Name: KEY
Earth & Environmental Systems Science
Unit 1 – Foundations of Science
Review for Quiz 1
Foundations of Science Study Guide- Quiz #1
Systems:
1. Label and describe each part of the universal systems model and be able to explain an example of how a process
can be thought of as a system.
A. Goal - Objective or what you want the system to do
B. Input - Ingredients or all resources needed
C. Process - Directions or Steps
D. Output - Product from the input and process; should be
related to the goal
E. Feedback - Reaction that is positive reinforcement or negative with changes that can be made to the input
or process
2. What is a System?
A group of related parts that work together to accomplish a common goal
3. Feedback is often forgotten in the design. What is the purpose?
Feedback is a way to change any input or process to make the outcome better. It can be positive reinforcement
or a negative constructive comment.
Earth Systems Science:
4. What is Science?
A process of learning about the natural world.
5. Describe the five systems of Earth Science:
Lithosphere – solid rock
Hydrosphere – water
Biosphere – living things
Exosphere – outer space
Atmosphere – air/weather
6. What is the primary focus of an earth systems science analysis?
To analyze, predict, and even prevent imbalances in the Earth’s system or events that may affect several of
systems or even cause a negative rippling effect.
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Unit 1 – Quiz 1 Study Guide
Name: KEY
Earth & Environmental Systems Science
Unit 1 – Foundations of Science
Review for Quiz 1
Law, Theory, and Hypothesis:
7. A possible explanation for an observation is hypothesis.
8. Universal pattern found in nature used to explain is a scientific law.
9. Complex set of proven hypotheses used to describe is a scientific theory.
10. For Laws, Theories, and Hypotheses: which is/are always true?
Law and Theories – are always true; parts of theories can be revised but the over theory remains the same.
Hypothesis can be proven to be false.
Scientific Method and Experimental Design:
11. What is the difference between an observation and an inference?
Observation – fact and undeniable
Inference – opinion and not always true
12. Is an observation the start or end of the scientific method?
Start!
13. Use the picture to the right and provide two possible observations and two
inferences:
- Observations:
There are clouds in the sky
The highway contains 6 lanes
- Inferences:
The truck is speeding
The truck is carrying a tank full of fuel
14. Steps of Scientific
Method
State the Problem:
Gather Information:
Form a Hypothesis:
Test the Hypothesis:
Conclusion:
Think of a prior problem you have solved
- Describe each step of the scientific
method as an example.
Friend didn’t text me back
Check friend’s schedule, Check message
status
Friend may not have cell phone
See friend in hallway and ask if they have
cell phone
Nope! They left it at home
Example 2:
Alarm clock did not go off
Must be set, am, right time, have
power
If my alarm clock did not go off then it
must have been set to PM.
Open alarm program, check time
alarm is set to, be sure it is AM.
Alarm was set to PM – now hurry up
so you are not late and be sure to
change it for tomorrow!
15. What is a “null” hypothesis?
A hypothesis where the test came back with unexpected results to disprove hypothesis.
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Unit 1 – Quiz 1 Study Guide
Name: KEY
Earth & Environmental Systems Science
Unit 1 – Foundations of Science
Review for Quiz 1
16. What is a controlled experiment?
An experiment that tests only one independent variable at a time. If more than one variable is tested, the results
cannot be linked to just a single change.
17. Why is it important to only test one variable at a time and keep all others controlled?
If you test more than one variable at a time and get unexpected results, you will not know what cause the
unexpected results. Example: If I test different water and fertilizer amounts at the same time I will not know
what caused the plant to grow better.
18. Match the variable or group with the following descriptions:
a. The Scientist picks
Independent Variable
b. The Scientist measures
Dependent Variable
c. The Scientists keeps the same
Controlled Variables
d. Group that receives the treatment
Experimental Group
e. Group that gets the normal treatment Control Group
19. What is the difference between an independent and dependent variable?
The independent variable is picked by the scientist in increments, and is what changes with each
control/experimental group. The dependent variable is the results that the scientist measures and most times
records in a data table. The dependent variable cannot be made up.
20. Norm wanted to know if adding peat moss to sand would affect its ability to hold water. He put 200 mL of pure sand into
container A. He put a mixture of 80% sand and 20% peat moss into container B. He put a mixture of 60% sand and 40%
peat moss into container C. He put a mixture of 40% sand and 60% peat moss into container D. He added water to each
container and measured the amount of water the contents would absorb. He dried the sand and peat moss and repeated
the experiment 5 times. He collected the following data.
Composition of Mixture
Water Holding Capacity (mL)
100% sand
74
80
70
71
74
60% sand, 40% peat moss
86
88
90
92
94
40% sand, 60% peat moss
110
116
104
108
112
80% sand, 20% peat moss
84
82
86
82
84
Title: What Mixture of Sand and Peat Moss Will Hold the Most Amount of Water?
Hypothesis: Norm does not state his hypothesis, so make your own.
If more peat moss is added to the sand then it will hold more water.
Dependent Variable: Water Holding Capacity
Independent Variable: Amount of peat moss added to the sand
Control Group :
A – 100% Sand
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Experimental Group:
B – 60% Sand 40% Peat
Experimental Group:
C – 40% Sand 60% Peat
Most Peat
Experimental Group:
D – 80% Sand 20% Peat
Unit 1 – Quiz 1 Study Guide
Name: KEY
Earth & Environmental Systems Science
Unit 1 – Foundations of Science
Review for Quiz 1
Controlled Variables: Initial Sand/Peat were dry, room temperature, container.
Conclusion: What mixture of sand and peat moss holds the most water? the least?
The hypothesis was verified. The more amount of peat moss, the greater the amount of water will be
held. The mixture that held the greatest amount of water was C, 40% sand and 60% peat. The mixture
that held the least was A, 100% sand and no peat.
21. Bri was trying to prove to her friends the importance of breakfast on test days. She asked her science teacher if they could
perform the following experiment, and the teacher agreed. Bri made a multiple choice quiz on orbital motion and
distributed it to her classmates who did not eat breakfast. The following day students were provided breakfast bars before
school and given the same test in class. The average results are shown below.
Class Period
Test Average without Breakfast:
Test Average with Breakfast:
3
78%
85%
4
80%
95%
5
85%
87%
Title: Does breakfast have a positive impact on test scores?
Hypothesis: Bri gave a hypothesis so use it!
If students eat breakfast, then they get higher scores on tests.
Dependent Variable: Average Test Scores in Every Period
Independent Variable: Breakfast
Control Group : No Breakfast
Experimental Group: Breakfast Bars
Controlled Variables: Amount of subjects in each period, no coffee either day, did the students get the
same lesson before, no flashcards or study aids, time test was given compared to time snack was eaten.
Describe a flaw within the experiment that produced the given results:
Period 3, 4, and 5 all eat the breakfast bar, but take the test at different times of the day.
Testing on different days always produces better results on the second day b/c the test is previewed and
memorized.
How could it be improved or controlled?
Give the breakfast bar in the morning and everyone takes the test at the same time.
Scramble the questions and multiple choice answers.
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Unit 1 – Quiz 1 Study Guide