Decoding Observations and Inferences in Earth Science

The video tutorial covers part 1 of the Earth Science SOL review, focusing on scientific investigation. It explains the difference between observations and inferences, provides a detailed walkthrough of the scientific method, and discusses controlled experiments, including independent and dependent variables, with practical examples.

Which of the following is NOT one of the five senses used in making observations?

• Taste

• Intuition

• Touch

• Smell

What is an inference based on?

• Scientific laws

• Random guesses

• Personal opinions

• Observations

What is the first step in the scientific method?

• Conducting an experiment

• Asking a question

• Analyzing results

• Drawing a conclusion

In the example given, what method was suggested to test the hypothesis about TV show preferences?

• Observing TV ratings

• Analyzing social media posts

• Sending out surveys

• Conducting interviews

What is the role of the independent variable in an experiment?

• It is the variable that is kept constant

• It is the variable that is ignored

• It is the variable that is changed

• It is the variable that is measured

In the shampoo experiment, what was the dependent variable?

• Type of shampoo

• Eye irritation

• Water used

• Brand of shampoo

What is the purpose of a control in an experiment?

• To change the outcome

• To manipulate the independent variable

• To serve as a comparison

• To measure the dependent variable

Which of the following is considered a constant in an experiment?

• Growth rate of the plant

• Type of fertilizer

• Amount of sunlight

• Type of plant used

In the plant experiment, what was the independent variable?

• Type of liquid used

• Height of the plant

• Amount of sunlight

• Type of soil

Why is it important to keep constants in an experiment?

• To change the outcome of the experiment

• To increase the number of variables

• To make the experiment more complex

• To ensure the experiment is fair