Vocabulary
Science Skills
Parts of an Experiment
Experimentation
Mystery
100
Using one or more senses to gather information
Observation
100
Using observations to explain what is happening in an experiment/ event
Inference
100
When another scientist tests your experiment to see if they attain the same results.
Replication
100
The variable/ group in an experiment that does not change. This is the basis for comparison.
Control group
100
This changes in response to the independent variable.
Dependent variable.
200
When scientists use a step-by-step approach to solving a problem
The scientific method
200
When scientists use observations to determine what will happen in the future
Prediction
200
This is the factor in an experiment that you change to test the hypothesis
The independent variable
200
In an experiment, these factors are kept the same in order to minimize the number of variables.
Constants
200
Define science.
* A way of knowing * A way of learning about the natural world
300
What is the first step in the scientific method?
Defining a problem or asking a question
300
A guess or prediction that is testable
Hypothesis
300
Scientists must redo their experiments many times for their experiments to be considered valid.
Repetition
300
Many experiments done by many different scientists over a long period of time that all point to the same result may become this:
A scientific theory
300
During an experiment testing the absorbancy of certain paper towel brands, you record that Brand 1 absorbed 3.7 oz., while Brand 2 absorbed only 2.9 oz. What kind of observation is this?
Quantitative
400
A well-tested explanation for a wide range of observations or experimental results
Scientific Theory
400
What kinds of tools could you use to help you interpret data from an experiment?
a graph or model
400
Jesse wants to test how amounts of water effect the growth of his lawn. He waters 3 different amounts, repeats the experiment 5 times and records his results. The patch of lawn watered the most grew the tallest. Identify the independent and dependent variables.
I.V.- amount of water D.V- height of the lawn
400
During an experiment to test a new cat food that claims to make cats' fur more shiny and silky, you notice that one of your experimental groups appears to have more shiny fur, and when you pet them, it seems softer. What kind of observation is this?
Qualitative
400
Describe the differences between scientific theories and laws.
Theories explain a range of observations, they are well-tested and have a large evidence base; laws describe and observed pattern in nature and do not seek to explain how or why it occurs.
500
Describes an observed pattern in nature without attempting to explain it.
scientific law
500
The garbage bag is full, there are some bugs flying around the can, so we should take the trash out soon. If we don't, the house will start to smell. Identify the observation(s), inference(s) and the prediction(s)
Observation(s): the bag is full, bugs are flying around the can Inference(s): we should take the trash out soon Prediction(s): the house will start to smell
500
You are testing how well different colors of flowers attract butterflies. You use red, white and purple pentas. Your results show that the red pentas attract the most butterflies. List 3 possible constants in this experiment.
Many possible answers: * same type of flower * same location * same amount of water * same amount of sunlight * same number of flowers
500
Why would scientists want to build and use a model of a brain cell instead of using real brain cells?
Many answers, possible responses include: * real cells are very small and difficult to work with *real cells can die or be damaged * real cells must be grown or harvested from animals or people
500
Rachel wants to know if changing the incline of her skateboard ramp will effect the speed she travels on her skateboard. Write a hypothesis for an experiment that would test her question.
Many answers possible: If a skateboard travels down 3 different ramps (0 degrees, 20 degrees and 40 degrees), then the one angled at 40 degrees will increase the speed of the skateboard the most.
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