Name: ________________________ Per: __________ Date: _______
STUDY GUIDE – SCIENCE PRACTICES TEST
1. Review the following vocabulary:

Independent Variable- the factor that changes in an experiment

Dependent Variable- what is being measured in an experiment

Control- unchanging standard in a science experiment

Constant – factors that remain the same in your experimental set-up

Hypothesis – an educated guess; a prediction

Qualitative Observation – are general, descriptive observations

Quantitative Observation – are specific, numerical observations

Data – both qualitative and quantitative observations collected during
an experiment (Put into a Data Table)
2. Be prepared to identify the independent variable, the dependent
variable, and one constant in a given experiment scenario.
Example Scenario:
A group of students are planning an experiment to find out what kind of soil
will hold the greatest amount of water. They plan on testing three types of
soil- sand, clay, and dirt. They fill the same size plant pot with each of the
types of soil, and measure how much water they can pour in before water
leaks out the bottom of the plant pot.
* The independent variable would be type of soil (that is what they
are testing).
* The dependent variable would be amount of water (what is being
measured).
* One constant in the experiment would be: same size plant pot
3.
Be prepared to identify the independent variable and dependent
variable in a testable question.
Example testable Question:
How does the amount of salt in water affect the growth of plants?
The independent variable would be: amount of salt
The dependent variable would be: growth of plant
4. Be prepared to state whether an observation is Qualitative or
Quantitative.
Example:
Identify the following observations as qualitative or
quantitative.
* The building is taller than the tree: Qualitative observation.
* The cup has a mass of 200 grams:
Quantitative observation
5. Be prepared to write the hypothesis for a scenario.
Example: Underline the independent variable, circle the dependent
variable, and write the hypothesis on the lines.
How does the distance from the eye chart affect the number of letters
that are recognized on a line?
If: a person stands far away from the eye chart,
Then: he/she will recognize less letters on the eye chart,
Because: they are too far to see the letters clearly.
6. Be prepared to read Data Tables.
Answer the following questions as a review for your test:
_________1. The factor that changes in an experiment
a. independent variable
b. dependent variable
c. control
_________2. What is being measured in an experiment is called the
a. independent variable
b. dependent variable
c. control
_________3. The factor that remains constant is an experiment is called
the
a. independent variable
b. dependent variable
c. control
Scenario 1:
A group of students are planning an experiment to find out if the
length of a string affects the number of times a pendulum will swing.
The students counted number of times the pendulum swung back and
forth in 10 seconds.
4.
The independent variable in this experiment was
a. the length of the string
b. the number of times the pendulum swings
5. The dependent variable in this experiment was
a. the length of the string
b. the number of times the pendulum swings
6. One constant in this experiment would be
a. the mass of the pendulum
b. the length of the string
For each question, identify the independent and dependent variables.
What effect does studying with music have on student test scores?
7. The independent variable would be
a. studying with music
b. the test scores
c. the age of the students
8. The dependent variable would be
a. studying with music
b. the test scores
c. the age of the students
What effect does using plant food have on plant growth?
9. The independent variable in this experiment is
a. the plant food
b. the plant growth
c. the amount of water given to the plant
10. The dependent variable in this experiment is
a. the plant food
b. the plant growth
c. the amount of water given to the plant
11. One constant in this experiment would be
a. the plant growth
b. the amount of water given to the plant
c. the plant food
12. Write a hypothesis for this question: How will the amount of
fertilizer used on a field affect the number of earthworms found there?
If_____________________________________________________
then___________________________________________________
because ________________________________________________.
13. Look at the two data tables below. Which data table to you think is
better? Explain your response.
Data Table 1
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Vase 1
Vase 2
Data Table 2
Effect of Flower Food on Roses Over Three Days
Dependent Variable - Description of the Flowers
Freshness Each Day
Independent Variable - Day 1
Flower Food
Date: 9/28
Day 2
Date: 9/29
Day 3
Date: 9/30
Control - Vase with no
flower food in water
Variable- Vase with
flower food in water
Write which table is better and explain:
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
14. Are the following observations qualitative or quantitative?
* It is warm outside __________________________
* The marbles weighed 60 grams _________________