Scientific MethodPractice Questions

Instructions

• I will NOT take a grade on this. This is to help you practice and to be ready for the test!• Please work each problem and answer the questions first.• The answers are at the end of the presentation. When you have

answered all of the questions, go to the back and check your answers.• If you are confused…SEE ME to get extra tutoring before the test. I am

available during recess and lunch. I will also be available Wednesday and Thursday after school, if you let me know you’re coming.

QUESTION 1

QUESTION 2

What is the independent variable?

What is the dependent variable?

What variables should be controlled?

What is the BEST type of graph to use?

QUESTION 3

QUESTION 4

What is the independent variable?

What is the dependent variable?

What variables should be controlled?

What is the BEST type of graph to use?

GRAPH the results.

QUESTION 5

QUESTION 6

Identify the independent variable.

Identify the dependent variable.

What variables need to be controlled?

If you want to make an estimate of plant growth with 7 hours of light, what is the BEST type of graph to make?

GRAPH your results using that type of graph.

QUESTION 7

QUESTION 8

QUESTION 9

Identify the independent variable.

Identify the dependent variable.

What variables should be controlled?

QUESTION 10

A student wants to test which soil holds the most water. He uses 4 different types of soil. He puts a different amount of water in each can, and pokes different sized holes at the bottom. He measures how much water drains out of each can after 10 minutes.

What 2 mistakes did the student make with his variables? How can he fix this experiment?

QUESTION 11

A student wants to test how far a car wheel roll, if it is rolled from different heights on a ramp. Help the student design an experiment!• What is YOUR hypothesis?• What is the independent variable?• What is the dependent variable?• What variables should be controlled?• Write the procedure for doing the experiment.

QUESTION 12

Answers 1-5:

1. J – Which materials conduct electricity?2. F – plant height3. Independent – type of soil

Dependent – plant growth/heightConstants – type of plants, amount of water, soil, sunlight, same temperatureUse a BAR graph (comparing categories; only 1 set of numbers)

4. B – Brand M lasted longer than the other brands tested5. Independent – Brand of battry Dependent – Hours of battery life Controls – same flashlight, all batteries should be new Use a BAR graph (comparing categories, only 1 set of numbers)

Answers 6-10:

• 6. C – The plants that received 8 hours of sunlight grew the most• 7. independent: amount of light

• Dependent: Average growth• Controls: same plants, same amount of water, soil, same temperature, same

type of soil, etc.• Use a LINE graph (2 sets of numbers, use line graphs for estimates)

• 8. B – water with more salt takes longer to freeze• 9. B – will ants go to a light area or a dark area?• 10. Independent: amount of light

• Dependent: number of ants that go to each place• Controls: same size of light/dark areas; same ants; same conditions in each area

Answers 11-12:• 11. Mistake 1: Using different amounts of water. • Mistake 2: Poking different sized holes in each can• Fix these mistakes so that all variables are controlled. The amount of water

and the size of the holes should be the same.

• 12. Hypothesis: I think that if the car is lifted higher up the ramp, it will roll a longer distance, because it has more momentum.• Independent variable: Height rolled from the ramp• Dependent variable: Distance traveled• Controls: Same car, same ramp angle, same amount of time to roll• Procedure: Roll the car from point K and measure the distance in

centimeters that it rolls in 10 seconds. Repeat from points L, M, and N, measuring the distance that each rolls in 10 seconds.