Maria wants to enter the science fair at her school. She has a list of ideas for her project. Which questions could be answered through scientific investigation? Check all that apply.
Which marine biologist is the smartest?
Does the rate of decay have an effect on the amount of gas produced?
Is the information about photosynthesis difficult to understand?
Which laboratory experiment is the most fun to perform?
Which brand of stain remover is the best for getting out laundry stains?
Does the rate of decay have an effect on the amount of gas produced?
Is the information about photosynthesis difficult to understand?
Which brand of stain remover is the best for getting out laundry stains?
In a laboratory, Carlos places one plate with grape jelly and another plate with cooked brown rice inside an ant farm. The next day, he finds that both plates are filled with ants. Carlos wonders if there are certain household foods that are more effective than others at attracting ants. How could Carlos use the scientific inquiry process to determine which foods are most effective at attracting ants? Check all that apply.
by making quantitative observations about the number of ants found on each plate of food
by asking a classmate if ants are attracted to bananas
by comparing a plate of cooked brown rice to another household food such as peanut butter
by designing an experiment to test different foods and the number of ants each food attracts
by repeating the experiment at different times of day
by making quantitative observations about the number of ants found on each plate of food
by comparing a plate of cooked brown rice to another household food such as peanut butter
by designing an experiment to test different foods and the number of ants each food attracts
by repeating the experiment at different times of day
Hannah conducts an investigation to determine if adding fertilizer to the soil helps tomato plants grow taller. She puts 20 tomato plants in individual pots and adds an equal amount of soil to each pot. All 20 plants are the same height at the beginning of the investigation. She adds the same amount of fertilizer to the soil of 10 pots. Hannah measures the height of each plant once a day for 15 days.
The presence of fertilizer in the soil is the
.
The height of the tomato plants is the
.
The pots without fertilizer are the
.
The presence of fertilizer in the soil is the independent variable.
The height of the tomato plants is the dependent variable.
The pots without fertilizer are the control group.
Chloe’s teacher gives her and her lab partner soil samples from different parts of the city: the park, the area next to a pond, the school, and a neighborhood. Chloe’s teacher also gives her a soil tester kit, which determines the pH of the soil. Chloe and her lab partner need to determine the pH of each soil sample and then compare them.
Fill in the blank with the word that best completes the statement.
This investigation is a(an)
investigation.
This investigation is a comparative investigation.
After watching the squirrels at the local park for several days, Sergei asks his science teacher the following question: "Do more squirrels live in maple trees or oak trees in the city park?”
Is Sergei's question a scientific question? Why or why not?
Yes, Sergei's question is a scientific question. It is scientific because it is specific, testable, and can be answered through observation and data collection.
Why are experimental investigations the best type of scientific investigation to demonstrate cause-and-effect relationships?
Experimental investigations are considered the best type of scientific investigation to demonstrate cause-and-effect relationships because they involve the deliberate manipulation of variables. In an experimental design, researchers can control and manipulate the independent variable, which is believed to be the cause, while observing and measuring the effects on the dependent variable. This control allows researchers to isolate the specific variable they are interested in studying and minimize the influence of other factors that could potentially confound the results.
By randomly assigning participants or subjects to different groups (experimental and control), researchers can establish a cause-and-effect relationship between the manipulated variable and the observed outcomes. The control group serves as a baseline for comparison, allowing researchers to determine if any observed effects are truly attributable to the experimental manipulation or if they are simply due to chance or other factors.
Overall, experimental investigations provide the most rigorous and reliable evidence for establishing causal relationships in scientific research.
Why aren't descriptive investigations repeatable?
Descriptive investigations are typically based on observations and measurements of existing phenomena or data, rather than manipulated variables or controlled experiments. They aim to describe and characterize a situation, behavior, or phenomenon as it naturally occurs, without any intentional manipulation or intervention.
The lack of manipulation or control in descriptive investigations makes them less suitable for repeatability compared to experimental investigations. Since descriptive investigations rely on naturally occurring data or observations, researchers cannot directly repeat or reproduce the same conditions or phenomena. The observed characteristics or behaviors are unique to the particular context or time period in which they were observed.
