AP Biology Experimental Design

What makes a good scientific question?

• The question can be answered by yes or no.

• The question can be answered by doing an experiment.

• The question can be answered through extended thought.

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-2

Cindy wanted to find out how the amount of sunlight affects the growth of plants. She placed a tomato plant in 6 identical 10 inch pots with the same amount and type potting soil. She watered them ¼ cup each day. 3 plants were placed under a cardboard box and 3 plants were placed in the sunlight. She measured the growth of the plant each week for three weeks.

What is the independent variable?

• Using the same type of plant

• Each plant was placed in a 10 inch pot

• The growth of the plant

• 3 plants in the sunlight and 3 plants under a box

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

What step does every scientific experiment begin with?

• hypothesis

• question/problem

• procedure or test

• conclusion

When experimenting with the growth of a plant, a scientist uses three (of the same type of) plants, two different fertilizers, equal light, and equal water. What type of variable is the fertilizer?

• Dependent

• Independent

• Control

• Compound

The type of variable that you change or manipulate in an experiment.  It is what you are testing.

• Independent

• Dependent

• Control

The type of variable that responds to the experiment and is what you measure to determine if your hypothesis is true.

• Independent

• Dependent

• Control

Dory set up an experiment to see how the mass of a ball affects the distance it rolls off a ramp. What is the independent variable?

• distance traveled by the ball

• height of the ramp

• mass of the ball

• ball type

What is the dependent variable for this investigation?

• Type of material (rocks, sand etc)

• Temperature after 10 minutes

• Time under the lamp

• Heat lamp, amount of material

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-5

A scientist hypothesizes the the temperature at which an alligator's egg is incubated will determine whether the alligator will be male or female. The independent variable is

• the male alligators

• the incubator

• the gender of the alligator

• the temperature

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

What is a factor that is measured for change in an experiment?

• control

• constant

• independent variable

• dependent variable

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2