Vocabulary Words



Inquiry Vocabulary Words

1. Independent Variable- the part of the experiment manipulated or changed by the experimenter

2. Dependent Variable- the part of the experiment that changes because of the independent variable, you observe or measure this part to collect data (Responds to the independent variable.)

3. Constant or Controlled Variable- part of the experiment that remains the same throughout to prevent affecting the outcome.

4. Control- standard of comparison, in the “natural” state (the experiment with the variable left out)-Normally recognized by the number 0 or the words without or no, etc…

5. Hypothesis- an educated guess/an If and then statement

6. Qualitative Observation- use words to describe something’s appearance such as color or texture (uses letters and words/descriptions)

7. Quantitative Observation- use numbers to describe information about an object such as mass, length, or volume.

8. Inference- is an attempt to explain or interpret observations or to identify the cause of what was observed. (An assumption)

Steps to the Scientific Method

Standard 8-1 (Inquiry)

1. Name the steps to the scientific method in order.

1. State the problem

2. Gather Information

3. Form a hypothesis

4. Experiment (test a hypothesis)

5. Record and Analyze Data

6. State the conclusion

7. Communicate the results

Name the SI units for the following: time, temperature, mass, length, and volume

| |SI Unit |

|Time |Seconds (s) |

|Temperature |Kelvin (K) |

|Mass |Kilogram (kg) or Gram (g) |

|Length |Meters (m) |

|Volume |Liters (L) or Mililiters (mL) OR CUBIC CENTIMETERS (cm3) |

Water displacement. Water displacement measures the volume of irregular shape

objects. To find water displacement you subtract the volume of the liquid from the volume

of the liquid and object.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Example

For each of the scenarios below, answer the following questions: I’ve completed this one for an example. You are to do the 2nd one for a classwork grade.

1. What is the Independent and Dependent variables for each scenario?

2. Describe the control group and experimental groups

3. Write a hypothesis for each scenario. (If…then…)

4. Construct a data table for each collection of data.

5. Graph the mean of each set of data.

6. Write a conclusion for each scenario.

A. THE HEATED SOIL SCENARIO:

Walter wanted to know if the amount of soil affected the amount of heat that it could hold.

Walter placed 100g of potting soil in one container and then

placed a thermometer so that the bulb was 1.0 cm below the surface. He did this for 4 other containers but added 100g more to each container. He place the 5

containers under identical heat lamps for an hour. The original temperature of

each container was 15oC. After heating the jars the mean

temperatures of the containers were:

100g = 28oC 200g = 33oC 300g = 35oC 400g = 36oC. 500g = 39 oC

IV_____Amount of Soil______________ DV______Amount of Heat it Could Hold______

Control Group: 100g is the control group because it was used for comparison

Controlled Variable or Constant: type of soil, place thermometer 1.0 cm below the surface, identical heat for an hour, and all pots started at the original temperature of 15C.

Hypothesis: (IF, THEN) If Walter add more soil, then the soil will become hotter.

Data Table:

|IV: (always on the left side) |DV (the results are always on the right side) |

|Amount of Soil |Amount of Heat |

|100g |28C |

|200g |33C |

|300g |35C |

|400g |36C |

|500g |39C |

Conclusion: In conclusion, my hypothesis was correct. The amount of soil affected the temperature. When more soil was added, the soil became hotter.

Graph:

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