A
What is the first step in a scientific investigation?
Points: +10
Answer: Identify a problem or ask a scientific question.
What do we call an educated and testable prediction?
Points: −10
Answer: Hypothesis
Which variable is deliberately changed by the investigator?
Points: +15
Answer: Independent variable
Which variable is observed or measured during an investigation?
Points: +20
Answer: Dependent variable
What are the factors that must remain the same to make an investigation fair?
Points: −15
Answer: Controlled variables or constants
Why should an experiment be performed more than once?
Points: +25
Answer: To check whether the results are consistent and reliable and to make the investigation fair.
A student investigates whether the amount of sunlight affects plant growth. What is the independent variable?
Points: −20
Answer: Amount of sunlight
A student investigates whether the amount of sunlight affects plant growth. What is the dependent variable?
Points: +30
Answer: Plant growth, such as the plant’s height
Why should measurements include units such as centimeters, grams, or seconds?
Points: +35
Answer: Units explain what quantity was measured and allow the results to be understood and compared.
A student records the following distances: 12 cm, 15 cm, and 18 cm. What is the average distance?
Points: −25
Answer: 15 cm
A student wants to determine whether water temperature affects the time sugar takes to dissolve. Identify the independent and dependent variables.
Points: +40
Answer:
In the sugar investigation, name two variables that should be controlled.
Points: −30
Answer: Any two of the following: amount of sugar, amount of water, container, stirring speed, type of sugar, or stirring method.
Which is the better scientific question? Explain your answer.
A. Is hot water better?
B. How does water temperature affect the time needed for 10 grams of sugar to dissolve?
Points: +50
Answer: B, because it clearly identifies what will be changed and what will be measured.
What do we call a result that is very different from the other results? It starts with letter O.
Points: −40
Answer: An outlier
What should scientists use as the basis of their conclusion?
Points: +60
Answer: Collected data or scientific evidence
What type of variable must be kept the same during an experiment?
Points: −50
Answer: Controlled variable
What graph is usually best for showing changes over time?
Points: +75
Answer: Line graph
What graph is commonly used to compare different groups or categories?
Points: −60
Answer: Bar graph
What is one complete repetition of an experiment called?
Points: +100
Answer: A trial
What quality means that an experiment produces similar results when repeated?
Points: −100
Answer: Reliability or consistency