Name:
Date Due:
Practice of
Science
Sr. High Science
Understanding Packet
Name:
What is Science?
1. Define the following terms:
a. Science=
b. Specialization=
c.
Life Science=
d. Earth and Space Science=
e. Physical Science=
2. How do scientists gain knowledge?
3. Why do scientists specialize?
4. What are the three branches of natural science?
5. Into which branch of science would you classify the following: a scientist studying the organisms
in a river?
6. How do the different branches of science depend on one another?
7. How do you think knowledge of science would benefit a chef?
8. Look around the room. List items in the room that have been altered by science. (Hint: if it
doesn’t occur that way in nature, it has been changed.)
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
k.
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9. Go on the internet or use a dictionary and find the definitions of the following areas of
specialization. Then indicate which of the three branches of natural science that specialization
belongs.
Specialization
Definition
Branch of Natural
Science
Aerodynamics
Botany
Climatology
Ecology
Geology
Medicine
Nuclear Physics
Thermodynamics
Natural
Science
Physical
Science
Life Science
Earth and
Space Science
Physics
Botany
Geology
Chemistry
Zoology
Meterology
Ecology
Astronomy
Genetics
Oceanography
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Scientific Method
10. Define the following terms:
a. Scientific Method=
b. Observation=
c.
Hypothesis=
d. Variable=
e. Independent Variable=
f.
Dependent Variable=
g. Control Experiment=
h. Analyzing=
i.
Scientific Theory=
11. What is the goal of the scientific method?
12. What are the variables in a controlled experiment?
13. Every time you and your friend study for an exam while listening to classical music, both of you
do well on the exam. What testable hypothesis can you develop from your observations?
14. What steps of the scientific method should be done before performing an experiment?
15. What is one way to help you analyze data?
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16. Why is a scientific theory more accepted than a hypothesis?
17. What does a scientific law describe?
18. How do scientific theories differ from scientific laws?
19. Decide which of the six science method skills (listed below) is being used in each of the following.
Write the name of the skill in the space provided.
 Observing
 Classifying & Analyzing
 Predicting
Data
 Modeling & Simulating
 Measuring
 Communicating Results
a.
You create a line graph that shows the high
temperatures for each day.
b.
You determine how many kilometers it is from your
home to school.
c.
You explain how to solve a science problem to a
classmate.
d.
e.
f.
You rearrange your clothes by color.
You smell the aromas of spaghetti cooking.
You think it will rain tonight based on the fact that it
rained the past three nights.
20. Look at the drawings of a cube. The drawing shows five of the six sides of the cube. Answer the
questions after the drawing about the cube.
3
1
5
4
6
?
a. What is the missing number?
b. How did you determine the missing number?
21. Look at the drawings of a cube. The drawing shows five of the six sides of the cube. Answer the
questions after the drawing about the cube.
2z
4y
6x
8w
10v
?
a. What is the missing number/letter?
b. How did you determine the missing number/letter?
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Read the experiment below.
Two students thought that the mechanical advantage of a single fixed pulley was 2. To
check, they used a 2 kg mass, a spring scale, a rope, and a single fixed pulley. First,
they used the spring scale to find how much was needed to lift the mass, or effort force,
without the rope. Then, they attached the mass to one end of the rope and passed the
other end over through the single fixed pulley. They attached this end of the rope to the
spring scale. By pulling down on the spring scale, they were able to find the effort force
needed to lift the mass. They then compared this force with the force needed to lift the
mass without the pulley. They found that the pulley did not change the effort force. They
concluded that the mechanical advantage of the fixed pulley was equal to 1.
22. Write a possible title for the experiment:
23. State the purpose of this experiment in the form of a question.
24. What was the hypothesis in this experiment?
25. Make a list of materials that the students needed to carry out this experiment.
26. Write a step-by-step procedure for this experiment.
27. Complete the data table to show the results of the experiment
Number of Ropes
Mechanical Advantage
0
1
28. Write the conclusion that the students reached based on their results.
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Technology & Science
29. Define the following terms:
a. Technology=
b. Risk-Benefit Analysis=
30. What is the goal of technology?
31. How does technology differ from science?
32. How has technology impacts society?
33. List one example of technology that has increased the pace of your life. What positives and
negatives impact this technology had?
