WorksheetsScientific Method and Theory
Total questions: 50
Worksheet time: 55mins
Name
Class
Date
1.
A scientific theory...
a)
is based on lots of evidence
b)
is not valid
c)
is not reliable
d)
has not been tested many times
2.
A set of principles that explains and predicts a phenomena is called a _____.
a)
scientific law
b)
scientific method
c)
scientific theory
d)
scientific instructor
3.
A scientific ____________ is a broad explanation for events that is widely accepted as true.
a)
law
b)
theory
c)
observation
d)
method
4.
A scientific ____________ is a statement that describes what always happens under certain conditions in nature.
a)
law
b)
theory
c)
method
d)
variable
5.
Scientists __________________ test scientific theories.
a)
constantly
b)
rarely
c)
never
6.
A possible explanation to a problem that has not yet been tested.
a)
data
b)
theory
c)
hypothesis
d)
fact
7.
This variable in an experiment is the one being deliberately changed by the scientist.
a)
dependent variable
b)
independent variable
c)
data
d)
control group
8.
Should experiments be repeated over and over to see if the results are the same each time?
a)
yes
b)
no
9.
There are two types of data. Which type of data involves numbers that are obtained by counting or measuring?
a)
quantitative
b)
qualitative
10.
There are two types of data. Which type of data involves descriptions that cannot be counted or measured?
a)
qualitative
b)
quantitative
11.
The summary at the end of an experiment that explains the results.
a)
conclusion
b)
procedures
c)
materials
d)
responding variable
12.
A series of steps used by scientists to solve a problem or answer a question.
a)
scientific method
b)
recipe
c)
data collection
d)
metric system
13.
In a controlled experiment, how many variables can be worked with at a time?
a)
one
b)
none
c)
two or more
d)
how ever many makes sense.
14.
The part of the experiment that remains the same for the control and experimental group.
a)
constants
b)
control
c)
independent
d)
dependent
15.
A list of the steps anyone could follow to conduct an experiment.
a)
obervations
b)
question/problem
c)
materials
d)
procedures
16.
Which statement is an inference about this picture?
a)
The van is tan.
b)
The van ran into KFC.
c)
The driver was hungry.
d)
Red and white are part of the KFC building.
17.
Two types of data scientists collect are...
a)
hypothesis and theory
b)
qualitative and quantitative
c)
myths and fables
d)
metric and standard measurements
18.
Measuring the number of times a person breathes after exercise involves ____ data.
a)
quantitative
b)
qualitative
19.
Jane Goodall recorded chimpanzees hunt bushpigs, this type of data is called ___
a)
qualitative
b)
quantitative
c)
field study
d)
observation
20.
Jane Goodall recorded 40 chimps living in a community, this is ____ data.
a)
quantitative
b)
qualitative
c)
observation
d)
field study
21.
Recording data on how yellow or orange leaves turn in October by describing them as "green" "slightly yellow" "very yellow" or "orange" is ____ data
a)
quantitative
b)
qualitative
22.
The weather is cold.
a)
inference
b)
observation
23.
If the boy crawled out of the water, the goat would push him in.
a)
inference
b)
observation
24.
Mr. S. sets up an experiment to see how the mass of a ball affects the distance it rolls off a ramp. Identify the independent variable.
a)
distance traveled by the ball
b)
height of the ramp
c)
mass of the ball
d)
weight of the ball
25.
Mr. S. sets up an experiment to see how the mass of a ball affects the distance it rolls off a ramp. Identify the dependent variable.
a)
height of the ramp
b)
distance traveled by the ball
c)
mass of the ball
d)
weight of the ball
26.
Which variable depends on what is done at the beginning of an experiment?
a)
Dependent
b)
Independent
c)
Control
d)
Following
27.
Sarah is participating in a walkathon to raise money for local literacy programs. The amount of money Sarah will raise depends on the distance she walks.
m = the amount of money Sarah will raise
d = the distance Sarah walks
Which of the variables is dependent?
m = the amount of money Sarah will raise
d = the distance Sarah walks
Which of the variables is dependent?
a)
m
b)
d
28.
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 _____.
a)
Diameter of the ball
b)
Force acting on the ball
c)
Height that the ball bounces
d)
Height from which the ball is dropped
29.
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?
a)
Dependent
b)
Independent
c)
Control
d)
Compound
30.
