Terms 1
The procedure scientists use to help them explain why things happen is called…?
Scientific Method
These are what you do NOT change in the experiment.
controlled variable
True or False? Always repeat your experiment
True…to rule out any errors!
“The juice is sour” is qualitative or quantitative?
Qualitative (use your senses)
This is what you’re trying to find out. It’s always written in the form of a question
Problem
What is the difference between qualitative observations and quantitative observations?
Qualitative= qualities (use senses)
Quantitative= quantities (use #s)
True or False? Inferences can be “off the wall.” (crazy)
False…they must make sense based on your observations
If you throw different airplanes with the same force but they travel different distances, what is the responding (dependent) variable?
The distance they travel (depends on what was changed on the plane)
What are the 2 different types of observations known as?
Quantitative and Qualitative
These are what you DO change in the experiment
Manipulated (independent) variables
True or False? “The plant is long” would be considered a quantitative observation.
False…There are no numbers present. You can see it is long by using your sight
True or False? You organize your data in a chart or graph before you design your experiment.
False! You can’t organize data before you’ve done the experiment!
This is a conclusion that is made after making observations
Inference
Analyze data and summarize findings during this stage of the scientific method.
The Conclusion
True or False? Variables in an experiment always change.
False…controlled (constants) always remain the same from trial to trial in an experiment
What are examples of human errors in scientific experiments?
Miscounting or inaccurate measurements
This is an educated prediction about what will happen in your experiment
hypothesis
These change in response to the manipulated variable.
Responding (dependent) variables
Ex. If more water is added, the height of the plant will change.
True or False? There are 8 steps in the scientific method that we’re learning
True…Between the problem and the conclusion are six more steps which total 8 altogether!
If you’re looking at a picture of a child playing in sand, which would be the observation… the child is smiling or the child is at the beach?
The child is smiling. How do you know they’re at the beach? That would be an inference. They could be in a sandbox