SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
A farmer wants to know whether a new type of fertilizer helps plants grow faster. He plants two groups of the same kind of plant and gives them the same amount of water and sunlight. Only one group receives the new fertilizer.
What is the main purpose of using two groups?
To compare the effects of the fertilizer.
Two students conduct the same experiment. One student records only the results that support his prediction, while the other records all the results.
Which student demonstrates a more appropriate scientific attitude?
The student who records all the results.
You need to measure exactly 25 mL of water for an experiment. You have a beaker and a graduated cylinder.
Which tool should you use for a more accurate measurement?
Graduated cylinder
A student accidentally spills an unknown liquid on the laboratory table.
What should the student do first?
Immediately inform the teacher.
Maria sees that Plant A is 15 cm tall and Plant B is 10 cm tall.
Which science process skill is she using when she determines that Plant A is taller than Plant B?
Comparing
A community experiences frequent flooding. Scientists study rainfall patterns, while engineers develop a drainage system based on the information collected.
How are science and technology working together in this situation?
Science provides knowledge about the problem, while technology applies that knowledge to create a solution.
A scientist's experiment produces results that are different from what she expected.
Instead of changing the results, she repeats the experiment and studies what happened.
What scientific attitude is she demonstrating?
Open-mindedness
You need to observe a very small object that cannot be seen clearly with your eyes alone.
Which laboratory tool should you use?
Microscope
A student is heating a substance in a test tube. He points the open end toward his classmate.
Why is this unsafe?
The heated substance may suddenly splash or eject material and injure the classmate.
A student notices that ice melts faster when placed under sunlight than when placed in a shaded area.
Which science process skill is being demonstrated when the student carefully watches and records what happens?
Observing
A student says, “Technology is always beneficial because it makes our lives easier.” Another student disagrees.
Give one reason why technology is not always beneficial.
Improper or excessive use of technology can cause problems such as pollution, health issues, or environmental damage.
A researcher discovers that another scientist's conclusion is different from his own. Rather than immediately saying the other scientist is wrong, he examines the evidence and repeats the investigation.
What scientific attitude is demonstrated?
Objectivity
A student needs to transfer a small amount of liquid from one container to another without spilling it.
Which laboratory tool is most appropriate?
Dropper
You are instructed to smell a substance during an experiment. Instead of putting your nose directly over the container, you gently move the air toward your nose.
Why is this safer?
It prevents direct exposure to potentially harmful fumes.
A student observes that a plant receiving sunlight grows taller than a plant kept in darkness. He predicts that sunlight helps plants grow.
What process skill is demonstrated by making this prediction based on observations?
Inferring
A scientist discovers that a certain material can absorb large amounts of water. Engineers use this discovery to develop a material that can help control flooding.
Which statement best explains the relationship between science and technology?
Scientific discoveries can be applied through technology to solve real-world problems.
A scientist makes a claim that a particular medicine is effective. However, she clearly states the limitations of her experiment and admits that more testing is necessary.
What scientific attitude is she demonstrating?
Honesty
You need to heat a substance during an experiment. The container holding the substance becomes very hot.
What tool should be used to safely hold the hot container?
Tongs
A glass container breaks during an experiment. A student immediately reaches down with bare hands to pick up the pieces.
What should the student do instead?
Inform the teacher and use appropriate tools, such as a brush and dustpan, to collect the broken glass.
A student records the following results:
Amount of Water Plant Height
100 mL 8 cm
200 mL 12 cm
300 mL 15 cm
Based on the data, what conclusion can the student make?
As the amount of water increased, the plant height also increased in this experiment.
A city wants to reduce air pollution. One proposal is to build more roads for cars, while another is to develop an efficient public transportation system using cleaner energy.
Which proposal better demonstrates the responsible use of science and technology, and why?
Developing cleaner public transportation because it applies technology to address transportation needs while reducing air pollution.
A scientist has a hypothesis that is strongly supported by several experiments. However, a new experiment produces evidence that contradicts it.
What should the scientist do to demonstrate proper scientific behavior?
Examine the new evidence objectively, repeat or conduct further experiments, and revise the hypothesis if necessary.
A student needs to measure the temperature of water before and after heating it. She wants numerical evidence to determine how much the temperature changed.
Which laboratory tool should she use, and what should she record?
Thermometer; she should record the temperature before and after heating.
During an experiment, a chemical accidentally splashes into a student's eyes.
What is the most appropriate immediate action?
Immediately rinse the eyes with plenty of water using the eyewash station and inform the teacher.
A student wants to determine whether sunlight affects plant growth. She places one plant in sunlight and another in darkness. She gives both plants the same amount of water and uses the same type of soil.
Why is keeping the amount of water and type of soil the same important?
It keeps other variables controlled so that differences in plant growth can be more reliably attributed to sunlight.