Name Date Class Answering Scientific Questions: Notes 1-3 Be able to explain the relationship between an independent variable and a dependent variable. Name Date Class Answering Scientific Questions: HW 1-3 Understanding Main Ideas Answer the following questions in the spaces provided. 1. What is scientific inquiry? 2. What leads to the development of a hypothesis? 3. What is the difference between the independent and dependent variable? 4. What is a conclusion? Building Vocabulary Fill in the blank to complete the statement. 5. The factors in an experiment are called __________________. 6. To have a(n) ___________________________________, only one variable can be changed at a time. 7. The facts and figures gathered during an experiment are called _____________________. 8. A(n) _________________ is a possible answer to a scientific question. 9. A(n) ___________________________________ is a widely accepted explanation based on experimental results. 10. A(n) _____________________________________ describes patterns in nature without trying to explain them. Name Date Class Answering Scientific Questions 1-3 While walking around a field, Sarah notices capsules on milkweed plant leaves. She knows that these capsules are monarch butterfly eggs. Sarah also notices that other plants do not have any monarch butterfly eggs. She wonders if monarch butterflies only lay their eggs on milkweed plants. Sarah conducts an experiment. Study the results of Sarah’s experiment in the table. Then answer the questions that follow in the spaces provided. Number of Monarch Eggs Day Milkweed Plant Other Plants 1 59 0 2 7 0 3 11 0 4 0 0 1. What is Sarah’s hypothesis? 2. What are the independent and dependent variables? 3. What are two variables Sarah needs to control? 4. What conclusion can Sarah draw from her results? 5. What is an additional question that Sarah could ask about monarch butterflies based on her results? Name Date Class Answering Scientific Questions 1-3 Write the letter of the correct answer on the line at the left. 1. ____ You notice that your dog is shedding. Which of the following represents a hypothesis about your observation? 2. ____ You do an experiment to see if fertilizer makes plants grow. Which of the following is the dependent variable? A My dog is shedding. A plant growth B I wonder why my dog is shedding. B fertilizer C The weather must be getting warmer. C sunlight D My dog pants when she is warm. D soil 3. ____ Your data for the plant experiment in question 2 show that the plants that were fertilized grew more than plants that were not fertilized. Which of the following statements best represents your conclusion? 4. ____ Which of the following statements is true about a scientific theory? A It is well-tested and widely accepted. B It is based on observed patterns in nature. A the plants that received fertilizer are better plants. C It does not offer an explanation for observations. B Fertilizer helps plants grow. D It does not change. C Plants must have soil in order to grow. D I can’t draw a conclusion because all the plants grew. Fill in the blank to complete each statement. 5. _________________________________________ is a way to study the world and propose explanations for observations made. 6. A(n) _______________________ is a possible answer to a question. 7. A(n) _______________________ variable is purposely changed to test a hypothesis. 8. The facts, figures, and other evidence gathered during an experiment are called ________________________. 9. Only one variable is changed at a time in a(n) ____________________ ____________________. 10. A scientific ___________________ describes patterns in nature without explaining them.
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