Biology Tutoring CK-12: Chapter 1.1

What might be an advantage of collecting evidence in a natural setting rather than in a lab?

(Remember - natural setting is in nature) Because it can give us a more natural and realistic view of the world.

Give an example of a scientific question that could be investigated with an experiment. Then give an example of scientific question that could not be investigated in this way.

(Think about a hypothesis and the conditions for it) Good: Do all trees have leaves? Bad: Do unicorns poop rainbows?

Scientific Theory

A broad explanation for events that is widely accepted as true.

Science

A distinctive way of gaining knowledge about the natural world that starts with a question and then tries to answer the question with evidence and logic.

Explain how a hypothesis could become a theory.

A hypothesis could become a theory if the hypothesis is logical and could be widely accepted as true.

Scientific Investigation

A plan for asking questions and testing possible answers.

Hypothesis

A possible answer to a scientific question that is based on scientific knowledge and is logical and falsifiable (in other words, it must be possible to make observations that would disprove the hypothesis if it really is false).

Model

A representation of part of the real world.

Experiment

A special type of scientific investigation that is performed under controlled conditions, usually in a laboratory.

Scientific Law

A statement that describes what always happens under certain conditions in nature.

Prediction

A statement that tells what will happen under certain conditions (example: If A occurs, then B will happen).

Evidence

Any type of data that may either agree or disagree with a prediction, so it may either support or disprove a hypothesis.

Observation

Anything that is detected either through human senses or with instruments and measuring devices that extend human senses.

Describe types of scientific investigations.

Other types of scientific investigations include natural studies and modeling. They can be used when experiments are difficult to do.

Explain what a scientific theory is.

Scientific theories are broad explanations that are widely accepted as true. This is because they are supported by a great deal of evidence.

Describe how scientists study the natural world.

Scientists gain knowledge through scientific investigations. A scientific investigation is a plan for asking questions and testing possible answers.

Explain how and why scientists do experiments.

Scientists use experiments to test hypotheses under controlled conditions. Experiments are often done in a lab.

Dependent Variable

The affected variable in an experiment (example: plant growth).

What is the goal of science?

The goal of science is o understand the natural world through systematic study. Scientific knowledge is based on evidence and logic.

Scientific Method

The scientific investigation that follows the steps: 1. Make Observations 2. Ask a Question 3. Form a Hypothesis 4. Test the Hypothesis 5. Draw Conclusions 6. Communicate Results

Independent Variable

The variable that affects the dependent variable in an experiment (example: some plants get fertilizer, others do not).

Explain why science cannot provide answers to all questions.

There are different systems of belief (different religions & evolution), there are some things that happen that science cannot explain (people seeing ghosts).

Contrast how the term theory is used in science and in everyday language.

In science, a theory is a broad explanation for events that are widely known as true. In everyday language, people think of a theory as a guess or a hypothesis.

Identify the independent and dependent variables in the following experiment: A scientist grew bacteria on gel in her lab. She wanted to find out if the bacteria would grow faster on gel A or gel B. She placed a few bacteria on gel A and a few on gel B. After 24 hours, she observed how many bacteria were present on each type of gel.

Independent Variables: 1. Results after 24 hours. Dependent Variables: 1. She placed a few bacteria on gel A and a few on gel B.