34. Why is it important to analyze the risks and benefits of technology?
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Mathematics & Science
35. Define the following terms:
a. Estimate=
b. Mean=
c.
Median=
d. Mode=
e. Accuracy=
f.
Precision=
g. Significant Figures=
h. Scientific Notation=
i.
Percent Error=
36. What are estimates based on?
37. What are the three ways of calculating an “average”?
38. Why is it important to obtain measurements that are both accurate and precise?
39. How many significant figures do 202.090 have?
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40. Why do scientists use scientific notation?
41. How does the precision of measurements affect the precision of scientific calculations?
42. What is the rule for multiplying or dividing measurements?
43. Write each number in scientific notation:
a. 0.07882
b. 118000
c.
74171.1
d. 0.00005730
e. 8950
f.
35098
g. 40980
h. 0.001089
44. Write each scientific notation number in standard format:
-7
a. 3.443X10
6
b. 1.525x10
c.
-4
5.1821x10
2
d. 5.2560x10
45. Add or Subtract these measurement using the correct number of significant figures:
a. 1.0m+62m=
b. 52.15cm-50.1cm=
c.
9.2g+53.41g=
d. 100mL-62.6mL=
46. Multiply or Divide these measurement using the correct number of significant figures:
a. 42x10=
b. 556/52=
c.
111x2589=
d. 98562/1234=
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Measurement
47. Define the following terms:
a. Measurement=
b. Length=
c.
Volume=
d. Water Displacement=
e. Mass=
f.
Weight=
g. Time=
h. Temperature=
48. Why do scientists use a standard measurement system?
49. What is the standard measurement system used by scientists around the world?
50. Suppose that two scientists use different measurement systems in their work. What problems
might arise if they shared their data?
51. List the SI units:
a. Length
b. Volume
c. Mass
d. Time
e. Temperature
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52. What is the difference between weight and mass?
53. What tool should you use to measure the volume of water?
54. What does each of these prefixes mean (use the internet or dictionary to find the answer- Hint, it
is a number)
a. Kilo- =
d. Deci-=
b. Hecta-=
e. Centi-=
c. Deca-=
f. Milli-=
55. Write the abbreviation for each metric unit:
a. Kilogram
d. Milliliter
g. Kilometer
b. Meter
e. Millimeter
h. Centimeter
c. Gram
f. Liter
i. Milligram
56. Try these conversions using the Ladder Method describe below:
 To convert to a smaller unit, move decimal point to the right or multiply by powers of
ten. (Hint: count the number of squares you have to down the ladder to determine
the number of decimal places you have to move or the power of ten you have to
multiply)
 To convert to a larger unit, move decimal point to the left or divide. (Hint: count the
number of squares you have to move up the ladder to determine the number of
decimal places you have to move or the power of ten you have to divide)
K_
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
h_
3000 mg=
5 m=
16 cm=
14 kL =
160 dag=
da_
Basic
Unit
(g, L, m)
d_
g
mm
mm
L
dg
c_
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
m_
5.6 m=
120mg=
75 cm=
2500 L=
1 g=
cm
kg
mL
kL
mg
57. Convert one side of the comparison then use <, >, or =.
a. 63 cm
6m
d. 536 cm
53.6 dm
b. 5 g
508 mg
e. 43 mg
5g
f.
36 cm
c.
15,000 mL
1.5 L
3.6 m
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Organizing Data
58. Define the following terms:
a. Data Table=
b. Graph=
c.
Line Graph=
d. Bar Graph=
e. Circle Graph=
f.
Pictograph=
g. Linear Trend=
h. Slope=
i.
