Scientific Investigations
Henry is interested in studying the different techniques perching birds use to build their nests.
What type of investigation would best help Henry learn more about this topic?
A. make observations in nature
B. build a model of a nest
C. perform a controlled experiment
D. discover a previously unknown perching bird species
A. make observations in nature
The variable that the scientist changes.
independent variable
Why should scientific investigations be replicable?
Scientific theories are usually
C. supported by evidence and widely accepted by the community.
The hydrosphere is predominantly made of
water
How is science different from other subjects that involve thought, such as art, philosophy, and religion?
B. Science is more objective, since it is predominantly based on evidence.
The outcome variable. The variable that is measured.
dependent variable
Dr. Maxwell performed several experiments which seem to indicate that eating chocolate is always bad for your health. How should other scientists respond to Dr. Maxwell's research?
A. They should try to reproduce Dr. Maxwell's research to verify his results.
Scientific knowledge can withstand the test of time because
B. it is open to change as new evidence or data is discovered.
The Earth's biosphere is consists of
all living things
Scientific inquiries typically begin with the formulation of a testable question. Then, experiments are designed, and data is collected and evaluated. Once the evaluation is complete, what should be done with the evaluation?
A. It should be communicated to other scientists.
Jeremiah sets up an experiment to better understand the process of deposition. In his experiment, he places a pile of sand at the top of a tube. Then, he pours water down the tube at varying speeds. Finally, he measures the amount of sand that is deposited throughout the tube.
What is the test variable (independent variable) in Jeremiah's experiment?
The speed of the water
The conservation of energy is a _______ because it is has been demonstrated without exception under certain stated conditions.
Law
Scientific knowledge is based on evidence. Where do scientists acquire evidence?
C. from observations or experiments
Alligators spend most of there evening hunting for fish or birds in the water. Which two spheres are interacting?
Biosphere and hydrosphere
A. conduct a controlled experiment
In Ben's experiment, he places a toy car on a smooth, flat surface. Then, Ben applies varying amounts of force to the back of the car and measures the car's initial speed using a radar gun. The toy car is allowed to decelerate on its own until it stops. Finally, Ben measures the total distance that the car traveled.
What is the outcome variable (dependent variable) in Ben's experiment?
The distance that the car travels
Anna is conducting an experiment to determine how weather affects cell phone reception. She is trying to decide the best way to conduct her experiment in order to collect meaningful data.
Which of the following experiments would help Anna collect the best data?
B. Test a cell phone's reception in one location with clear weather and in another location with rainy weather.
Arab cultures charted planets in the Dark Ages. Europeans helped establish the Sun-centered model of the solar system during the Renaissance. Russia and the U.S.A have discovered new features on planets using spacecraft in modern times.
What are the two ways theories can change over time?
Technology and new knowledge
Pick the true statement.
a. Mr. Ferguson fishing, is an interaction between the biosphere and the atmosphere.
b. Mrs. Howery playing volleyball, is an interaction between the cryosphere and biosphere.
c. Mr. CT surfing, is an interaction between the biosphere and hydrosphere.
d. Mrs. Baldwin running, is an interaction between the bioshpere and the hydrosphere.
c. Mr. CT surfing, is an interaction between the biosphere and hydrosphere.
Dr. Ray has developed a new way to remove oil from wetlands in the event of an oil spill. To test his new process, Dr. Ray builds a scale model of a wetland in his lab and pours a small amount of oil into it. He then observes the rate at which his process is able to remove the oil from the model.
Why did Dr. Ray use a model?
D. Because dumping oil in a real wetland would be dangerous.
Sarah wants to know where in her garden chamomile would grow the best. She thinks chamomile will grow best in the corner of the garden that gets the most sunlight. To test her hypothesis, she decides to plant several groups of chamomile in her garden as an experiment.
What is the constant (control) variable?
The Chamomile
Which of the following scenarios demonstrates the replication of a scientific investigation?
D. Dr. Kim performs an experiment in her laboratory. Then, Dr. Stevens performs the same experiment in his laboratory to verify the results.
Which of the following is a scientific law?
D. The attractive force between two objects depends upon their masses and the distance between them.
What is Mr. Ferguson's Favorite ice cream?
Bryer's mint chocolate chip