Science Safety
You enter the lab and see goggles sitting on the table. Your group is about to begin heating something. What should you do first?
What is put on your safety goggles?
A student changes the height of a ramp and measures how far a toy car travels. What is the independent variable?
What is ramp height/angle.
This variable usually goes on the x-axis.
What is the independent variable?
“The Earth travels around the Sun.” This best classified as..
What is a scientific fact?
This describes a pattern that has repeatedly been observed in nature but does not necessarily explain why it happens.
What is a scientific law?
A student spills a small amount of an unknown liquid on the lab table. Their first instinct is to wipe it up with their sleeve. What should they do instead?
What is tell the teacher immediately and follow the proper cleanup procedure.
What is the dependent variable in the experiement, a student changes the height of a ramp and measures how far a toy car travels. What is the independent variable?
What is the distance the car travels?
This variable usually goes on the y-axis.
What is the dependent variable?
Chocolate ice cream is the best flavor.
What is belief/opinion?
This is a well-supported explanation based on a large amount of evidence.
What is a scientific theory?
Your lab partner says, “I know what this chemical is. I’m going to smell it to make sure.” What safety mistake are they about to make?
What is directly smelling a chemical? Students should only waft if instructed.
A group tests whether sunlight affects plant growth. They use the same type of plant, same soil, same pot size, and same amount of water. What are those things called?
What is Controlled variables/constants?
A graph is titled simply “Graph.” What is wrong with that title?
It does not describe what the graph is showing.
What makes something a scientific fact rather than simply a belief?
It is supported by repeatable observations/evidence.
True or false: A scientific theory eventually becomes a scientific law after enough evidence is collected.
What is false?
During a lab, your group finishes early. Someone suggests mixing the leftover chemicals “just to see what happens.” Explain why this is a bad scientific decision.
What is unknown chemical reactions can be dangerous, and students should only perform approved procedures?
Students are testing whether the amount of water affects plant height, but one plant is near a sunny window, and another is in a dark cabinet. What is wrong with their experiment?
What is light is not being controlled, so there is more than one variable changing.
What is wrong with the following: A student creates this scale: 0, 5, 10, 15, 35, 40, 50
The scale intervals are inconsistent.
Someone says: “I don't believe gravity affects me.” Does their belief change whether gravity acts on them? Explain.
No. Scientific phenomena are not dependent on whether someone believes in them.
Gravity causes objects near Earth's surface to accelerate downward. What would the mathematical relationship describing gravitational attraction be called?
What is a law?
You notice a cracked glass beaker before starting a lab. Nobody else has noticed. What should you do, and why?
What is stop using it and tell the teacher because damaged glassware could break and cause injury.
A student says: “I want to test whether heavier paper airplanes fly farther.”
Identify:
Independent = mass/weight of the airplane
Dependent = distance flown
Controlled = paper size, airplane design, throwing method, starting location, etc.
Name three problems with the information below. A student graphs distance traveled versus time, but:
Time should usually be x-axis, distance y-axis, axes need units, graph needs a descriptive title.
Two students disagree. Student A: “Plants grow better when we talk to them.” Student B: “No they don't.” What should scientists do instead of arguing about who is right?
Design a controlled experiment, collect evidence, analyze the results, and revise the conclusion if necessary.
Explain the difference between a scientific theory and a scientific law without saying that one is “better” than the other.
A law describes a consistent pattern or relationship, while a theory explains how or why something happens.