Vocabulary
steps used to solve a problem or answer a question
Scientific Method
using your senses to study something
observing (or making an observation)
a body of knowledge that explains the natural world
science
This is done to prove or disprove your hypothesis.
an experiment
This variable is the one being measured.
dependent variable
visual used to display data
(hint: another word for chart)
graph
testing the hypothesis
experiment
facts or information used to support a claim
(hint: I can claim I am 29, but without some type of _____, I can't prove it.)
evidence
True or False: Forming a hypothesis is the first step in the scientific method.
False
(Making an observation is the first step.)
This variable is the one I can control.
independent variable
interpretation of an event based on prior knowledge or observations
inference
statement that can be tested with an experiment
hypothesis
statement about something that is usually true
(hint: In general, smoking causes cancer.)
generalization
If a hypothesis can't be _______, then it is not a scientific hypothesis.
tested
A new sunscreen has been developed that is supposed to be more effective at preventing sunburn. 30 participants spray one arm with the new formula, and spray the other arm with the leading formula. After 4 hours in the sun, their skin is evaluated for any redness.
What is the independent variable?
the sunscreen
information gathered from observations and often recorded
data
A hypothesis can also be written as an _____ statement.
If...then.
a hypothesis can become a theory and a theory can become a scientific _____
law
True or False: A hypothesis is the same as a scientific theory.
False
A new sunscreen has been developed that is supposed to be more effective at preventing sunburn. 30 participants spray one arm with the new formula, and spray the other arm with the leading formula. After 4 hours in the sun, their skin is evaluated for any redness.
What is the dependent variable?
the amount of redness
a statement or an assertion
(hint: I can _____ that I am 29.)
claim
a condition you can change in an experiment
variable
2 types of data
(hint: One type can be measured in numbers. For example, a person's height. One type cannot be measured in numbers. For example, the taste of something.)
quantitative and qualitative
If a hypothesis cannot be tested, it cannot be _______ or _______.
proven or disproven
A company wants to test a new dog food that is supposed to help overweight dogs lose weight. 50 dogs are chosen to get the new food, and 50 more continue their normal diets. After one month, the dogs are checked to see if they lost any weight.
What is the independent variable?
the new dog food