Describe the Scientific Method in detail.
The Scientific Method is a systematic process by which scientists answer questions about our world.
What is the difference between a hypothesis and a prediction?
A prediction is phrased in an if...then...statement Example: IF there is chlorophyll present, THEN the grass is green.
What are control variables?
Control Variables are those variables that must remain the same.
What is a synonym for “data?”
Information
TRUE OR FALSE: The following statement is an example of an observation:
M&Ms are different colors because of food dye.
FALSE - Inference
What is an observation? Be as specific as possible.
An observation is something that you notice using your five senses. Example: The candy was brown, and smelled chocolatey, tasted sweet, and sounded crunchy when you bit into it.
What is this an example of? “If it rains outside, then the plants will grow.”
Prediction
What is an independent variable?
1. writing a paragraph
2. drawing a table, chart, or graph
TRUE OR FALSE: The following statement is an obervation:
The cookies smell sweet.
TRUE - OBSERVATION
Give an example of an observation for sight and hearing.
Answers will vary.
Sight: The water changed from clear to cloudy.
Hearing: The bird's chirp was high-pitched.
What is this an example of? “The grass is green because of the chlorophyll.”
Hypothesis
What is a dependent variable?
The dependent variable is what is being measured in the experiement.
TRUE OR FALSE:
The Independent Variable is the 1 thing or factor that the scientist changes.
TRUE!!
In order to have a proper experiment, what parts MUST a scientist have? (HINT: Think variables, and so on…)
1. Subject
2. Independent Variable
3. Dependent Variable
4. Control Variable
If your results differ from your hypothesis, what should you do?
Conduct the experiment multiple times
1. Subjects-Plants
2. IV - Amount of sunlight
3. DV-How tall the roses grow
4. Control Variables-type of soil and amount of water
TRUE OR FALSE:
There can only be 1 Control Variable
FALSE - In any given experiment, there will be MANY control variables.
List, in order, the steps of the Scientific Method.
1. Observation
2. Formulate a question
3. Do background research and form a hypothesis
4. Experiment
5. Collect and analyze data
6. Make a conclusion and communicate results
1. After a scientist makes a conclusion, what should the scientist do?
2. Name 2 ways of completing the step above.
1. Communicate results
2. Discussion and write a lab report
Explain what a control variable is, and give an example.
Variables that stay the same.
Descriptions will vary.