Scientific Method
In science, we often gather information by using our senses: looking, listening, smelling, tasting, and touching.
For example, you may record the colors of different minerals. What is this process called?
Making Observations
Name a tool used to measure temperature
Thermometer
Is this a testable question:
How does a paper airplane fly?
No!
, which of the following is an observation rather than an opinion?
A.Earthworms are afraid of the light.
B.Earthworms like staying together.
C.Earthworms move away from the light.
D.Earthworms like living in the ground.
C.Earthworms move away from the light.
What does a ruler measure?
Length of an object
An experiment was designed to determine the effect of fertilizer on plant growth. Two groups of plants were grown under identical conditions, except one group was watered with a fertilizer solution and the other group received water without fertilizer. In this investigation, the group of plants grown without fertilizer is known as the _____________.
A.control
B.variable
C.prediction
procedure
A.control
How does changing the amount of water affect the growth of carrots?
Yes!
Kaylee is testing which objects will sink or float in a glass of water.
She noticed the macaroni noodle floated the first time she tested it but sank on the second test. What should Kaylee do next?
A. record the results of both tests then repeat the test
B. record the result of the first test, ignore the second, and repeat the test
C. record the result of the first test, change the result of the second, and repeat the test
D. ignore the results of both tests and try a different it
A. record the results of both tests then repeat the test
What does a graduated cylinder measure?
Volume
Benny is conducting an experiment to answer the question: How does stirring affect the rate of dissolving salt in water?
In this experiment, what is Benny’s tested, or independent, variable?
A. the size of the cup
B. the number of stirs
C. the amount of water
D. the type of spoon
B. the number of stirs
Alice brainstorms ideas for her science fair project. Which of the following questions is not testable?
A. How many times will a ball bounce when dropped from a measured height?
B. How far will a ball roll down ramps of different surfaces?
C. How much fun will children have playing with a ball?
D. How long will a ball roll when released with a certain force?
C. How much fun will children have playing with a ball?
Imagine that a scientist predicts that the size of an insect population depends on the temperature of the environment. What observations must the scientist make in order to collect evidence to support this hypothesis?
A. The scientist must observe the insect population in the laboratory.
B. The scientist must observe the insect population throughout the winter, spring, summer, and fall.
C. The scientist must observe the insect population only in the summer.
D. The scientist must observe the insect population in different areas.
B. The scientist must observe the insect population throughout the winter, spring, summer, and fall.
Bob and Mary had four different objects that were the same size. They wanted to find out if they all had the same mass. Which tool would they use?
A.graduated cylinder
B.meter stick
C.balance scale
D.spring scale
C.balance scale
Arianna and her classmates take water samples from the same nearby pond. Then they will take measurements of the water
temperature. Besides using the same pond, what other variables should the students control?
A. same measuring tool and same volume of water
B. same volume of water and same temperature
C. same temperature and same measuring tool
D. no other variables need to be controlled
A. same measuring tool and same volume of water
True or False:
The question, "What temperature is the ocean?", is a testable question.
False!
Which of the following tells you that evidence is most likely valid?
A statements that are unclear
B data that can be reproduced repeatedly
C opinions about the results of the investigation
D different results when the investigation is repeated
B data that can be reproduced repeatedly
Linh has four different candles with different scents. She would like to know which candle will burn the longest. How can Linh determine which candle burns the longest?
A)Measure the height of each candle and conclude that the shortest one will burn fastest.
B)Measure the temperature of the wax of each candle with a thermometer as the candles are burning.
C)Measure the mass of each candle before and after 30 minutes of burning.
D)Measure the length of the wicks of each candle.
C)Measure the mass of each candle before and after 30 minutes of burning.
Testable or Non-testable?
How does increasing the height of a ramp affect how far a ball will roll?
Testable!