Lesson 5 - The Scientific Method

How is a theory used in everyday conversation different from a scientific theory?

A theory is often used to describe something that is unproven or speculative and a scientific theory is an explanation of observations or events based on hypotheses found to be true and verified many times by different groups of scientists.

When you light a match, there is a brief ___________ smell that almost burns your nose.

acrid

In this experiment, the independent variable is _____.

amount of sunlight

The scientific method is:

an orderly method for observing nature and making predictions

A(n) ___________ needs to be carefully planned so that it is controlled and measurable and its results are repeatable.

experiment

If Aristotle had conducted some ___________, he would have discovered that some of his theories were in error.

experiments

In light of the scientific method, some of Aristotle's ideas were wrong because __________________________.

he did not formulate hypotheses and then perform experiments to test them

Using reasoning, Aristotle correctly described the check ________ cycle, but he incorrectly concluded that check _______ had more teeth than check ______

hydrologic, men, women

A theory is what one or more ________ become once they have been tested over and over again by different scientists in different situations and found to be true.

hypotheses

Once the data is collected and the problem is defined, a(n) ____________ that attempts to solve the problem is formulated.

hypothesis

Most scientific discoveries have been made as a result of careful, methodical ___________, ___________, and ___________.

testing, obseravtion, reasoning

In this experiment, the control is _____.

the group of plants that received the same amount of light each day

If after many experiments, the test results consistently support your hypothesis and you are convinced that your hypothesis is sound and will hold up even after more experiments, it is time to form a ___________.

theory

Devices used to extend the senses or to make observations safer are called ___________.

tools

An experiment should be controlled so that it only tests one __________ at a time so you don't introduce extra factors into the situation.

variable

___________ are occurrences observable in nature.

Phenomena

A Greek philosopher named check ______ spent his whole life observing nature and check _________ the reasons why nature behaves as it does.

Aristotle, contemplating

Sir Isaac Newton proposed a theory in 1687, that after more than 300 years, has become a scientific law know as the ___________________.

law of universal gravitation

Laws are often written as ____.

mathematical expressions

An experiment needs to be carefully planned so that it is ___________ and ___________ so that its results are repeatable.

measurable, controlled

To help explain collected data, it is sometimes helpful to create a scientific ___________ which is a visual, verbal, or mathematical representation designed to explain natural phenomenon.

model

The foundation of the scientific process is:

observation

The correct order of the six steps of the scientific method is:

observation, problem question, hypothesis, experimentation, analyze data and draw conclusions, report results

The word __________ describes something having to do with the normal functions of an organism.

physiologically

In this experiment, the dependent variable is _____.

plant growth

The first observations are usually collected as ___________ data, which are facts or pieces of information that can be observed with the senses.

qualitative

Observations collected as facts or pieces of information that can be expressed as an amount or quantity are described as ___________ data.

quantitative

In this experiment, if the results do not turn out as expected it may be necessary to _____.

revise your hypothesis