What Is Science?
Why do scientists make models?
Models can be used to make complex objects or processes that cannot be observed directly.
During an investigation to observe an insect, a student holds the insect by its wings. How should the student observe the insect instead?
A. Killing the insect first
B. Putting the insect in a cage with vents on the top and clear sides
C. Holding the insect by its legs
D. Wearing goggles and setting the insect free in the classroom
B. Putting the insect in a cage with vents on the top and clear sides
Which of the following is not involved in scientific reasoning?
The cat likes food
Which of the following statements is a prediction?
What is bias?
Is the statement that hummingbirds spend most of their waking hours feeding a scientific hypothesis?
Yes; You can make observations and gather data about how much time hummingbirds spend feeding.
Which of the following would be appropriate to wear on a field investigation to study plants?
A. Flip-flops
B. Apron
C. Heat-resistant gloves
D. Closed-toe shoes
D. Closed-toe shoes
Drawing conclusions based on personal feelings instead of available evidence is an example of
subjective reasoning
How might creativity help scientists come up with new scientific knowledge?
A telescope expanded which of Galileo's senses?
A. Smell
B. Sight
C. Hearing
D. Touch
B. Sight
Why is it important for scientists to publish a description of their procedures with their data and results?
A. So that other scientists can repeat the experiment
B. So that readers can immediately tell that there are no errors in the data or results
C. So that the public is aware of the experimental methods used
D. So that the scientists' funding agency can check that the money was spent wisely
A. So that other scientists can repeat the experiment
What is the first thing you should do if an accident occurs in the lab?
C. Tell your teacher.
Which of the following is a cause of faulty reasoning?
A. Applying a general idea to a specific observation
B. Using only evidence and logic to make decisions
C. Drawing a conclusion without enough data
D. Using specific observations to make generalizations
C. Drawing a conclusion without enough data
Which is a testable hypothesis that might explain why hummingbirds seem to prefer red flowers?
A. Red hummingbird feeders are more popular than feeders of other colors.
B. Red flowers are more common in gardens than other color flowers.
C. None of the other answer choices
D. Red flowers have sweeter nectar than other flowers.
A. Red hummingbird feeders are more popular than feeders of other colors.
What kind of scientific knowledge has increased as a result of improvements to microscopes?
A. Knowledge of tiny objects
B. Knowledge of the structure of the Solar System
C. Knowledge of life forms in deep oceans
D. Knowledge of distant stars and galaxies
A. Knowledge of tiny objects
What does it mean to think like a scientist to answer questions about the natural world?
A. To be open-minded, subjective, and make educated guesses
B. To always answer questions by performing controlled experiments
C. To use math, make data displays, and write articles in scientific journals
D. To use scientific skills, reasoning, and inquiry
D. To use scientific skills, reasoning, and inquiry
You should work under a hood in the chemistry lab if you are working with ___________ chemicals.
volitile
What is a way to explain things by starting with a genral idea and then applying that idea to a specific observation.
Deductive Reasoning
In an experiment, which variable may change in response to the variable that is deliberately changed?
The Independent Variable
What is the 3rd planet from the sun?
Earth
What is science?
The process of learning about the natural world.
How should dispose of chemicals that go un-used during a lab and why?
Follow the teachers instructions for disposal
because not all chemicals can go down the sink and they can never be returned to the bottle.
What type of reasoning uses specific observations to make generalizations?
Inductive Reasoning
A geologist counts the number of fossils in a given layer of rock. What type of scientific investigation is this?
A. A comparative investigation
B. A controlled experiment
C. A theoretical experiment
D. A descriptive investigation
A. A comparative investigation
Name all 7 of the characteristics of scientific thinking.
curiosity
creativity
open-mindedness
skepticism
awareness of bias
honesty
ethics