Scientific Inquiry & Process
A scientist notices that the leaves on a certain plant are turning brown. This act of using the five senses to gather information is called a(n):
Observation
In a controlled experiment, how many independent variables should a scientist test at one time?
A) Zero
B) One
C) Two
D) As many as possible
B) One
A scientist records that a sample of liquid is "clear, odorless, and feels slippery." What type of data is this?
A) Quantitative data
B) Metric data
C) Qualitative data
D) Hypothetical data
C) Qualitative data
An explanation of observations or events in nature that is backed by a vast amount of data and many investigations is known as a scientific:
A) Theory
B) Law
C) Hypothesis
D) Guess
A) Theory
When a scientist deliberately changes data to match their desired outcome, they are violating scientific:
A) Technology
B) Theory
C) Ethics
D) Constants
C) Ethics
What is a testable, possible explanation for a scientific problem or observation called?
Hypothesis
A student wants to test how different amounts of fertilizer affect tomato plant growth. What is the independent variable?
A) The height of the tomato plants
B) The type of soil used
C) The amount of fertilizer given
D) The amount of sunlight received
C) The amount of fertilizer given
A lab technician records that a specimen has a mass of 45.2 grams and a temperature of 22 degrees Celsius. What type of data is this?
A) Quantitative data
B) Qualitative data
C) Subjective data
D) Observational data
A) Quantitative data
A rule or description that always details a specific pattern or event in nature (often using a mathematical formula, like F=ma) is a scientific:
A) Theory
B) Law
C) Hypothesis
D) Prediction
B) Law
A representation of an object or an event that is too big, too small, too fast, or too slow to study directly is called a:
A) Model
B) Variable
C) Hypothesis
D) Theory
A) Model
A student states, "Because the plant's leaves are turning brown, it must not be getting enough water." This logical explanation based on prior knowledge is an example of
Inference
A student wants to test how different amounts of fertilizer affect tomato plant growth. What is the dependent variable?
A) The height of the tomato plants
B) The type of soil used
C) The amount of fertilizer given
D) The amount of sunlight received
A) The height of the tomato plants
What is the internationally accepted system of measurement units used by scientists worldwide?
A) The Imperial System
B) The International System of Units (SI)
C) The English Customary System
D) The Global Standard Scale
B) The International System of Units (SI)
What can cause a long-standing scientific theory to be modified or rejected?
A) A change in public opinion
B) New, verifiable evidence that contradicts the theory
C) A vote by a political government
D) The passage of 100 years
B) New, verifiable evidence that contradicts the theory
Comparing what you already know with new information given to you to decide whether you agree with it is called:
A) Creative thinking
B) Critical thinking
C) Inferring
D) Predicting
B) Critical thinking
What is the primary purpose of a control group in a scientific experiment?
A) To provide a standard baseline for comparison
B) To ensure the experiment happens quickly
C) To change multiple variables at once
D) To record the numerical results
A) To provide a standard baseline for comparison
All of the factors in an experiment that must be kept exactly the same so they do not influence the results are called:
C) Constants
Which metric/SI unit would a scientist use to measure the mass of a rock sample?
A) Meter
B) Liter
C) Kilogram or gram
D) Newton
C) Kilogram or gram
Which statement best describes the relationship between scientific theories and scientific laws?
A) Laws eventually graduate and become theories.
B) Theories eventually graduate and become laws.
C) Laws describe what happens; theories explain why it happens.
D) Theories are just unproven laws.
C) Laws describe what happens; theories explain why it happens
The practical application of scientific knowledge, especially for industrial, commercial, or medical purposes, is known as:
A) Pure Science
B) Technology
C) Engineering Design
D) Intellectual Property
B) Technology
Before drawing conclusions, why do scientists repeat their experiments multiple times?
A) To change the hypothesis mid-way through
B) To ensure the results are reliable and valid
C) To turn their results into a scientific law
D) To practice using their lab equipment
B) To ensure the results are reliable and valid
If you are measuring how much water evaporates from a bowl over a week, the actual data collected (in milliliters) represents which variable?
A) Independent variable
B) Dependent variable
C) Constant
D) Control group
B) Dependent variable
If a scientist describes how close a series of measurements are to each other, regardless of whether they are correct, they are describing:
A) Accuracy
B) Precision
C) Estimation
D) Hypothesizing
B) Precision
Why is science considered a dynamic process?
A) Because it never uses mathematical metrics
B) Because it is based entirely on opinions
C) Because scientific knowledge changes as new discoveries are made
D) Because it only studies living organisms
C) Because scientific knowledge changes as new discoveries are made
Why is it important for scientists to peer-review each other's work?
A) To ensure the scientist gets paid for their work
B) To check for errors, bias, and accuracy before publication
C) To make sure the experiment used expensive tools
D) To help copy the experiment and sell it as a new product
B) To check for errors, bias, and accuracy before publication