Exploring the Scientific Method

Which of the following statements is a correctly formulated hypothesis for an experiment investigating the effect of sunlight on plant growth?

• Plants need water to survive.

• If plants receive more sunlight, then they will grow taller.

• Sunlight is important for photosynthesis.

• Plants are green because of chlorophyll.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

In an experiment testing the effect of fertilizer on tomato plant yield, which is the independent variable?

• The amount of water given to the plants

• The type of tomato plant used

• The amount of fertilizer applied

• The number of tomatoes produced

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

Which of the following best describes a dependent variable in a scientific investigation?

• The variable that is intentionally changed by the experimenter

• The variable that remains constant throughout the experiment

• The variable that is measured or observed in response to changes

• The variable that is not included in the experiment

A student wants to test whether the temperature of water affects how fast sugar dissolves. Which of the following is the best way to design this experiment?

• Use different types of sugar in each trial

• Change the amount of water in each trial

• Use the same amount of sugar and water, but vary the water temperature

• Use different containers for each trial

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

Which of the following is the best example of analyzing data from an experiment?

• Writing a hypothesis before starting the experiment

• Measuring the height of plants every day

• Creating a graph to compare plant heights under different light conditions

• Stating that plants need sunlight

Tags

NGSS.MS-ETS1-2

NGSS.MS-ETS1-3

After conducting an experiment, which step should a scientist take to draw a valid conclusion?

• Repeat the experiment with different materials

• Compare the results to the original hypothesis

• Change the data to fit the hypothesis

• Ignore unexpected results

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

Which of the following best demonstrates the use of argument-driven investigation in science?

• Memorizing the steps of the scientific method

• Designing an experiment and using evidence to support a claim

• Copying data from a textbook

• Listing all the materials used in an experiment

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-5

A student observes that a certain type of bacteria grows faster at higher temperatures. Which of the following would be the most appropriate hypothesis for further investigation?

• Bacteria are living organisms.

• If the temperature increases, then the bacteria will grow faster.

• Bacteria need nutrients to grow.

• Bacteria can be found everywhere.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

You are given a data table showing the time it takes for a chemical reaction to complete at different concentrations of a reactant. Which of the following would be the best way to analyze this data?

• Calculate the average reaction time for each concentration

• List the concentrations in alphabetical order

• Ignore the data points that do not fit the pattern

• Only look at the highest concentration

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

A group of students is planning an experiment to test the effect of pH on enzyme activity. Which of the following is the best way to ensure the experiment is fair?

• Use different enzymes for each trial

• Change the temperature for each trial

• Keep all variables constant except for pH

• Use different amounts of substrate in each trial

Tags

NGSS.MS-ETS1-1

NGSS.MS-ETS1-2