What is the primary purpose of the scientific method?

• To prove a scientist's initial guess

• To explain why things happen the way they do

• To conduct experiments as quickly as possible

• To gather random information about the world

What is the first step in scientific problem-solving?

• Formulating a hypothesis

• Making observations

• Ask a question

• Designing an experiment

What is a hypothesis?

• A testable explanation for the details observed

• 
  

  An explanatory statement that has been repeatedly confirmed through experimental testing

• educated guess

• Any use of the senses to gather information

How do scientists test a hypothesis?

• • Scientists test a hypothesis by administering a multiple choice assessment.

  
  

• Scientists test a hypothesis by designing and performing experiments.

• Scientists test a hypothesis by making an inference.

• Scientists test a hypothesis by drawing conclusions.

An experiment usually has three kinds of variables.

The independent variable is the condition in the experiment that the experiment changes. 

In Tim and Moby's experiment, what is the independent variable? (What variable will they, the experimenters, be changing?)

• The type of pot containing each plant

• The amount of sunlight each plant receives

• The amount of soil in each pot

• The amount of water each plant receives

Constant variables are the conditions of an experiment that are kept the same. 
 

In Tim and Moby's experiment, what conditions must remain constant? (There are more than 1!)

• The type of pot containing each plant

• The amount of sunlight each plant receives

• The amount of water each plant receives

• The amount of soil in each pot

What do scientists do after they have performed an experiment?

• 
  

  Form a Hypothesis

• Identify the Problem

• Analyze the Results

• Design Another Experiment

Based on the experiment with the fig plants, what watering schedule resulted in the healthiest plant?

• No water at all

• Watering every day

• Watering three times a week

• Watering once a week

What is a theory?

• An explanatory statement that has been repeatedly confirmed through experimental testing

• 
  

  A conclusion about observations

• A testable explanation for the details observed

• A logical, step-by-step method of scientific problem solving

If you were running an experiment to determine the temperature at which beans sprout the fastest, what would be the independent variable? (Remember, the independent variable is the condition in the experiment that the experimenter changes!)

• The number of beans planted

• The height of each bean sprout

• 
  

  The amount of water given to each bean

• The temperature at which each bean is kept