While other researchers can conduct similar descriptive investigations in different contexts, the specific observations and measurements cannot be repeated exactly. Different researchers may observe different aspects or variations of the phenomenon, leading to different descriptions or interpretations. Therefore, descriptive investigations are considered less repeatable compared to experimental investigations where variables can be controlled and manipulated for replication and verification of results.
Scientists are studying different jackets made for extremely cold, snowy weather. They are trying to find jackets that are warm but also thin enough to allow for natural bodily movement.
Which question could the scientists answer scientifically?
Which jacket's color looks the best?
Which jacket traps the most heat?
Would warm and thin jackets cost less?
Which jacket seems the most professional?
The question that the scientists could answer scientifically is: Which jacket traps the most heat?
Scientists are studying a group of living cells under a microscope. They write down notes about the size, shape, and color of the cells as well as other traits.
Which best describes this type of investigation?
comparative, because the scientists will be making observations in order to form a hypothesis
comparative, because the scientists are measuring dependent and independent variables
descriptive, because the scientists are using independent variables to test a hypothesis
descriptive, because the scientists are writing down observations but not making comparisons
The best description for this type of investigation is: descriptive, because the scientists are writing down observations but not making comparisons.
Tyler wants to learn about the types of insects in the soil near his house. Which would be a benefit of carrying out a descriptive investigation?
He could collect a large amount of data for a low cost.
He could control most of the variables affecting the insects.
He would get results that might change after the investigation.
He would be able to study cause-and-effect relationships.
The benefit of carrying out a descriptive investigation in this scenario would be: He could collect a large amount of data for a low cost.
Mutations are changes in the genes of living things. Mutations are common in all life forms and usually harmless. In fact, sometimes they help organisms survive. However, people often think that the word mutation means something dangerous.
Which best describes the question "Why do most people think mutations are dangerous?"
a scientific question, because it asks about mutations that happen in nature
a scientific question, because it asks about most people instead of just a few
not a scientific question, because it asks about what people think instead of how nature works
not a scientific question, because it asks about how mutations can be helpful to life in nature
The question "Why do most people think mutations are dangerous?" is not a scientific question, because it asks about what people think instead of how nature works.
For a comparative or experimental investigation, scientists often make a testable
about a scientific question, and then they test it in the investigation.
For a comparative or experimental investigation, scientists often make a testable hypothesis about a scientific question, and then they test it in the investigation.
Which are characteristics of scientific questions? Check all that apply.
asking about subjective matters
having a wide focus on many topics
addressing a gap in knowledge
possibly leading to a testable hypothesis
already having fully confirmed explanations
Characteristics of scientific questions include:
- Addressing a gap in knowledge
- Possibly leading to a testable hypothesis
In descriptive scientific investigations, scientists often make observations to understand the interacting parts of a complex
.
In descriptive scientific investigations, scientists often make observations to understand the interacting parts of a complex system.
What does a control group show in an experimental investigation?
the effects that the scientists are causing by manipulating variables
how nature would act without manipulation by the researchers
why each part of a system is related to every other part
all parts of a system that scientists are controlling and changing
A control group in an experimental investigation shows how nature would act without manipulation by the researchers. It provides a baseline for comparison and allows researchers to determine the effects that the scientists are causing by manipulating variables.
What does a control group show in an experimental investigation?
D. the effects that the scientists are causing by manipulating variables
C. how nature would act without manipulation by the researchers
B. why each part of a system is related to every other part
A. all parts of a system that scientists are controlling and changing
The correct answer is C. A control group in an experimental investigation shows how nature would act without manipulation by the researchers.
Which types of questions can most likely be answered through a scientific investigation?
objective questions
subjective questions
questions about people's opinions
questions about people's favorites
The types of questions that can most likely be answered through a scientific investigation are objective questions.
In an experimental investigation, the variable that the researcher changes or manipulates in order to see its effects is called the
variable.