Biology SOL Review Packet
Biology
Name: Dominic W
Period: ___________ Date: ___________________
Part 1. Scientific Investigation
A. Steps to the Scientific Method: Word Bank: conclusions, x-axis, y-axis, experiment, encyclopedias, data, graphs,
scientific journals, state & local agencies, hypothesis, observations, inference
1. Make observations Do research: to determine what problem you want to address
An inference is a conclusion you draw after you make observations and can be tested with a hypothesis
2. Develop a Hypothesis based on research from a variety of sources
Research can come from:
a. encyclopedias: are the best place to locate current findings on the newest technologies
b. scientific journals: are a good place to find information on extinct species or historical theories
c. state & local agencies: can help with local policies or local research (example: can help research the
effects of pesticides on the squirrel population)
3. Conduct a Controlled experiment - testing the hypothesis and collecting data and observations
4. Interpret and Analyze observations: using tables and data
On a graph, the IV is on the x-axis and the DV is on the y-axis
5. Draw graphs - including improvements for future experiments
B. Designing an Experiment: Word Bank: experiment, variables, hypothesis, constants, control, independent variable,
dependent variable
1. hypothesis - is an educated guess/prediction; usually in “IF...THEN” form.
2. variable- are the factors that are measured in an experiment.
3. independent variable - is the variable that you purposely change...variable “I” change.
4. dependent variable is the variable that changes as a result of changing the IV.
5. , control - is the baseline measurement that you compare your data to.
6. , constants - the thing(s) that are purposely kept the same in the experiment.
7. :experiment - is a structured way to test a hypothesis.
C. Scientific Method Scenario
Smithers thinks that a special juice will increase the productivity of workers at the nuclear power plant. He creates two
groups of 50 workers each and assigns each group the same task (in this case, they're supposed to staple a set of
papers). Each group consists of workers that are the same age and have shown to typically work at the same
speed. Group A is given the special juice to drink while they work. Group B is not given the special juice. Each group is
give an hour and after the hour, Smithers counts how many stacks of papers each group has made. Group A made 1,587
stacks and Group B made 2,113 stacks.
1. What is Smither’s hypothesis? If the workers drink a special juice then the productivity of the workers wills increase.
2. What is the independent variable? If the workers drank the juice or not
3. What is the dependent variable? How productive the workers are
4. Name 3 constants. The workers age, the workers speed, amount of time working
5. What is the control in this experiment? Not drinking the juice
6. How many repeated trials are there? one
7. What conclusion can Smither’s make about the special juice? The juice doesn’t help
D. Observation, Inference or Prediction: For the following situations, indicate if it is describing an observation, inference
or prediction.
y using your sense of smell, sight, touch, sound & taste
2. Inference: An explanation for an observation based on previous experiences &
knowledge
3. prediction: The use of knowledge to identify and explain observations in advance
4. Observation: A mammal has fur
5. prediction:
6 Inference:
Mammals have fur to keep them warm in the winter months
If a mammal does not grow longer fur in the fall, it will not survive the
winter months
7. Prediction: A flower has colorful petals to attract pollinators
8. Observation: The flower had red petals
9. Inference: Flowers with the brightest colors will attract the most pollinators
10. Inference: Worker ants will wander aimlessly and never find a food source if the
scout does not lay down a chemical signal
11. observation:
A scout ant releases a chemical signal where ever it goes
12. prediction: The purpose of the chemical signal is to lead worker ants to a food
source
E: Hypothesis, Law or Theory: For the following situations, indicate if the statement is a hypothesis, law or theory.
1. Hypothesis: A hypothesis that has been supported with repeated testing and explains ‘why’ the events occurred- can
be changed when new evidence is discovered
2. Hypothesis: An educated guess based on observations- can be disproven or supported
3. law: A statement that is always true and is typically represented with a mathematical equation- does not explain ‘why’
the observations occurred
4. Theory: Each morning when you wake up, your trashcan is overturned. You believe that the raccoons are responsible
for the mess.
5. law: E=mc
6. Hypothesis: Natural selection explains how organisms change over time due to survival of the fittest
7. Theory: You see no difference in the cleaning ability of various laundry detergents and you believe that cleaning
effectiveness is not affected by the type of detergent you use.
