Chapter 1: Experimental design

Scientific Method

100

An inquiry about the natural world that can be solved through experimentation.

Investigation question

200

A testable explanation.

If… (what we will do),  Then… (answer the question) Because… (how will you know?

Hypothesis

300

What you use to follow the procedure and experiment

Materials

400

Detailed step by step instructions for a science experiment.

Procedure

500

Data collected from the experiment are analyzed and evaluated using graphs or tables.

Results/analysis

Things that Change

100

To change

Vary

200

The "Cause variable" The thing you choose to change. This variable causes the other variables to change. 

Independent Variable

300

Dependent variable depends on the...

Independent Variable

400

Other factors that must be kept the same so that they don’t affect the dependent variable.

Constants or Control Variable 

500

Perry wants to see if the amount of apple juice he drinks will raise his blood sugar. Identify a control variable.

Brand of apple juice, color, size of apple juice etc. 

What is Science ?

100

The process of gathering and analyzing evidence about the natural world.

Science

200

Branch of science that involves the study of materials that are not living.

Physical Science 

300

the study of motion and force

Physics

400

the study of the properties and behavior of matter

Chemistry

500

Anything that takes up space and has mass.

Matter

Writing a Hypothesis

100

Rose thinks she will get a high science grade if she studies overnight. Create a hypothesis. 

If Rose studies overnight then she will get a high science grade because she focuses on one subject.  

200

August believes that completing class work will result in a higher grade. 

If August completes more classwork,

then he will receive a HIGHER grade

because...

300

Calder believes that he can touch the ceiling if he jumps off of a chair. Create a hypothesis. 

If Calder jumps off of a chair, 

then he will be able to touch the ceiling 

because the chair will boost him enough to touch the ceiling. 

400

Ethan wants to see if talking to plants impacts how tall a plant grows.

If you talk to plants,

then the plants will stay the same height/grow taller/grow less tall

because...

500

Amily wants to set up a test see if aging affects memory.

If a persons age increases, 

then their memory will decrease,

because...

IV, DV or Constants

100

Joshua wanted to know if giving plants different amounts of water would affect how tall they grew.

What is the INDEPENDENT VARIABLE?

Amount of water plants receive

200

Students of different grades were given the same puzzle. The time it took for them to assemble to it was measured.

What is the DEPENDENT VARIABLE?

Time it takes to assemble the puzzle.

300

Bea wanted to figure out what type of liquid worked best for growing beans. She watered one with coca cola, one with lemonade, one with just water. After one week she measured how high they had grown.

What is the IV? DV? and one constant?

IV: type of liquid

DV: how tall beans grow

Constants: soil type, amount of liquid, amount of sunlight

400

Three redwood tress are kept at different humidity levels inside a greenhouse for 12 weeks. One is left outside in normal conditions. Height of the tree is measured once a week.

What are 3 CONSTANTS that must be kept?

amount of water given

amount of sunlight exposed to

temperature matches inside and outside

500

Alistair wanted to see if eating apples would help him do better on his classwork. On day 1 he ate no apples, 2 he ate one apple, on day 3 he ate 2 apples, and on day 4 he ate 3 apples. Each day he recorded the grades he got on his science work.

IV?

DV?

One Constant?

IV: amount of apples he eats

DV: grade he received

Constants: time of day he eats apples