Scientific Method Test Study Guide
I.) Vocabulary: Define the following vocab words:
A. Variable
B. Control
C. Constant
D. Independent Variable
E. Dependent Variable
F. Hypothesis
G. Quantitative
H. Qualitative
I.
Inference
J. Observation
II.) Steps of Scientific Method- review these and make sure you can recognize a good vs bad one of
each.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Problem Statement
Observations before Experiment (research, etc)
Form a Hypothesis
Experiment
Observations after Experiment (data, etc)
Draw Conclusions
III.) Describe the difference between observations and inferences:
IV.) Safety Rules- Review these rules and be ready to recognize a statement involving poor science lab safety.
1. Always wear safety goggles during a lab.
2. Never point a test tube at yourself or another person.
3. Never smell a solution directly without your teacher’s permission.
4. Read and listen to all lab directions before beginning an experiment.
5. No horseplay or joking around during a lab.
6. Return all equipment to proper place.
7. Only use the eyewash station or safety shower when directed by teacher.
8. Tie back long hair and baggy clothes.
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V.) Practice Questions
1. Jennifer placed a jar of pond water on a sunny windowsill in her room. One week later, the water
was green. She decided that algae was in the pond water and had reproduced. Which of the following
statements is an observation?
a. Light caused the algae to reproduce.
b. Boiled pond water would not turn green.
c. Water turned green after one week.
d. All of the above.
2. Caleb has created a new vitamin that he thinks will reduce the production of stress associated with
going to high school. He recruits 100 freshmen with a history of stress problems. He has 50 of them
(Group A) take the vitamin with breakfast. The other 50 (Group B) take a fake vitamin with breakfast.
Both groups were told that they were getting the new vitamin. At the end of the day, 30 freshmen in
group A reported having less stress and 8 freshmen in group B reported having less stress.
a. Which people are in the control group?
b. What is the independent variable?
c. What is the dependent variable?
3. Name one qualitative observation about your shirt.
4. Name one quantitative observation about your shoe.
Use the key given to identify the following statements.
KEY:
A. Problem (stated or implied)
B. Hypothesis
C. Statement of observation (before or after experiment)
D. Conclusion
5. The students will get better test scores if they study for 30 min right before the test.
6. Some animals can change color.
7. If I open the faucet, then it will increase the flow of water.
8. With yeast and fuel added to water, the drink was carbonated.
9. I need a date for Friday night.
10. If leaf color change is related to temperature, then exposing plants to low temperatures
will result in changes in leaf color.
11. Define accuracy –
12. Define precision –
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7. For each of the following, decide the proper measurement using the correct precision:
A. ____________________
B. ____________________
8. Look at each target and decide whether the “hits” are accurate, precise, both accurate and precise, or neither
accurate nor precise: (Note: An accurate “hit” is a bulls eye!)
Accurate?: Yes / No
Precise?: Yes / No
Accurate?: Yes / No
Precise?: Yes / No
Accurate?: Yes / No
Precise? : Yes / No
9. Each of five students used the same ruler to measure the length of the same pencil. These data resulted: 15.33
cm, 15.34 cm, 15.33 cm, 15.33 cm, 15.34 cm. The actual length of the pencil was 15.85 cm. Describe whether
accuracy and precision are each good or poor for these measurements.
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10. Read each graduated cylinder below and record the value with the correct precision.
a) _________ml
d) _________ml
b) _________ml
e) _________ml
11. Put the following in order of smallest to largest
Gram
Kilogram
dekagram
Centigram
decigram
hectogram
c) _________ml
f) _________ml
milligram
microgram
12. Lab equipment- choose from the following pieces of lab equipment:
Ruler
balance
graduated cylinder
a. Which is used to measure mass? _______________________________________________
b. Which is used to measure the volume of a rectangular block? __________________________________
c. How would you find the volume of a pen (irregular solid)? ____________________________________
d. How would you find the volume of water? _______________________________________________
13. A graduated cylinder has lines every 1 ml. Draw a small portion of a graduated cylinder (draw it sideways in the
space below) with this precision, using the numbers between 80 ml and 90 ml. Draw liquid on your drawing so that the
meniscus reads 84.8 ml. Explain why you can read this measurement as 84.8 ml and not 84 ml and not 84.86 ml.
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