Nature of Science Review Q2

Roxanne is an expert at blowing bubbles with bubble gum. She discovered that her bubbles were bigger if she stood facing the Sun when she blew them. At lunch she told her three best friends about her discovery and after school they all tried it. No one else was able to blow bigger bubbles when they faced toward the Sun.

Which of the following would be best for Roxanne to do next?

• She should prove she is right by blowing bubbles while her friends are watching.

• She should give them each bigger pieces of bubble gum and try it one more time.

• She should think about what else she is doing that might have made the bubbles bigger.

• She should ask her friends to try it again and concentrate harder when they face the Sun.

Dr. Jones thinks she has just discovered a new way to collect light energy from the Sun. How should she best communicate her findings with other scientists?

• Post her discovery on the internet as fact.

• Try to find another energy source to discover.

• Publish her discovery for other scientists to test.

• Call her friends and tell them about the discovery.

Sarah wants to install a wind turbine on her farm, which would convert wind energy to electricity to power her home. She can only afford one wind turbine, so she wants to determine the best location around her farm to harness the wind’s energy most effectively throughout the year. Sarah decides to conduct a science investigation to answer her question.

What type of investigation should Sarah conduct that would best answer her question?

• She could build a miniature model of her farm, and blow air through a straw in different locations to simulate wind.

• She could create a survey for her friends and neighbors, asking them where they think the wind turbine would look the coolest.

• She could conduct an experiment, using a tool to measure wind speed at multiple locations around her farm, and collect data over a period of one year.

• She could go on a nature walk every weekend for one year, recording her observations to make an inference about the best location for the wind turbine.

Marissa observed stars in the sky. Which of her observations is a personal opinion?

• Stars give off light energy.

• Stars appear prettier in the winter.

• Some stars appear brighter than others.

• Some stars are much larger than the Sun.

The first astronauts walked on the moon more than 50 years ago. Look at the picture of a footprint of an astronaut’s boot on the moon.

Which statement is a scientific observation?

• The boot weighs a lot.

• The boot print has ridges.

• The boot is colored white.

• The temperature of the boot is very cold.

Isabel is very interested in learning about outer space. She often looks through her telescope at the details of different bodies of our Solar System. What is Isabel doing when she looks at objects using her telescope?

• predicting

• experimenting

• making conclusions

• making observations

Throughout history, scientists have repeatedly observed and recorded the pattern and relationship of movement between the Sun and the Earth. The Earth rotates on its axis and therefore the Sun appears to rise in the east and set in the west every day causing day and night. Which method of investigation will present-day scientists most likely use to study this pattern for comparison with past scientists’ findings?

• Recorded and repeated observations.

• Recorded and repeated experimental trials.

• They will strictly follow the steps of The Scientific Method.

• Scientists no longer investigate the relationship between the Sun and the Earth.

Kyle completes his science project for his fifth grade teacher by carrying out a scientific investigation. Which statement about Kyle's investigation is true? (SC.5.N.2.1)

• Kyle's investigation must include observation and evidence.

• Kyle must have an investigation with steps that follow a set pattern.

• Kyle's project is valid only if the teacher personally likes the results.

• Kyle must include all the steps of the scientific method for his results to be valid.

A group of farmers worked with scientists at the local university to find an inexpensive solution to protect the rich soil of their farmland from erosion by water due to rain and irrigation. They set up their investigation in 4 plots of farmland located next to each other with the following variables in place meant to slow the amount of erosion.

When the group finished their investigation they published their detailed results and conclusions.

Why was it important for the group to publish their investigation? (SC.5.N.2.2)

• So other farmers are able to decide which crop to plant.

• So other scientists are able to replicate the investigation.

• So other farmers are able to grow crops in their own plot.

• So other scientists are able to record the amount of watering that occurred.

Sonya wanted to know if mowing affects the health of grass during a drought. To find out, she collected data on how often her neighbors mowed their grass.

Based on the information she collected, what is the BEST next step? (SC.5.N.1.1)

• Report her findings to her neighbors.

• Develop a plan to save everyone’s lawn.

• Stop her neighbors from mowing their lawns.

• Find out if other variables might be affecting the grass.