🔬 Investigation Stationategory Name
A scientist watches sea turtles nesting on a natural beach and records their behavior.
What type of investigation is this?
ANSWER: Field study
A student changes the amount of sunlight plants receive.
What is the test variable (IV)?
ANSWER: Amount of sunlight
Complete the statement:
A fair test intentionally changes ______ variable.
ANSWER: ONE
What should scientists use to support a scientific explanation?
A. Opinions
B. Evidence
C. Guesses
D. Popularity
ANSWER: B — Evidence
A scientist conducts the same investigation three times.
Repetition or replication?
ANSWER: Repetition
A scientist changes the amount of fertilizer given to plants and measures their growth.
What type of investigation is this?
ANSWER: Experiment
A student changes the amount of water given to identical plants and measures their height.
What is the outcome variable (DV)?
ANSWER: Plant height
Two plants receive different amounts of sunlight.
Plant A also receives 100 mL of water.
Plant B receives 300 mL.
Is this a fair test?
ANSWER: No — more than one variable changed.
Why might scientists collect observations every day instead of only once?
ANSWER: More evidence/data can lead to a more accurate/reliable conclusion or prediction.
A DIFFERENT scientist follows the same procedure and conducts the investigation.
Repetition or replication?
ANSWER: Replication
Scientists record the temperature of a coral reef every day for six months.
What method are they using to gather evidence?
ANSWER: Systematic observation/data collection
A student tests whether ramp height affects how far a toy car travels.
Name ONE constant.
Answers: Same car, same ramp, same starting point, same surface, same release method.
Students compare birdhouse locations to determine which location birds prefer.
One location has sunflower seeds. The other has cracked corn.
What should they change to improve the investigation?
ANSWER: Use the same type/amount of food at both locations.
A student says:
“Plants grow better with fertilizer because I think fertilizer is good for plants.”
What does the student need before making this a scientific conclusion?
ANSWER: Evidence/data from an investigation.
Think:
Scientific conclusions are based on what?
Why do scientists repeat investigations?
ANSWER: To increase confidence/reliability by seeing whether results are consistent.
Scientists want to determine how wild dolphins feed in their natural habitat.
Which would be BEST?
A. Field study
B. Laboratory experiment
C. Model
D. Opinion survey
ANSWER: A — Field study
A scientist tests whether water temperature affects how quickly sugar dissolves.
Identify:
Test Variable: ?
Outcome Variable: ?
ANSWER:
Test/IV = water temperature
Outcome/DV = time/rate of dissolving
Group A measures classroom temperature beside a sunny window.
Group B measures beside an air-conditioning vent.
Why might their data be different?
ANSWER: Location was not controlled and could affect temperature measurements.
A student tests three paper towel brands using the same amount of water.
Which conclusion is BEST supported by the evidence?
A. Brand A is the strongest.
B. Brand B absorbed the most water.
C. Brand C is the best paper towel.
D. All three brands absorb the same amount.
ANSWER: B — Brand B absorbed the most water.
Scientists discover new evidence that does NOT support an old scientific explanation.
What should scientists do?
ANSWER: Revise the scientific explanation based on the new evidence.
Put these investigation actions in the BEST order:
A. Draw a conclusion
B. Collect and measure data
C. Develop a hypothesis/question
D. Analyze and compare the data
ANSWER: C → B → D → A
Develop a hypothesis/question
Collect and measure data
Analyze/compare data
Draw conclusions
A student tests whether different surfaces affect how far a toy car travels.
Trial 1: Carpet + Car A
Trial 2: Tile + Car B
Trial 3: Wood + Car C
What is the biggest problem with the investigation?
ANSWER: The car should have been kept constant. More than one variable changed.
A scientist wants to determine whether fertilizer affects plant growth.
Plant A:
Plant B:
Identify TWO changes needed to make this a fair test.
ANSWER: Give both plants the same amount of water AND same amount of light.
A student measures a plant each week:
Week 1 = 5 cm
Week 2 = 8 cm
Week 3 = 11 cm
Week 4 = 14 cm
If the pattern continues, what is the BEST prediction for Week 5?
A. 15 cm
B. 16 cm
C. 17 cm
D. 20 cm
ANSWER: C — 17 cm
Why?
The plant increased by 3 cm each week.
A scientist has an explanation that has been accepted for years. New technology allows scientists to collect better evidence that contradicts part of the explanation.
Which statement BEST describes what should happen?
A. Ignore the evidence because the explanation is already accepted.
B. Keep the explanation because scientific ideas cannot change.
C. Revise the explanation if the new evidence supports the change.
D. Allow one scientist to decide which explanation is correct.
ANSWER: C
Revise the explanation if the new evidence supports the change.