Mystery Box (Scientific Inquiry) 2009
Purp ose/ Objecti ve s:
You have been given a sealed box that contains three objects. You have also been
given an identical but empty box and a tray with an assortment of objects that may have
been used to fill the mystery box. Using these objects and the scientific method, you will
work with your lab partners to try to determine the contents of your mystery box without
opening it.
By the end of this exercise, you should be able to:
•
•
•
•
Explain the scientific investigation method and apply it to examples.
Identify and describe questions that can be answered scientifically.
Explain what distinguishes a good scientific hypothesis.
Define, give examples of, and identify dependent and independent variables.
Backgr ound:
Whether you realize it or not, you use the process or method of scientific
investigation to learn about yourself and the world around you. Scientists use this method of
investigation to construct new knowledge as well. Usually the scientific process begins with
a problem or question about an observation. Only questions that can be answered by
making observations and gathering evidence can be solved using scientific investigation.
Once a question is identified, a testable explanation or hypothesis must be proposed.
The scientific process requires that we test our hypotheses either experimentally or by
further observation. Since a broad generalization is very difficult to test, one way to test a
hypothesis is to make a specific prediction based on the general hypothesis.
Testing a hypothesis with scientific investigation allows us to gather evidence, or
data, that will either support or contradict the hypothesis. To ensure that the test is reliable,
a good scientific experiment has several important elements, including: one independent
(manipulated) variable, one dependent (responding) variable, standardized variables,
controls, and replication.
1
Minority Science Programs – School of Biological Sciences – University of California, Irvine
Mystery Box (Scientific Inquiry) 2009
Voc abu lar y:
Scientific inquiry
Observation
Hypothesis
Prediction
Variable
Independent variable
Dependent variable
Control
Replication
Data
Materi als:
Per Group:
•
•
•
1 sealed box containing 3 items
1 empty box
1 tray with possible content items
Possible Items:
•
•
Cotton balls, paper clips, buttons, binder clips, erasers, glass slides, plastic beakers
Scales or balances for further investigation
Meth ods/Pr ocedure :
Use the following guidelines to direct your investigation. Record your observations and
answers to the following questions in your lab write-up.
1. Make observations. Do not open the box, but use any other methods at hand to
investigate it (Hint: Think about what “instruments” you have available).
2. When you think you have an idea of what items might be in your mystery box, make an
initial hypothesis and record it in your lab write-up. This hypothesis should be simple and
testable.
a. What were the observations that led you to make your hypothesis?
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
2
Minority Science Programs – School of Biological Sciences – University of California, Irvine
Mystery Box (Scientific Inquiry) 2009
b. What other methods or materials might be useful to you for making additional
observations about the contents of your container?
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
3. Discuss your hypothesis and the methods you would like to use with your lab instructor
and classmates. After the discussion, the instructor will offer you some additional
methods for investigating the contents of your mystery box.
4. Using some of the additional methods and/or materials, make a prediction based on your
hypothesis and record it in your lab write-up.
5. Test your hypothesis/prediction and record further observations.
a. Do your new observations agree with your initial hypothesis about the contents of
the box? ______________________________________
b. What new information leads you to conclude that your first hypothesis was correct
or to revise your initial hypothesis? ___________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
c. Write a new hypothesis in your lab write-up, next to your original hypothesis.
6. When the entire class is finished making their second hypotheses, your instructor will
have each group write its hypothesis on the board. Then your instructor will reveal the
contents of each mystery box. Please do not open your container.
7. Discuss and answer the following questions with your classmates after everyone has
written their box contents on the board.
8. Review the process of scientific inquiry by creating a flow-chart of the procedure you used
to solve your mystery box.
3
Minority Science Programs – School of Biological Sciences – University of California, Irvine
Mystery Box (Scientific Inquiry) 2009
Meth ods/Pr ocedure Flow-Char t:
4
Minority Science Programs – School of Biological Sciences – University of California, Irvine
Mystery Box (Scientific Inquiry) 2009
Name: _____________________ Period: ___
Que sti on s:
1. Complete the table of experimental design elements on the lab write-up.
2. Which of the following hypotheses are testable by scientific inquiry? Explain your
answers. (9 points)
a. Typed lab reports receive better grades than handwritten papers do.
Testable?
Yes
No
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
b. Cats purr when they are happy.
Testable?
Yes
No
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
c. Vitamin C prevents sore throats.
Testable?
Yes
No
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
3. For each of the following examples identify the independent and dependent variables. (10
points)
a. Running rates of lizards are measured at three different temperatures.
Independent: ______________________________________________
Dependent: _______________________________________________
b. Corn plant height is measured for plants with and without added nitrogen.
Independent: ______________________________________________
Dependent: _______________________________________________
5
Minority Science Programs – School of Biological Sciences – University of California, Irvine
Mystery Box (Scientific Inquiry) 2009
c. Bean plant seed production is measured with various frequencies of insecticide
spraying.
Independent: ______________________________________________
Dependent: _______________________________________________
d. Penguins from a single clutch are split between two rooms in the Sea World penguin
house. In one room the temperature is 10˚C, in the other it is 5˚C. Their weights are
measured at the end of one year.
Independent: ______________________________________________
Dependent: _______________________________________________
e. Dogs are given different foods and their blood glucose level is measured after 1 hour.
Independent: ______________________________________________
Dependent: _______________________________________________
6
Minority Science Programs – School of Biological Sciences – University of California, Irvine