Science Basics
What are scientists trying to do when they investigate the world around them?
Make observations, explain what they see, and predict what might happen.
In an experiment, the variable you purposely change is the…?
Independent variable.
“The liquid smelled sour” is what type of data?
Qualitative.
A globe is an example of what type of scientific tool?
A model.
What piece of safety equipment protects your eyes?
Goggles.
Which part of science focuses on matter and energy, living or nonliving things?
Nonliving things → Physical Science.
The variable you measure is the…?
Dependent variable.
"The solution’s temperature increased by 5°C over 2 minutes” is what type of data?
What makes a model “workable”?
It helps explain/describe phenomena, and can make accurate predictions.
Why should you never eat or drink in the lab?
To prevent chemical contamination.
Name two major areas of Physical Science
Chemistry and Physics.
Why should scientists only test one factor at a time during an experiment?
So they know which factor caused the results.
On a graph, where do we put the independent variable?
On the x-axis (horizontal).
A scientific theory explains how or why something happens. True or False?
True.
What should you do if your sleeve or hair could dangle near a flame?
Tie it back or secure it.
Which other branch of science studies living things?
Life Science (Biology)
Give one example of a control variable if you were testing whether dogs run faster when there is peanut butter or chicken at the end of a race?
Same course, same dogs (maybe), same brand of peanut butter, same kind of chicken, same environment (weather etc.)
If a graph shows rainfall across 12 months, what general type of graph should you use?
A line graph (shows change over time).
Give an example of a model scientists might use.
Diagrams, equations, computer simulations, maps.
If glass breaks during an experiment, what’s the correct first step?
Tell the teacher — don’t touch with bare hands.
What is it called when a model describes or predicts natural phenomena
A scientific law
Why do scientists avoid saying they “proved” a hypothesis?
Results only support or don’t support; future evidence could change it... While evidence can strongly support a theory, it can never be absolutely conclusive in the same way a mathematical proof is.
Imagine a graph where there are many bars, but one bar is much taller than the others — what might that tell you about the data?
Answer: That one condition had much higher values (a trend or outlier).
What’s one big difference between a scientific theory and a scientific law?
describes what happens; Theory = explains why/how
Why is horseplay (goofing off) dangerous in a science lab?
It can cause accidents, spills, or injuries.