🔬 Investigation Station
QUESTION
Scientists observe dolphins feeding in the ocean and record their behaviors without changing anything.
What type of investigation is this?
ANSWER: Field study
QUESTION
A scientist changes the amount of sunlight plants receive and measures their growth.
What is the test variable (independent variable)?
ANSWER: Amount of sunlight
QUESTION
In a fair test, how many variables should the scientist intentionally change?
ANSWER: ONE
QUESTION
What should a scientific conclusion be based on?
ANSWER: Evidence/data
QUESTION
The SAME scientist performs the same investigation several times.
Is this repetition or replication?
ANSWER: Repetition
QUESTION
A scientist changes the amount of fertilizer given to plants and measures their growth.
What type of investigation is being conducted?
ANSWER: Controlled experiment / experiment
A scientist changes the amount of sunlight plants receive and measures their growth.
What is the outcome variable (dependent variable)?
ANSWER: Plant growth
QUESTION
A student tests whether sunlight affects plant growth.
Plant A gets 4 hours of sunlight and 100 mL of water.
Plant B gets 8 hours of sunlight and 200 mL of water.
Why is this NOT a fair test?
ANSWER: More than one variable changed.
QUESTION
A student says:
“This soil grows the best plants because it's my favorite soil.”
Why is this NOT a scientific conclusion?
ANSWER: It is based on opinion rather than evidence/data.
QUESTION
A DIFFERENT scientist follows the procedure and performs the investigation.
Is this repetition or replication?
ANSWER: Replication
Scientists want to determine whether the number of insects around a lake has changed.
Which method would provide the BEST scientific evidence?
A. Ask people whether they think there are fewer insects.
B. Systematically count insects at the lake over multiple observations.
C. Read one article about insects.
D. Ask another scientist for an opinion.
ANSWER: B
This practices the same systematic-observation reasoning that appears on the district assessment.
A student investigates whether ramp height affects the distance a toy car travels.
Identify:
Test Variable / IV: ?
Outcome Variable / DV: ?
ANSWER:
IV/Test = Ramp height
DV/Outcome = Distance traveled
QUESTION
Students want to determine whether birds prefer one feeder location over another.
One feeder contains sunflower seeds.
The other contains cracked corn.
What should the students change to make the investigation fair?
ANSWER: Use the same type of food in both feeders.
QUESTION
Three plants begin at the same height.
After two weeks:
Plant A grew 2 cm.
Plant B grew 7 cm.
Plant C grew 4 cm.
Which conclusion is BEST supported by the evidence?
ANSWER: Plant B grew the most during the investigation.
QUESTION
Why do scientists perform multiple trials?
ANSWER: To determine whether results are consistent and increase the reliability of the evidence.
QUESTION
Scientists want to investigate the feeding behavior of humpback whales.
Why would a field study be more appropriate than a controlled laboratory experiment?
ANSWER: It allows scientists to observe the whales' actual behavior in their natural environment.
QUESTION
A student tests whether the color of paper affects its temperature under a lamp.
The student uses identical pieces of black, red, and white paper.
What is:
Test Variable / IV?
Outcome Variable / DV?
ANSWER:
IV/Test = Color of paper
DV/Outcome = Temperature of the paper
QUESTION
Two students measure classroom temperature.
One measures beside a sunny window.
The other measures beside an air-conditioning vent.
Why might their results be different?
ANSWER: The measurement location was not controlled and could affect the temperature.
QUESTION
A scientist records these temperatures:
20°C → 24°C → 28°C → 32°C
If the pattern continues, what is the BEST prediction for the next measurement?
ANSWER: 36°C
WHY? The temperature increases by 4°C each time.
QUESTION
New reliable evidence does NOT support an accepted scientific explanation.
What should scientists do?
ANSWER: Revise the scientific explanation based on the new evidence.
QUESTION
Put these steps in the BEST order:
A. Analyze the data
B. Ask an investigable question
C. Draw a conclusion
D. Collect evidence/data
ANSWER:
B → D → A → C
B. Ask an investigable question
D. Collect evidence/data
A. Analyze the data
C. Draw a conclusion
QUESTION
A student wants to determine whether fertilizer affects plant growth.
Plant A receives fertilizer, 100 mL of water, and 8 hours of light.
Plant B receives no fertilizer, 200 mL of water, and 4 hours of light.
What TWO variables should have been kept constant?
ANSWER:
Amount of water AND amount of light
QUESTION
A student wants to test whether fertilizer affects plant growth.
She gives every plant exactly the same amount of fertilizer.
What's wrong with her investigation?
ANSWER:
Fertilizer should be the test/independent variable, so the amount/presence of fertilizer must change between groups.
QUESTION
A scientist expected plants with fertilizer to grow taller.
Instead, the data show that plants without fertilizer grew taller.
What should the scientist do?
A. Change the data to match the prediction.
B. Ignore the unexpected results.
C. Use the evidence when drawing the conclusion.
D. Repeat only the trials that supported the prediction.
ANSWER: C — Use the evidence when drawing the conclusion.
QUESTION
A scientific explanation has been accepted for many years. New technology allows scientists to collect better evidence that supports a different explanation.
Which statement is BEST?
A. The original explanation can never change.
B. Scientists should ignore the new evidence.
C. Scientific explanations can be revised when new evidence supports a change.
D. The oldest explanation is always the most accurate.
ANSWER: C
Scientific explanations can be revised when new evidence supports a change.