Nonlinear Trend=
59. What can graphs reveal that data tables cannot?
60. What type of data can line graphs display?
61. How do you determine the slope of a line?
62. If the rise is 16 and the run is 4, what is the slope of the line?
63. Why are graphs powerful tools in science?
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Name:
64. Describe a nonlinear graph.
65. Organize the data into the data table below:
Quetta, Pakistan, 1978, 7.7R
Sakhalin, Russia, 1995, 7.5R
Kuril Island, Russia, 1994, 7.9R
Tokyo, Japan, 1923, 8.3R
Kobe, Japan, 1995, 7.2R
Bhuj, India, 2001, 6.9R
Izmit, Turkey, 1999, 7.4R
Flores, Indonesia, 1992, 7.5R
Year
Magnitude
Southern Alaska, 1964, 8.4R
San Francisco, 1906, 8.3R
Oakland, 1989, 6.9R
Los Angeles, 1994, 6.6R
Mexico City, 1985, 8.1R
Guatemala, 1976, 7.5R
Chimbote, Peru, 1970, 7.8R
Naples, Italy, 1922, 7.2R
Major Earthquakes Worldwide
Location
Year
San Francisco
Naples
Tokyo
Alaska
Chimbote
Guatemala
Quetta
Sakhalin
Magnitude
Location
Mexico City
Oakland
Flores
Kuril Island
Los Angeles
Izmit
Bhuj
Kobe
a. In what year did the earliest major earthquake recorded in the listing take place?
b. In what year did the most recent major earthquake in this listing occur?
c. Using the data, what magnitude on the Richter scale is considered to be a major earthquake?
d. Has major earthquakes activity increased or decreased over the past 100 years?
e. Explain how the table made it easier for you to answer the questions than just using the list.
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66. Graph the following information in a line graph.
A student measured changes in temperature of water as it was heated. The
beginning temperature of the water (in degrees Celsius) was 36°. The
temperature then rose to 42° after 1 minute, 50° after 2 minutes, 60° after 3
minutes, 70° after 4 minutes, 79° after52 minutes, 88° after 6 minutes, 97° after 7
minutes, and 100° after 8 minutes.
67. Graph the following information in a bar graph.
A scientist measured a lizard’s body temperature throughout a day. The
temperature was 28°C at 8am, 31°C at 10am, 34°C at 12 noon, 38°C at 2pm,
36°C at 4pm, 33°C at 6pm, and 30°C at 8pm.
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68. Graph the following information in a circle graph.
A group of students classified 24 objects according to the kinds of simple
machines they were. They identified 6 wheel & axles, 8 levers, 6 inclined planes,
and 4 pulleys.
69. Graph the following information in a pictograph.
A student has a rock collection of the following rocks: 2 obsidian, 3 sandstone,
10 quartz, 2 marble, 6 coquina, 5 mica, and 3 slate.
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Safety in the Lab
70. Define the following terms:
a. Safety Symbols=
b. Safe Practices=
71. What do the safety symbols describe?
72. If you see a symbol with flames on it, what do you know about that chemical?
73. How should you protect your skin during a lab?
74. If you are using a chemical and it spills, what should you do?
75. Describe how each situation is unsafe:
a. Jodi notices that the glass test tube she is using has a crack in it. She decides to use the
test tube anyway.
b. Niko decided to leave his lab materials and unused chemicals out on the desk overnight.
c.
Lee heated a solution in a test tube, she looked into the test tube without goggles to
observe what was happening.
d. Michael was dissecting a frog without wearing gloves. The end-of-class bell suddenly
rang. Michael grabbed his books and rushed to his next class.
What is wrong or unsafe with each numbered spot in the WHAT-NOT-TO-DO-Laboratory?
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17
Name:
Write in the box what is unsafe for each number in the WHAT-NOT-TO-DO-Laboratory?
1
19
2
20
3
21
4
22
5
23
6
24
7
25
8
26
9
27
10
28
11
29
12
30
13
31
14
32
15
33
16
34
17
35
18
36
18