Name:__________________Date:_______Section:_________
GRADE 8 SCIENCE EXAM STUDY GUIDE-SEMESTER 1
Use your notes (and textbook and worksheets) to define the terms and answer the questions. Review the
study guide, old tests and quizzes, labs, worksheets, and other notes to prepare for the exam.
SCIENTIFIC METHOD AND “WE ARE SCIENTISTS”
Part 1. Vocabulary: Fill in the definition.
scientific method, observation, quantitative observation, qualitative observation, control, variable,
independent variable, dependent variable, hypothesis, procedure, inference, data, analyze, conclusion,
experiment, reliable, trials, fair, valid
Part 2. Content: You must know all of the following content by answering the questions.
1. List the steps of the scientific method.
2. Peter loves music. He believes that he does his homework better and faster when he listens to music.
His parents say that music is distracting when studying.
a) What is the problem? ________________________________________________________________
b) Write a testable hypothesis in the "If..., then" form. Be sure it is in this form and a complete sentence.
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_____________________________________________________________________________________
c) Describe in 3–6 sentences an experiment Peter could do to test his hypothesis.
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_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
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d) What would the independent variable be? ________________________________
e) What would the dependent variable be? __________________________________
f) What would the control variables be? _____________________________________
3. The Johnson family has decided to try to save electricity (and money at the same time). They were
told that they could replace their regular light bulbs with special fluorescent bulbs that use less energy.
They wonder if it is really worth doing.
a) What is the problem? ________________________________________________________________
b) Write a testable hypothesis in the "If..., then" form. Be sure it is in this form and a complete sentence.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
c) Describe in 3–6 sentences an experiment the Johnson family could do to test their hypothesis.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
d) What would the independent variable be? ________________________________
e) What would the dependent variable be? __________________________________
f) What would the control variables be? _____________________________________
4. Find 3 things wrong with this graph.
temperature
graph
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Series1
0
5
10
15
a) ________________________________
b) ________________________________
c) ________________________________
INTERACTIONS OF ENERGY AND MATTER
Part 1. Vocabulary: Fill in the definition.
types of energy: kinetic, potential, gravitational potential, light, electrical, mechanical, sound
thermal/heat, nuclear, chemical; temperature, Celsius, Fahrenheit, Kelvin, absolute zero, thermometer,
conduction, convection, radiation, conductor, insulator
From BrainPop-energy sources, resource, renewable, nonrenewable, hydroelectric, windmills,
geothermal, solar cells, nuclear reactors, pollution, fossil fuels, greenhouse effect, global warming,
alternative energies, turbine, generator
Part 2. Content: You must know all of the following content by answering the questions.
a) List the forms of energy and give an example of each.
b) Describe the energy conversions that occur when a ball is dropped and bounces back up. Why do you
think the ball bounces a little lower each time?
c) Give an example of energy conversions. (ie. chemical to mechanical to electrical)
d) What are the three temperature scales? Give the freezing point and boiling point of each.
e) Can a container of cold water have the same thermal energy of a container of hot water? Explain.
f) Before homes were heated, people often placed hot water bottles at bedtime. Why is water a good
choice?
g) Review the PHET Energy Skate Lab, Energy Changes and Form Lab, and your Energy Simulation
worksheet. There will be questions from them!
h) Look over the Heating Curve for Water Lab.
From the BrainPop Chats Choose three of the following: nuclear, wind, solar, hydroelectric, geothermic,
fossil fuels. Describe them, list the pros and cons, and how they are converted (changed) from one form
to another to electricity to power your home. (There may be more than one conversion.)
From BrainPop Heat Describe how your topic from the TeamTeach can be applied to your life. How
does it connect to your every day life? Be specific and creative like your project!