary purpose of a control group in an experiment?

• To provide a standard for comparison

• To introduce new variables

• To ensure the experiment is valid

• To manipulate the independent variable

In an experiment to test the effect of different fertilizers on plant growth, what would be the dependent variable?

• The type of fertilizer used

• The amount of water given

• The growth of the plants

• The type of plants used