Observations and Inferences
Independent and Dependent Variables
Variables and Constants
SI Units
Measurement
100
What is an observation?
something you notice with your five senses.
100
What is an independent variable?
A factor that the scientist changes
100
What is a constant?
A factor in an experiment that stays the same
100
How big is one meter? (Show the size silently)
Hold your arms out wide!
100
What tool would I use to measure the mass of a grape?
a digital scale or a balance scale
200
The five senses you might use to make an observation
Sight, Hearing, Touch, Taste, Smell
200
What is a dependent variable?
A factor that is being measured
200
How many constants should an experiment have?
Trick question! Everything should stay constant aside from the VARIABLES.
200
How big is a centimeter? (Show us silently!)
Hold up your thumbnail!
200
How do I measure the volume of an irregular solid?
Use a graduated cylinder and water
300
What is an inference?
an explanation or idea you come up with based on observations and previous knowledge.
300
What is a variable?
A factor that changes
300
What is the one factor in an experiment that the scientist changes?
The independent variable
300
Anna wants to tell her friend how far away her house is. It is a little over half a mile away. How could she tell her friend in SI units?
Her house is about 1 kilometer away.
300
What is mass?
Mass is the amount of matter in an object.
400
"My friend must not be feeling well" is an example of a(n)...
Inference
400
A scientist is testing the effect of different amounts of sunlight on plant growth. What is the dependent variable?
Plant growth
400
What is the factor being measured in an experiment?
The dependent variable.
400
Complete this phrase: "King Henry......"
King Henry does usually drink chocolate milk!
400
What is volume?
Volume is the amount of space an object takes up?
500
"My friend is sneezing a lot" is an example of an...
Observation
500
A scientist is testing how sugar affects a mouse's energy level. What is the independent variable?
Sugar
500
Maria wants to see how the brand of cat food she buys affects how much her cat eats. When she designs an experiment, what should she keep constant?
Anything but the IV and DV! The IV is the brand of cat food. The DV is how much her cat eats.
500
What units would I use to measure the thickness of my science review packet?
Millimeters
500
If I pour an entire cup of water into a graduated cylinder, is the volume of water changing?
No. You are probably just measuring the volume of the water in the cup by using the graduated cylinder!
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