Scientific Method Exercise II

Scientific Method Exercise II 1. The scientific method is a process for experimentation that is used to explore observations and answer questions. What is the first step in completing the scientific method? a. Project experimentation b. Hypothesis c. Problem d. Research

2. The second step to the scientific method is to state the "problem", the scientific question to be solved. What is one requirement that needs to be fulfilled in order for the "problem" to be valid? a. It needs to be a problem that has a number answer. b. It needs to be a problem that can be solved experimentally. c. It needs to be a problem that has a yes or no answer.

3. Which of the following are the requirements when creating a hypothesis for an experiment? Check ALL that apply. a. A hypothesis is base on knowledge and research. b. A hypothesis is an idea about the solution to a problem. c. A hypothesis is created after an experiment is completed. d. A hypothesis should make a claim about how two factors are related.

4. When completing an experiment, you are testing your hypothesis. What are the three kinds of variables that you need to identify in your experiments? a. independent, controlled, and dependent b. independent, dependent, and identical

5. What is the independent variable? a. the variable that you purposely manipulate b. the variable that is being observed c. the variable that is not changed d. none of the above 6. What is the dependent variable? a. the variable that you purposely manipulate b. the variable that is being observed c. the variable that is not changed d. none of these

7. How many independent variables can you have during an experiment? a. 1 b. 2 c. As many as you would like. d. The same amount as the number of controlled variables.

8. How many controls can you have in an experiment? a. 0 b. 1 c. 2 d. As many as you would like

9. In the conclusion of an experiment, can you leave out experimental results that do no support your hypothesis? a. No. b. Maybe c. Yes.

10. A pattern or relationship that has been established based on a large amount of experimental data is a: a. theory b. hypothesis c. law d. results

11. Which of the following is most correct: a. You can accept or reject a hypothesis, but never prove it to be true. b. You can prove a hypothesis to be true. c. You can prove a hypothesis to be false. d. Accepting or rejecting a hypothesis is the same as proving whether or not the hypothesis is true.

12. If your hypothesis is rejected, which is true: a. Your experiment may well have been a success! After all, you were probably testing the null hypothesis. b. Rejecting the hypothesis makes your experiment a failure. c. If your hypothesis is rejected, then your experiment was poorly designed.

13. A well-substantiated explanation of an aspect of the natural world is a: a. theory b. law c. hypothesis

14. If the results of an experiment turn out differently from what you expected, then: a. the experiment was a failure. b. you should explore the possible reasons for this in the 'conclusions' section of your experimental write-up. c. you need to redo your experiment until you get the expected result. d. you didn't follow the scientific method.

15. Scientifically-testable statements that can be supported or disproved are called: a. Hypothesis b. Theories c. Predictions d. Tests

16. Experiments often include controls because: a. An investigator needs to be certain he or she is testing only the hypothesis. b. Every experiment has many factors that can change throughout an experiment. c. An investigator needs to protect his or her work from sabotage. d. Experiments are often dangerous.

17. If an experiment does not turn out as the investigator expected he or she should: a. Try to fit the data to the expected outcome. b. Repeat the experiment immediately. c. Figure out what could have gone wrong, and adjust and repeat the experiment. d. Immediately change the experiment.

18. If experiments do not support the hypothesis it means that the hypothesis is always rejected or wrong. a. True b. False

19. How is a theory different from a hypothesis? a. It is more specific. b. It is broader in scope and breadth of application. c. It is untestable. d. It can't be modified.

20. Testing a hypothesis often includes which of the following? a. Statistical analysis b. Observations c. Developing models d. Performing experiments

21. "Clear-cutting trees from a watershed will result in drier soils." is an example of a: a. Experimental question b. Theory c. Hypothesis d. Conclusion 22. An experiment for a new asthma medication was set up into two groups. Group one was given the new drug for asthma, while group 2 was given a sugar pill. The sugar pill serves as a ______. a. control b. constant c. experimental variable d. dependent variable

23. A scientist plants two rows of corn for experimentation. She puts fertilizer on row 1 but does not put fertilizer on row 2. Both rows receive the same amount of water and light intensity. She checks the growth of the corn over the course of 5 months. What is a constant in this experiment? a. Plant height b. Corn without fertilizer c. Corn with fertilizer d. Amount of water

24. Which sentence best states the importance of using control groups? a. Control groups eliminate the need for large sample sizes, reducing the number of measurements needed. b. Control groups eliminate the need for statistical tests and simplify calculations. c. Control groups provide a method by which statistical variability can be reduced. d. Control groups allow comparison between subjects receiving a treatment and those receiving no treatment.

25. The measurable factor in an experiment is known as the a. control b. independent variable c. constant d. dependent variable

26. A student decides to set up an experiment to see if detergent affects the growth of seeds. He sets up 10 seed pots. 5 of the seed pots will receive a small amount of detergent in the soil and will be placed in the sun. The other 5 seed pots will not receive detergent and will be placed in the shade. All 10 seed pots will receive the same amount of water, the same number of seeds, and the same type of seeds. He grows the seeds for two months and charts the growth every 2 days. What is wrong with his experiment? a. More than one variable is being tested. b. The student should have a larger number of pots. c. There is no way of measuring the outcome. d. There is no control set-up.

27. A scientific study showed that the depth at which algae were found in a lake varied from day to day. On clear days, the algae were found as much as 6 meters below the surface of the water but were only 1 meter below the surface on cloudy days. Which hypothesis best explains these observations? a. Nitrogen concentration affects the growth of algae. b. Precipitation affects the growth of algae. c. Light intensity affects the growth of algae. d. Wind currents affect the growth of algae. Answers: 1. C 10. C 19. B 2. B 11. A 20. D 3. A, B 12. A 21. C 4. A 13. B 22. A 5. A 14. B 23. D 6. B 15. A 24. D 7. C 16. A 25. D 8. D 17. B 26. A 9. A 18. B 27. C