Scientific Inquiry

What is scientific inquiry?

• A method of investigation involving experimentation and observation

• A type of scientific equipment

• A branch of science focused on chemistry

• A historical event in the field of science

Why is it important to control variables in an experiment?

• To ensure that the results are due to the independent variable

• To make the experiment more complex

• To increase the number of variables

• To confuse the participants

When you begin an experiment, why should you create a table to record your data?

• To organize data systematically

• To make the experiment more complex

• To confuse the results

• To avoid recording data

How does a scientific law differ from a theory?

• A scientific law describes an observed pattern in nature, while a theory explains why that pattern occurs.

• A scientific law is a hypothesis that has been proven, while a theory is just a guess.

• A scientific law is a detailed explanation of a phenomenon, while a theory is a simple statement.

• A scientific law and a theory are the same, just different terms.

Facts, figures, and other evidence gathered through qualitative and quantitative observations are called _______.

• data

• opinions

• guesses

• assumptions

A(n) _______ is a possible answer to a scientific question.

• hypothesis

• conclusion

• experiment

• observation

In an experiment, the _______ variable is the factor that may change in response to the manipulated variable.

• dependent

• independent

• controlled

• extraneous

A scientific _______ is a statement that describes what scientists expect to happen every time under a particular set of conditions.

• law

• theory

• hypothesis

• guess

When only one variable is manipulated at a time, a(n) _______ experiment is conducted.

• controlled

• random

• blind

• double-blind

The scientific _______ process includes the diverse ways in which scientists study the natural world.

• inquiry

• analysis

• hypothesis

• experiment