Basic Concepts
What is the first step of the scientific method?
Observation
A doctor tests a new medicine on two groups—one with medicine, one with a placebo. What step is this?
Experimentation, control and experimental groups
What is a dependent variable?
What is measured in an experiment
Which Greek philosopher emphasized logic in science?
Aristotle
What famous experiment showed that light behaves as both a particle and a wave?
Young’s double-slit experiment
What do we call a tentative explanation for a phenomenon?
Hypothesis
A student grows plants under different light sources. What is the independent variable?
Type of light
What’s the difference between an experimental and a control group?
The experimental group gets the independent variable, the control group does not
Which scientist popularized observation and experimentation in the 17th century?
Galileo Galilei
How did Louis Pasteur prove that life does not arise spontaneously?
Swan-neck flask experiment
Which step involves testing a hypothesis?
Experimentation
How is the scientific method used in criminology?
Evidence analysis, hypothesis testing, forensic lab experiments, etc.
How can we reduce bias in an experiment?
Using double-blind studies, randomization, repetition, etc.
What scientific method did René Descartes propose?
The Cartesian method, based on systematic doubt and deductive reasoning
What experiment confirmed that DNA is the genetic material?
Hershey and Chase experiment
Why is repeating experiments important?
To validate results
A meteorologist analyzes past data to predict the weather. What step is this?
Data analysis, hypothesis formation
What is a placebo, and why is it used?
A substance with no real effect, used to compare with the actual treatment and eliminate bias
How did the scientific method influence the Industrial Revolution?
Enabled technological advancements and key scientific discoveries
Which physicist formulated the theory of relativity, and how was it proven?
Albert Einstein, confirmed by the 1919 solar eclipse observation
Who is considered the father of the modern scientific method?
Francis Bacon or Galileo Galilei, depending on perspective
What types of errors can affect an experiment?
Systematic and random errors
What’s the difference between correlation and causation?
Correlation means a relationship exists, but it doesn’t imply one variable causes the other
How has modern technology changed scientific research?
Use of AI, big data, simulations, etc.
How was the scientific method applied during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Vaccine development, epidemiological studies, treatment testing, etc.