8. Law: The earth contains a magnetic field because it has a fluid core.
9. law: An equation to quantify the velocity of galactic movement
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Part 2. Scientific Tools and Characteristics of Living Things
A. Scientific Tools – In the table below, identify the name of the tools, what is measures and the unit of measurement
in the metric system. Word Bank: beaker, graduated cylinder, balance, ruler, flask, petri dish, volume, mass, length,
gram, liter, meter, light microscope, coverslip & slide
Name of
equipment
Letter of
equipment
Function
Balance scale
Flask
I
C
Thermometer
Ruler
Beaker,
graduated
cylinder
E
D
Microscope
petri dish
G
F
Slide, coverslip
H
Measures mass
Very accurate tool for measuring
precise amounts of liquids
Measures temperature
Measures length
Less accurate tools for measuring
amounts of liquids (there are two
pieces of equipment above that fit
this description)
Used to examine micro-organisms
Used to culture bacteria and microorganisms
Used to prepare specimens to be
able to be viewed under the
microscope
What does it
measure in the
Metric System?
Mass
Unit of
measurement in the
metric system?
Grams
Temperature
Meter
volume
Temperature
length
liter
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
B: Quantitative or Qualitative Data: For the following situations, indicate if the data is quantitative or qualitative.
1. Qualitative data : Data that deals with descriptions and the data can be observed but not measured
2. Quantitative data : Data that deals with numbers and the data can be measured on a standard scale, such as length or
mass
3. Qualitative : A picture contains colors of blue and green and is hung in a gold frame
4. Quantitative: A coffee latte is served in a 12 oz. cup and costs $4.95
5. Quantitative: The incoming freshmen class has 672 students and 52% of them are on the honor roll
6. Qualitative: The Godiva chocolates have a milky brown color and have a string taste.
7. Qualitative: The actress wore a sequenced off the shoulder gown for the red carpet.
8. Quantitative: The box was 10” x 14”, weighed 3.2 kg and held up to 200 mL of fluid
C. Microscope – Fill in the names of the parts of the microscope. Word bank:, eye piece, diaphragm, fine focus, course
focus, stage, high objective, low objective, scanning objective, base, stage clips, lamp, arm, revolving nosepiece, ocular
lens (magnifying lens inside the eyepiece)
Identify the functions of the parts of microscope above by filling in the blanks with the correct part of the microscope.
1. Coarse adjustment knob- used to make focus adjustments under low & scanning power
2. Diaphragm -adjusts the amount of light
3. Objective lens- changes the magnification
4. Stage clip- holds down the slide
5. Ocular lens - what you look through
6. Fine adjustment knob- used to make focus adjustments under high power
Total Magnification (Ocular Lens x Objective Lens = Total magnification)
1. What is the total magnification for low power?
2. What is the total magnification for scanning power?
3. What is the total magnification for high power?
D. Characteristics of Life: Word Bank: cells, metabolism, homeostasis, reproduce, heredity, evolution
1. Cells smallest unit of all life
2. Metabolism get and use energy in order to carry out life functions
3. reproduce either asexually or sexually
4. Homeostasis maintain a constant internal environment
5. heredity pass on traits to offspring
6. evolution populations of organisms change over time
7. Homeostasis A cell expands when placed in a hypotonic solution
8. evolution A bacteria cell goes through binary fission
9. Metabolism A plant performs photosynthesis
10. Heredity A jack rabbit has long ears to release body heat
E. Levels of Organization: Word Bank: population, organ, Cell, tissue, atom, organ system, community, ecosystem,
organism, biosphere, molecular
1. Atom the basic unit of matter
2. molecular compounds made of atoms
3. Cell the smallest unit of life
4. Tissue a group of cells that carry out a similar function
5. Organ a group of tissues that carry out a specialized function in the body
6. Organ system a group of organs that work together to perform body functions
7. organism a single living thing
8. population a group of organisms of the same species that live in the same area and can interbreed
9. community a group of different species that live in the same habitat and interact with on another
10. ecosystem: a community of organisms and their non-living environment
11. Biosphere: all of the world and it’s atmosphere that support life