Scientific Method Steps
What is observing?
Observing means noticing things using your senses or tools.
What is a variable?
A variable is anything that can change in an experiment.
What is a theory?
A theory explains something in nature and is supported by lots of evidence.
What is climate change?
Climate change is long-term shifts in temperature and weather patterns on Earth.
What is good or reliable data?
Good data is accurate, honest, and collected carefully.
What is a hypothesis?
A hypothesis is an educated guess you can test.
What is the independent variable?
The independent variable is the one you change.
What is a law in science?
A law is a rule that always happens the same way, like gravity.
How does burning fossil fuels affect Earth’s climate?
It adds carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, which traps heat and causes temperatures to rise.
What is bias in science?
Bias means letting opinions or goals affect how you collect or interpret results.
What are the steps of the scientific method?
Ask a question → Make a hypothesis → Test it → Collect data → Conclusion.
What is the dependent variable?
The dependent variable is what you measure in response.
How does a guess become a theory?
A guess becomes a theory after many tests and lots of evidence support it.
What tools do scientists use to study Earth today?
Satellites, sensors, and weather stations help us observe Earth today.
How can bias affect scientific results?
Bias can make scientists draw wrong conclusions or make the data seem false.
Why is it important to change only one variable in an experiment?
You only change one variable so you know exactly what caused the change in the result.
What’s the difference between qualitative and quantitative data?
Qualitative data uses words like color or smell, quantitative data uses numbers like height.
How are a theory and a law different?
A theory explains why, and a law describes what happens.
Why is it hard to study climate from thousands of years ago?
We don’t have measurements from thousands of years ago. Theres only clues like tree rings and the cores of ice
Why should scientists share their data and methods with others?
Sharing data lets other scientists check your work and repeat the experiment to confirm it.
Why do scientists repeat experiments?
Repeating an experiment helps check that the results are consistent and not just a fluke.
Can you give an example of both qualitative and quantitative data in a climate experiment?
Qualitative: “the sky turned orange.” Quantitative: “the temperature rose by 2°F.”
Can you make a hypothesis about ocean temperatures and hurricanes?
ex: if ocean temps rise, then hurricanes will get stronger because warm water powers storms.
How has technology helped scientists study and predict climate change?
Technology like satellites and computer models help scientists watch changes, make predictions, and study the planet over time.
Why aren’t scientists always 100% sure when predicting future climate changes?
Because the future depends on human actions, we can’t predict exactly how people or nature will react