Variables
Scientific Method
Vocabulary
Grab Bag
100
Independent variable (Manipulated)
What is the variable you intentionally change?
100
The first step in the scientific method
What is Identify the Problem or Question?
100
A process that is used to find answers to questions about the world around us.
What is the scientific method?
100
This is the unit for length in the metric system.
What is the meter(m) or centimeter(cm)?
200
Controlled variable
What is a variable that is kept the same?
200
The second step in the scientific method
What is the hypothesis?
200
An explanation made based on limited evidence as a starting point for an investigation.
What is a Hypothesis?
200
Information we get directly through our senses.
What is Observation?
300
The variable you observe changes in
What is the dependent/responding variable?
300
The third step in the scientific method
What is Create an Experiment?
300
Facts or information used usually to calculate, analyze, or plan something
What is Data?
300
The tool used to measure the length of an object.
What is a ruler of meter-stick?
400
The dependent/responding variable in the paper airplane experiment
What is distance flown?
400
The final step in the scientific method
What is the communicating your results or conclusion writing?
400
To evaluate by comparing to a standard
What is Standardized?
400
A logical conclusion based on evidence and observations.
What is an inference?
500
The independent/manipulated variable in the Paper Airplane Experiment?
What is the size of the paper airplane?
500
This is the step where you will most likely have a table and/or graph
What is data analysis?
500
A group used in an experiment that is used for comparison, no experimenting is done to it
What is a control group?
500
Squidward loves playing his clarinet and believes it attracts more jellyfish than any other instrument he has played. In order to test his hypothesis, Squidward played a song on his clarinet for a total of 5 minutes and counted the number of jellyfish he saw in his front yard. He played the song a total of 3 times on his clarinet and repeated the experiment using a guitar. He also recorded the number of jellyfish he observed when he was not playing an instrument. The results are shown in the chart.
Trial Quiet Clarinet Guitar
1 5 15 12
2 3 10 18
3 2 18 17
What should Squidward’s conclusion be?
The clarinet did seem to attract a large number of jellyfish, but the average number for the three trials of 12.4 jellyfish also matched the average for the guitar. Music seems to attract jellyfish in greater numbers than when no music is played which had an average of 3.4 jellyfish. Squidward’s hypothesis that the clarinet attracts larger numbers of jellyfish than other instruments is not proven by this experiment.
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