Scientific Method - Asking Question and Defining Problems

Why is it important to ask clear and specific questions before starting a science experiment?

• to make the experiment easier to do

• to ensure the experiment has a focused direction or purpose

• to finish the experiment quickly

• to use up all the materials

Which of the following best describes the purpose of defining the problem in an experiment?

• to decide how many friends will help

• to choose the prettiest materials

• to clearly understand what you are trying to find out

• to make the experiment more fun

If a student wants to know how temperature affects plant growth, which of these is the best example of defining the problem?

• How can I grow the tallest plant

• How does varying temperature impact the growth rate of plants

• What is the best fertilizer for plants

• Which plant grows the fastest

When a scientist asks, "How does the amount of water given to a plant affect its growth?" what are they doing?

• buying new plants

• Asking a clear, focused question to guide their experiment

• finding a new hobby

• Deciding what to eat for lunch

Why might a scientist need to revise their initial questions and problem definition during an experiment?

• to use more complicated words

• Because they forgot to buy enough materials

• To better address new observations and data they encounter

• to make their experiment take longer

Which step of the scientific method is this example-

Does the volume of water change when it freezes?

• question

• hypothesis

• experiment

• data

• conclusion

Which of the following statements is a hypothesis?

• Plants need sunlight to grow

• The plant grew 5 cm in one week

• If plants are given more sunlight, then they will grow taller

• The plant is green

Tags

DOK Level 2: Skill/Concept

Why is it important to have a large sample size in an experiment?

• To increase the variability of the data

• To ensure the results are statistically significant

• To make the experiment more complex

• To reduce the number of variables

Tags

DOK Level 2: Skill/Concept