Identifying Variables
Theories v. Laws
Validating and communicating
Modify your thinking
Scientific Investigations
100
In an experiment in which you are measuring how watering frequency affects plant height, it is the independent variable.
What is watering frequency?
100
An explanation of a naturally occurring phenomenon.
What is a theory?
100
A scientist does this when her hypothesis is not supported
What is modify the hypothesis and test (experiment) again?
100
This theory, proposed by Copernicus and later supported by Galileo, suggested that the sun (not the earth as earlier thought) was in the center of the solar system
What is the heliocentric theory?
100
In an experimental investigation.... ONE... and ONLY ONE... EVER EVER EVER!
What is the number of independent variables in an experiment?
200
In an experiment in which you are measuring how watering frequency affects plant height, it is the dependent variable.
What is plant height?
200
A description of how something in nature will always behave.
What is a law?
200
A scientist should do this if his/her data is not consistent.
What is repeat the experiment? (repetition)
200
Scientists do this when they discover new information.
What is modify their theories/knowledge
200
This is what you must do to test a hypothesis
What is Experiment?
300
In an experiment in which you are measuring how watering frequency affects plant height, the amount of light is this.
What is a constant (or a controlled variable)?
300
The point at which a theory will turn into a law.
What is NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER!!!!!?
300
A scientist who fails to record his procedures in detail during an experiment will need to do this.
What is repeat the experiment and record all details carefully?
300
The theory of continental drift was dismissed and later replaced by this theory which explained how continents moved.
What is theory of plate tectonics?
300
Descriptive Investigations such as migration patterns, seismology, meteorology, are based on this
What are observations?
400
A student does an experiment to determine the rate of photosynthesis in the water plant Elodea. She counted the bubbles released from the plant every minute for five minutes. She repeated the process two more times. She moved the light to 10cm, 20cm, and 30 cm. The number of bubbles produced is this part of the experiment.
What is the dependent variable.
400
A scientific theory is always based on this.
What is empirical evidence? Lots of it, collected by many scientists over a long period of time. NOT BASED ON A GUESS!!!!!
400
If a scientist replicates your work and his/her data contradicts your data, you will need to do this.
What is repeat the experiment?
400
The atomic theory, the theory of plate tectonics, and the heliocentric theory are all examples of this.
What are theories that changed over time?
400
All Scientific investigations MUST start with this.
What is a question?
500
A student does an experiment to determine the rate of photosynthesis in the water plant Elodea. She counted the bubbles released from the plant every minute for five minutes. She repeated the process two more times. She moved the light to 10cm, 20cm, and 30 cm. The distance of the plant from the light is this part of the experiment.
What is the independent variable?
500
Out of laws and theories, this one is stronger and more accepted by scientists.
What is neither? Laws and theories are both accepted by scientists to be accurate and valid.
500
If you forget to record data at a few time points, you will need to do this.
What is repeat the experiment?!?
500
A statement that predicts the outcome of an experiment based on background knowledge, observation, or research.
What is a hypothesis?
500
A device or object that helps scientists study concepts that are difficult to study in their natural form.
What is a model?
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