Unit 1: Scientific Method

Sharon wants to conduct an experiment to determine if increasing the concentration of carbon dioxide around a plant will affect the plant’s rate of photosynthesis. She knows she must complete the following steps:

1. Interpret data and display results in a graph.
2. Record data as she conducts the experiment.
3. Evaluate data and draw conclusions.
4. Make a hypothesis

In which order should she conduct these steps?

• 2, 4, 3, 1

• 4, 2, 1, 3

• 3, 1, 2, 4

• 4, 2, 3 ,1

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

What is a quantitative observation that the scientist measured?

• The tubes contain Aluminum.

• The temperature of one tube is 20 Degrees C.

• The mass of one tube is 20 grams.

• The tubes are bubbling.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

In 1927, the geneticist Hermann Muller exposed flies to ultraviolet light. He found that the flies’ offspring displayed many mutations. He concluded that the ultraviolet rays caused chromosome breakage, which caused the mutations?

What is his independent variable?

• Chromosomes

• Ultraviolet light

• Mutations

• Flies

In 1927, the geneticist Hermann Muller exposed flies to ultraviolet light. He found that the flies’ offspring displayed many mutations. He concluded that the ultraviolet rays caused chromosome breakage, which caused the mutations.

What is the dependent variable?

• Ultraviolet

• Flies

• Mutations

• Not enough information given

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS3-1

Which is a qualitative observation?

• The spider is black

• The spider has 8 legs.

• The spider is hungry.

• The spider is vicious

Which is a quantitative observation?

• There are 100’s of deadly spiders.

• The spider is vicious.

• The spider is 5 cm long.

• The spider is black.

Anita is studying the factors that affect seed growth. She wants to test whether soaking seeds in water affects the sprouting process. Which should Anita measure to get the most useful results

• growth of 100 soaked seeds at a given temperature

• growth of 100 regular seeds at different temperatures

• growth of 50 soaked seeds and 50 regular seeds at given temperature

• growth of 50 soaked seeds and 50 regular seeds at a different temperatures

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

In 1887 a strange nerve disease attacked the people in the Dutch East Indies. The disease was beriberi. Symptoms of the disease included weakness and loss of appetite, victims often died of heart failure. Scientists thought the disease might be caused by bacteria. They injected chickens with bacteria from the blood of patients with beriberi. The injected chickens became sick. However, so did a group of chickens that were not injected with bacteria.

One of the scientists, Dr. Eijkman, noticed something. Before the experiment, all the chickens had eaten whole-grain rice, but during the experiment, the chickens were fed polished rice. Dr. Eijkman researched this interesting case. He found that polished rice lacked thiamine, a vitamin necessary for good health.

What was the hypothesis of the original study?

• Scientist thought the illness was caused by a virus

• Scientist thought the illness was being caused by people of the Dutch East Indies

• Scientist thought the illness was caused by bacteria

• Scientist thought the illness was due to a lack of thiamine.

In 1887 a strange nerve disease attacked the people in the Dutch East Indies. The disease was beriberi. Symptoms of the disease included weakness and loss of appetite, victims often died of heart failure. Scientists thought the disease might be caused by bacteria. They injected chickens with bacteria from the blood of patients with beriberi. The injected chickens became sick. However, so did a group of chickens that were not injected with bacteria.

One of the scientists, Dr. Eijkman, noticed something. Before the experiment, all the chickens had eaten whole-grain rice, but during the experiment, the chickens were fed polished rice. Dr. Eijkman researched this interesting case. He found that polished rice lacked thiamine, a vitamin necessary for good health.

Should the hypothesis be supported or rejected based on the experiment?

• Hypothesis is not supported, the control group (not injected) became sick

• Hypothesis had to be retested, not enough information

• Hypothesis is supported, the control group (injected) became sick.

• Hypothesis is unclear, all groups became sick.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Juan observes that a potted plant on his desk is bending toward the nearest window. Which hypothesis would be best for Juan to investigate the reason the plant is bending?

• If the plant is placed outside, then it will begin growing straight.

• If the plant had been given more fertilizer, then it would have grown straight.

• If the plant had been watered more when it was young, then it would have grown straight

• If the plant is tied to a straight stick, then it will begin growing straight.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5