7th - Unit 1 What is Science

What is the primary purpose of the scientific method?

• To prove scientists are always right
• To systematically investigate and understand natural phenomena
• To create complex mathematical equations
• To memorize scientific facts

You need to take a survey at school to see which type of lunch food is most preferred by 7th grade students.

• Line Graph
• Bar Graph or Pie Chart
• Scatter Plot
• Funnel Chart

The purpose of graphs, charts and tables is to

• help scientists visualize results from an experiment.
• make the experiment look nice.
• practice what I learned in math class.
• practice my drawing skills.

A hypothesis is best described as:

• A random guess with no basis
• A proven scientific law
• An informed prediction that can be tested
• A conclusion already known to be true

Identify the dependent variable by looking at the graph.

• Weeks
• Weekly Juice Data
• Cans Sold
• Indirect Relationship

Which type of variable remains constant during an experiment?

• Independent variable
• Dependent variable
• Controlled variable
• Random variable

What is the primary difference between an observation and an inference?

• Observations are always written, inferences are spoken
• Observations are based on direct sensory information, inferences involve interpretation
• Observations are only made by scientists, inferences by students
• There is no meaningful difference between them

What is peer review in scientific research?

• Scientists reviewing their own research
• A method to avoid random errors in experiments
• Scientists reviewing each other's conclusions, methods, and accuracy
• A process to introduce new scientific theories

Which team had the fewest number of slam dunks?

• Celtics
• Grizzlies
• Pistons
• Bulls

On a graph, which axis shows the dependent variable?

• x-axis
• y-axis
• neither
• it changes