Review Questions
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Which of the following best describes the scientific method?
A) A rigid step-by-step checklist
B) A flexible process of inquiry based on observation and testing
C) A fixed set of rules determined by scientists centuries ago
D) A method limited to laboratory research only -
Which of the following is a hypothesis?
A) “Water boils at 100°C at sea level.”
B) “If fertilizer is added to the soil, plant growth will increase.”
C) “Plants need sunlight to grow.”
D) “The scientific method has six main steps.” -
A tentative explanation for a set of observations that can be tested is called a __________.
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List the steps of the scientific method in order.
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Why is a control group important in an experiment?
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What is the difference between a hypothesis and a theory in science?
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A scientist hypothesizes that adding sugar to water will increase yeast growth. Identify the independent variable, dependent variable, and a possible control.
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A scientific theory is a guess with little supporting evidence. (True/False)
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A prediction in an experiment is usually written in what type of format?
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Which of the following would NOT be considered a proper scientific hypothesis?
A) “Plants grow faster in sunlight than in shade.”
B) “Aliens visit Earth every summer.”
C) “The rate of enzyme activity increases with temperature up to a point.”
D) “If more fertilizer is added, crop yield will increase.” -
Explain why repeatability is important in scientific experiments.
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What role do observations play in forming a hypothesis?
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Which step of the scientific method involves analyzing data to determine if the hypothesis is supported or rejected?
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Fill in the blank: A __________ variable is the factor that a scientist deliberately changes, while a __________ variable is the factor that is measured.
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Describe a simple experiment you could design using the scientific method to test whether music affects plant growth. Be sure to include your hypothesis and a prediction.
Licenses and Attribution
CC Licensed Content, Original:
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This educational material includes AI-generated content from ChatGPT by OpenAI. The original content created by Dr. Zeinab Motawe from Hillsborough College is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0).
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All images in this textbook generated with DALL-E are licensed under the terms provided by OpenAI, allowing for their free use, modification, and distribution with appropriate attribution.
Openly Licensed Content Included:
- Written content adapted from: OpenStax, Biology. OpenStax CNX. May 27, 2016. “The Process of Science.” Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Other Licensed Content Included:
- No other licensed content was included.
