Answering Scientific Questions: HW 1

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.