Scientific Inquiry

_______ investigations provide large amounts of information about a wide range of variables.

Comparative

Which characteristic should a good scientific question have?

It should be based on observations instead of just imagination.

Bena thinks that dissolving more salt in water causes the mixture's freezing temperature to change. Which is the best type of scientific investigation for Bena to use to study this?

an experimental investigation, because it allows for the control of variables

Rhonda watched a video taken by a camera that was lifted into the upper atmosphere by a weather balloon. She saw the balloon pop when it reached a certain height. Afterward, Rhonda wondered what effect the air pressure at high altitudes has on the volume of gas in balloons. What scientific practice is Rhonda performing?

asking a question

Chou is curious about the effect of magnets on how plants grow. He sets up ten pots with alfalfa sprouts. He places strong magnets under five of the pots but does not put magnets under the other five pots. This is an example of which scientific practice?

performing an investigation

Which question about dogs could be answered through scientific investigation?

How fast does an Australian terrier grow?

Maggie is a member of her school's environmental club and is interested in recycling. She asks the question, "How does exposure to the environment affect recyclable plastics?" What best describes why and how Maggie should change her question to make it a better scientific question?

The focus of the question is too broad, so it should be narrowed to a single environmental factor.

Omar observes that many buildings in his city were built using limestone. He has read that acid rain can damage limestone. He also knows that limestone reacts with acids and that chemical reactions are affected by temperature. With this in mind, he conducts an investigation to see how the amount of damage to the limestone is affected by the amount of acid on the stone.

The temperature, the type of limestone, and the type of acid are controls. The amount of acid and the amount of damage to the limestone are variables.

Sheila conducts an investigation to see how the amount of salt dissolved in water affects the density of the water. Which statement best describes the correct plan for her procedure?

The type of salt and the amount of water are controls, and the amount of salt and the density are variables.

Pablo wants to enter the science fair. Which question could be answered through scientific investigation?

What is the best angle to throw a ball for maximum distance?

After watching a show about submarines, Jamil wants to learn more about the oceans. Which question could be answered through scientific investigation?

What substances dissolve in ocean water?

Candace is interested in learning more about colors. Which question about colors could be answered through scientific investigation?

Which color bends the most to make a rainbow?

A baseline for an experimental investigation is provided by the________

control group .

Jack is making a table to summarize his notes about the different types of scientific investigations. He places an X into the table to match the investigation type with the step. Part of the table is shown. Where should Jack place an X?

in Box 1

Nami conducts an investigation on plants. She places a grow light on a timer to give the plants different amounts of light to see if this would affect their growth. In this investigation, the amount of light is the________

independent variable

________ investigations never involve hypotheses.

independent variable

An advertisement for a new fish food claims that lab studies show that fish grew three inches in three weeks while eating the food. Travis wondered if the food was worth the extra cost. To evaluate the claim in the advertisement, Travis should

look at the data for the control group to see how much the fish grew without the new food.

Lidia plans an experimental investigation to see how the thickness of a lens affects the point where a beam of light is focused. She plans to shine light through a lens and measure the distance to a screen that is placed where the beam focuses. What are the controls in Lidia's investigation?

the type of light and the material of the lens