Key Vocab
This is an educated prediction about the outcome of an experiment.
What is a Hypothesis?
In an experiment testing how light affects plant growth, the amount of light is this type of variable.
What is the independent variable?
The "S" in the SULTAN method for graphing reminds you to choose one of these that fits your data.
What is a scale?
Before starting an experiment, you should always include these to ensure everyone's safety.
What are safety precautions?
This is a statement that explains what the data from your experiment shows.
What is a conclusion?
This is the variable in an experiment that you measure or observe as the outcome.
What is the dependent variable?
In an experiment with plant growth, the height of the plants is this type of variable.
What is the dependent variable?
According to the SULTAN method, the independent variable always goes on this axis.
What is the x-axis?
This is the main reason scientists use diagrams, tables, and graphs.
What is to organize data?
If you see a puddle on the ground in the morning, you could make this inference about what happened last night.
What is "it rained last night"?
This is the information, like numbers and observations, that you collect during an experiment.
What is data?
In an experiment involving medication, using different dosages was an error because these should be kept the same.
What are controlled variables (or constants)?
This type of graph uses vertical bars to represent data.
What is a bar graph (or histogram)?
If you are testing which paper airplane design flies the farthest, the thing you would measure is the plane's flight _______.
What is distance?
A conclusion should always be based on this, which you collect during your experiment.
What is data?
This is a logical explanation you make based on your observations or data.
What is an inference?
The things you keep the same in an experiment to make it fair are called this.
What are controlled variables (or constants)?
You should always include these on your graphs, like "cm" for centimeters or "%" for percent.
What are units?
To make an experiment fair, you should only change this one thing.
What is the independent variable?
A logical explanation based on the information you gather using your senses
What is an inference?
This is the group in an experiment used for comparison; it does not get the experimental treatment.
What is the control group?
In an experiment testing if listening to music improves test scores, the group that takes the test in a silent room would be considered this important part of the design.
What is the control group?
When scaling a graph, you should start your scale at this number unless told otherwise.
What is zero (0)?
When writing a hypothesis, it must be in this format.
What is statement?
In a conclusion, you state whether the evidence from your experiment does this to your original hypothesis.
What is support? (or "What is prove or disprove?")