Understanding Data in Science

What is a **hypothesis**?

• A proven scientific fact

• A testable prediction or explanation about the relationship between variables

• A summary of experimental results

• A list of materials used in an experiment

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SOL.G6.1.a.ii

What is the **independent variable** in an experiment?

• The variable that is measured as a result of the experiment

• The variable that stays the same throughout the experiment

• The variable that the scientist deliberately changes or controls

• The variable that cannot be measured

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SOL.G6.1.a.i

Which of the following best describes a **dependent variable**?

• The variable that is kept constant in an experiment

• The variable that is changed by the experimenter

• The variable that is measured and affected by the independent variable

• The variable that is never recorded

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SOL.G6.1.a.ii

When scientists **organize data into a table**, what is the main purpose?

• To make the experiment look more colorful

• To reveal patterns and relationships within the data

• To hide errors made during the experiment

• To replace the need for a hypothesis

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SOL.G6.1.c.i

Which of the following is an example of **comparing data collected by different groups**?

• One student repeating the same experiment three times

• Two lab groups measuring the growth of plants under different light conditions and sharing their results

• A student writing a hypothesis before starting an experiment

• A teacher listing the materials needed for an experiment

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SOL.G6.1.c.iii

In engineering, **design solutions** are evaluated using data in order to:

• Make the experiment longer

• Determine if the solution meets the desired criteria and can be improved

• Eliminate the need for testing

• Replace the hypothesis with a conclusion

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SOL.G6.1.c.iv

A student is testing how the **amount of fertilizer** affects the height of bean plants. Which question best identifies the relationship between the independent and dependent variables?

• What type of soil should I use for the plants?

• How does the amount of fertilizer affect the height of bean plants?

• How many plants should I grow in total?

• What color are the bean plants?

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SOL.G6.1.a.i

A student hypothesizes: *"If I increase the amount of sunlight a plant receives, then the plant will grow taller."* In this hypothesis, what is the **dependent variable**?

• The type of plant used

• The amount of water given to the plant

• The amount of sunlight the plant receives

• The height of the plant

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SOL.G6.1.a.ii

A student records the following data about plant growth over five weeks: | Week | Height (cm) | |------|------------| | 1 | 2 | | 2 | 4 | | 3 | 6 | | 4 | 8 | | 5 | 10 | What **pattern** does this organized data set reveal?

• The plant grows randomly with no pattern

• The plant grows by 2 cm each week, showing a consistent linear relationship

• The plant stops growing after week 3

• The plant grows faster in the first week than in later weeks

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SOL.G6.1.c.i

Two groups of students tested how the **temperature of water** affects how fast sugar dissolves. Group A found that sugar dissolved faster in warm water, while Group B found the same result. However, Group B also noted that stirring speed affected their results. What should the students conclude from **comparing their findings**?

• The two groups have completely different results and cannot be compared

• Both groups agree that warm water speeds up dissolving, but Group B identified an additional variable that may have influenced their results

• Group B's results are wrong because they stirred the water

• Temperature has no effect on how fast sugar dissolves

Tags

SOL.G6.1.c.iii