Basic Science Skills

What is a hypothesis?

• If, then statement
• A summary
• An observation
• A conclusion

What is an independent variable?

• Variable that is changed to test

• Variable that you measure

• Variable that stays the same

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

What is a dependent variable?

• Variable you change on purpose

• Variable you measure for results

• Variable that stays the same

What are controlled variables?

• Variable that you measure for results

• Variables that stay the same to ensure validity

• Variable that you change to test

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

A student is planning an experiment to find out how the height from which he drops a ball affects how high the ball bounces. The dependent variable is the _____.

• Diameter of the ball

• Height that the ball bounces

• Height that the ball bounces (cm)

• Height from which the ball is dropped

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-5

When experimenting with the growth of a plant, a scientist uses three (of the same type of) plants, two different fertilizers, equal light, and equal water. What type of variable is the fertilizer?

• Dependent
• Independent
• Control
• Compound

Which plant grew the most according to this line graph?

• Plant 1
• Plant 2
• Plant 4
• Plant 5

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

A scientist wants to see if lightning bugs glow more frequently in a darker environment.  She puts equal amounts of lightning bugs in a lighted box and in a dark box.  What is the dependent variable in this experiment?

• Level of light
• Frequency of bugs' glow
• Same size boxes
• Predators of lightning bugs

What type of graph best shows amounts of different categories? (Example: How many sharks were caught at three different locations)

• Bar graph
• Line graph
• Circle graph
• Data table

This graph shows the growth of plants in soils with different pH levels (acidity).  Make an inference about the effect of pH level on the growth of this type of plant.

• This plant grows best at medium pH levels (6.6, 6.8).
• This plant grows best at lower pH levels (6.0, 6.2, 6.4)
• This plant grows best at higher pH levels (7.0, 7.2)
• pH has no effect on this plant's growth

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS2-1