Scientific Method Study Guide

Things to know: Measurement (including scale) Safety 7 steps of the scientific method IN ORDER Know details of each step (study your foldable flashcards or notes for this

section)o Example: Step 4

Why we do an experiment (to see if the hypothesis is right or wrong)

3 variables (constant or controlled—same, many of them; independent—1 change, only one; depending—end result, only 1)

Dependent variable depends on the independent variable Repeated trials (reduces chance of mistakes & makes sure your

results are accurate)

Things to study: Scientific method worksheets and notes (including in lab journal) Variable worksheets THIS STUDY GUIDE! Foldable flash cards (the ones you made) the vocabulary below (make flashcards for +5)

Vocabulary:ConclusionControlled variableDataDependent variableExperiment

HypothesisIndependent variable

Meniscus Observation

Qualitative Quantitative

Scientific method

SCIENTIFIC METHOD EXAM IS ________________

Review sessions are __________________________

Flashcards are due _____________________(for +5 on test)

Read the following 7 parts of an experiment and identify which step is represented in each clue. Write the Step NUMBER in the blanks. (3 pts each).

A.

B. The following data was recorded at the end of the experiment:

C. The more concentrated saltwater given to a plant will result in very little plant growth.

D. How does this concentration of salt in water affect the growth of a freshwater plant?

E. In this experiment my hypothesis was confirmed. Increasing saltwater concentration will result in little plant growth.

F. Before my hypothesis was made, I researched my plants’ needs for survival: water, sunlight, soil type, etc…I also observed the environment that I would perform my experiment in.

G. Five different beakers had a liter of water added. Different amounts of salt were added to each beaker to make different concentrations of saltwater. Five of the same types of plant were used for the experiment. 20 mL of the saltwater was given to the plants every other day. The plants were grown in the same type of soil and were given the same amount of sunlight. The plants were allowed to grown for a period of 4 weeks. The data was recorded at the beginning and end of the experiment.

In the experiment above, what were the constant variables? List at least 3.

Step _______

Step ______

Step _______

Step _______

Step _______

Step _______

Step _______

In the experiment above, what was the independent variable?

In the experiment above, what was the dependent variable?

S K I L L S P R A C T I C E

Drawing Conclusions

Answer the questions below on this page or on a separate sheet of paper.

Olena and Bruce are studying whether the color of a container affects how fast the container cools down. Olena wrote this hypothesis: If you put hot water in white and black cans, the cans will cool down at the same rate. Bruce wrote this hypothesis: If hot water is put in black and white cans, the black can will cool down faster than the white can. They then tested their hypotheses. Here is their graph.

1. Examine the data presented in the graph. Notice the temperatures of the black and white cans at the times the measurements were taken. What does this data tell you about the way the two cans cooled down?

2. Compare the evidence in the graph with Olena’s hypothesis. What conclusion should Olena draw?

3. Compare the evidence in the graph with Bruce’s hypothesis. What conclusion should Bruce draw?

4. Neither Bruce or Olena included anything about the cans’ final temperatures in their hypotheses. Rewrite one of their conclusions to include information about the final temperatures of the cans.

5. Think About It Who do you think learned more about temperature changes: Bruce or Olena? Does it make any difference if one person’s hypothesis was shown to be false? Explain.

In Conclusion

What has your experiment proved? It’s time to write a conclusion to your scientific investigation. The concluding statement will either support or not support your original hypothesis.

Carefully study the results of your experiment. Look at your charts, graphs, tables, and information logs. Does this information support your hypothesis? If it does, great! If it doesn’t, don’t be afraid to say so. Negative results are NOT bad.

Study the hypotheses and results of the scientific investigations below. Write a conclusion for each.

1. Hypothesis: Increasing the air pressure in a basketball will make it bounce higher.Results:

Height of BounceDrop 4 lbs. Air

pressure8 lbs. of Air

pressure12 lbs. of air

pressure#1 53 cm 131 cm 176 cm#2 51 cm 140 cm 171 cm#3 52 cm 136 cm 173 cm#4 56 cm 133 cm 180 cmAverage

53 cm 135 cm 175 cm

Conclusion:

Independent variable: _____________________________ Dependent variable: __________________________

2. Hypothesis: Children’s heart rates increase as they get older.Results:

Heart Rate at RestChild 5 years old 10 years

old15 years

old#1 102 88 81#2 101 94 77

#3 96 92 76#4 91 90 78#5 95 86 83Average

97 90 79

Conclusion:

Independent variable: ______________________________ Dependent variable: _____________________________

Defining Elements of a Scientific MethodLaboratory activities and experiments involve the use of the scientific method. Listed in the left column are the names of parts of this method. The right column contains definitions. Next to each word in the left column, write the letter of the definition that best matches that word.

____ 1. Hypothesis

____ 2. Independent Variable

____ 3. Dependent Variable

____ 4. Constant Variables

____ 5. Observation

____ 6. Data

____ 7. Conclusion

A. Prediction about the outcome of an experiment

B. What you measure or observe to obtain your results

C. Measurements and other observations

D. Statement that sums up what you learn from

E. Factor that is changed in an experiment

F. What the person performing the activity sees, hears, feels, smells, or tastes

G. Keeping all variables the same except the independent variable

Read the following investigations and find the variables. Classify the variables as constant (list at least 3), independent, or dependent.

Investigation #6:A teacher wants to know if listening to music increases students grades on a

test. The teacher gets two student volunteers. The volunteers are both 12 year old boys. One boy listens to music while he studies. The other boy does not. The test scores are recorded.

Investigation #7:A scientist wants to know if water temperature will affect the amount of time it

takes a duck to swim across a wading pool. Two female ducks that are the same age are used in the experiment. Both wading pools are the same size and have the same amount of water in them. In one pool the temperature is 40˚F and the other pool is 85˚F. The speed of the ducks is measured.

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