An experiment is performed on plants to see how different liquids affect plant growth. Each plant in the experiment is given a different liquid; water, apple juice, or milk. Each plant has the same amount of soil, sunlight, and listens to the same music. In this investigation, what is the dependent variable?
a)
Type of plant
b)
Water, apple juice, milk
c)
Plant growth
d)
Color of the plant's leaves
31.
Which of the following would be considered quantitative data?
a)
Color
b)
Smell
c)
6.84 cm
d)
texture
32.
Explaining the color of a chemical would be what kind of observation?
a)
Qualitative
b)
Quanitative
33.
What is the part of the experiment that is left alone or “natural", and is used to compare back to?
a)
Independent Variable
b)
Dependent Variable
c)
Control Group
d)
Experimental Group
34.
You will want your experiment to have ____ independent variable(s) in it for the experiment to be valid.
a)
1
b)
2
c)
3
d)
4
35.
What is a factor that the experimenter has full control over and changes to see what happens?
a)
Dependent Variable
b)
Independent Variable
c)
Control group
d)
Hypothesis
36.
What is a factor that changes because of what the experimenter does?
a)
Dependent Variable
b)
Independent Variable
c)
Control Group
d)
Hypothesis
37.
Nick wanted to see how high an ice cube would float in different temperatures of water. Identify the DEPENDENT variable
-Amount of water
-Height of Ice cube
-Temperature the ice cube was at its highest height
-Temperature of the water
-Size of the ice cube
-Amount of water
-Height of Ice cube
-Temperature the ice cube was at its highest height
-Temperature of the water
-Size of the ice cube
a)
Amount of water
b)
Height of Ice cube
c)
Temperature the ice cube was at its highest height
d)
Size of the ice cube
38.
Mario studied how far room temperature water would spurt out of a plastic milk carton when 3mm holes were punched at different heights from the bottom of the container. Identify the DEPENDENT variable
-3mm holes
-Distant water traveled out of carton
-Different heights of the holes in the container
-Ice water from Iceland
-3mm holes
-Distant water traveled out of carton
-Different heights of the holes in the container
-Ice water from Iceland
a)
3mm holes
b)
Distant water traveled out of carton
c)
Different heights of the holes in the container
d)
Ice water from Iceland
39.
The following statement is a hypothesis formed about marsh grass:
If the amount of nitrogen marsh grass receives is increased, then the height of the grass will increase, because nitrogen is an essential nutrient needed for marsh grass to grow.
What is the independent variable of the statement above?
If the amount of nitrogen marsh grass receives is increased, then the height of the grass will increase, because nitrogen is an essential nutrient needed for marsh grass to grow.
What is the independent variable of the statement above?
a)
Height of grass
b)
Amount of nitrogen
c)
Essential nutrient
d)
Amount of growth
40.
What skill is a scientist using when she listens to the sounds that an elephant makes?
a)
drawing conclusions
b)
making observations
c)
interpreting data
d)
making a hypothesis
41.
A scientist hypothesizes the the temperature at which an alligator's egg is incubated will determine whether the alligator will be male or female. The independent variable is
a)
the male alligators
b)
the incubator
c)
the gender of the alligator
d)
the temperature
42.
A scientist hypothesizes the the temperature at which an alligator's egg is incubated will determine whether the alligator will be male or female. The dependent variable is
a)
the size of the baby alligators
b)
the gender of the baby alligators
c)
the incubator
d)
the temperature
43.
When you decide whether or not the data supports the original hypothesis, you are
a)
drawing conclusions
b)
forming a hypothesis
c)
asking questions
d)
making observations
44.
In this graph, what is the independent variable?
a)
Population
b)
Day
c)
Species 5
45.
In this graph, what is the dependent variable?
a)
Walla Walla Island
b)
Time
c)
Number of Deer
46.
Why do scientists use the scientific method?
a)
To make sure they get credit for their discoveries.
b)
To make sure their results are valid and can be performed by other scientists.
c)
So that other scientist don't get mad at them
47.
True or False: Your hypothesis can never be wrong.
a)
True
b)
False
48.
What step does every scientific experiment begin with?
a)
hypothesis
b)
question/problem
c)
procedures
d)
conclusion
49.
What is a hypothesis?
a)
an educated guess stating what you believe will be the result of your experiement
b)
a random guess
c)
a statement of the outcome of your experiment
d)
step by step directions for your experiment
50.
The independent variable is the ONE thing you _____.
a)
change on purpose
b)
control or keep constant
c)
measure
100 %
