Name ________________________________________________ Date _______________________ Chapter 1 Study Guide (Answer Key) 1. What is science? Science is the study of nature and the natural world around you. 2. What is the scientific method? It is the way in which scientist answer questions and solve
problems. 3. List the eight steps of the scientific method in order. a) Ask a Question/ Observation
f) Analyze data/result
b) Research or Gather information
g) Repeat and compare results
c) Form a hypothesis
h) Make a FINAL conclusion
d) Test hypothesis/Experiment
(* communicate your results)
e) Collect and Record Data
4. What are some ways to organize data so you can easily analyze it? Some ways to analyze
data include: putting it in the form of a chart, table, or graph.
5. Measuring something is one way to collect data (True) 6. What is a hypothesis? How do you write a “good hypothesis”? A hypothesis is an
education guess that provides a possible explanation to the real world problem. It is
usually written as an “if/ then” statement. A good hypothesis is also testable.
7. How can scientists gather information? (3 ways to investigate) research, observation, experimentation 8. What is a control group? Experimental group? A control group is the group that gets everything EXCEPT the variable that is tested. The control group is also called the “no
treatment” group.
9. What is a variable? It is a factor that can change in an experiment.
10. What are independent and dependent variables in a scientific experiment? The independent variable is the factor that is changed “on purpose” in an experiment. The DEPENDENT variable is the responding variable or outcome of your experiment. 11. How can you tell whether a hypothesis is good or bad? In order to be a good hypothesis, it must be testable. 12. How would a scientist make sure that the conclusion from an experiment is “valid”? Repeat the experiment several times and compare the results. 13. What does a controlled experiment include? *remember parts of experimental design A controlled experiment contains a control group, independent variable, constants, and a large sample size. 14. If your conclusion does not support your hypothesis, then you must repeat your experiment until it supports your hypothesis. (False) 15. The steps of the scientific method must always be used in order. (False) 16. Answer the following questions using the passage below: Mr. Krabbs wants to make Bikini Bottom a nicer place to live. He has created a new sauce
that he thinks will reduce the production of body gas associated with eating crabby patties from
the Krusty Krab. He recruits 100 customers with a history of gas problems. He has 50 of them
(Group A) eat crabby patties with the new sauce. The other 50 (Group B) eat crabby patties with
sauce that looks just like new sauce but is really just a mixture of mayonnaise and food coloring.
Both groups were told that they were getting the sauce that would reduce gas production. Two
hours after eating the crabby patties, 30 customers in Group A reported having fewer gas
problems and 8 customers in Group B reported having few gas problems.
Which people are in the control group? Group B
What is the independent variable? The new sauce
What is the dependent variable? Reduction in body gas
What should Mr. Krabb’s conclusion be? The new sauce worked; 30 of the 50 customers
showed a decrease in body gas production.
17. Explain the difference between “assistive” and “adaptive” technology. *give 2 examples of each
1) assistive: Technology that is developed to help living things, but it does NOT change them
(ex: glasses, knee brace, crutches)
2) adaptive: Technology that is developed to help living things, but it WILL change them
(ex: lasik eye surgery, hip replacement, genetically altered corn)
More Practice Problems: 1) Patrick decided to go jellyfish hunting. He wondered what type of net could catch the most jellyfish. Patrick saw an Ad in the paper that claims the “Jellyfish Catcher 5000” will catch ten times more jellyfish than his regular net. Patrick tested both the new and old net five times each at the same trench, at the same time each day for a total of five days. He found that the less expensive net caught more jellyfish than the Jellyfish Catcher 5000. What is the independent variable? New net (Jellyfish 3000) What is the dependent variable? Number of jellyfish caught Control: old net Constant(s) each net was tested the same# of times; same trench; same time of day 2) Natalie thinks chewing gum will help students think better during a test. She gets six kids to help her test her hypothesis. Three of the students will take a test while chewing gum. The other three kids will take a test without gum What (Who?) is the control group? Group of students who did not get the chewing gum! What is the independent variable? Chewing gum What is the dependent variable? Better test scores Constant(s) same # of kids tested; same test questions, same amount of time to take the test 3). Timmy Turner noticed he had a really high fever. His fairy godmother, Wanda, prescribed him “PAIN-­‐O-­‐WAY” pills to make him feel better. Timmy takes two pills each day at the same time along with one glass of water. Timmy repeats this each day for a week. Timmy also ate three ice cubes on the last two days in hopes of breaking his fever more rapidly. What is the independent variable? “PAIN-­‐O-­‐WAY” pills What is the dependent variable? Reduction of fever Constant(s) # of pills taken; same time of day , same amount of water What did Timmy do wrong? When Timmy ate the ice cubes along with his pills, he added another variable. Now Timmy does not know if it was the pills or the ice cubes that reduced his fever. Timmy has now tested two variables. You should only test one variable at a time in an experiment to see if it works.