1G Science Inquiry & Process Flashcards
Explore key concepts of scientific inquiry, including observation, experimentation, and data analysis.
What are the 5 main steps of the scientific method?
- Asking a question.
- Forming a hypothesis.
- Test the hypothesis through experimentation and collect data.
- Analyze the data.
- Draw conclusions based on the data.
The questions asked are usually driven by previous observations.
Give examples of scientific observations.
- Watching an apple fall from a tree.
- Noticing fish only come to a part of a river in the early morning.
- Smelling garbage decomposing.
Why are observations important in science?
They are the starting material for scientific questions and experiments.
How do scientists make observations?
Using techniques such as viewing, microscopy, immunofluorescence, and sequencing.
What is a scientific observation?
The act of noting and recording a sensory experience about the natural world, which can include seeing, tasting, touching, hearing, or feeling.
What is the main purpose of a scientific investigation?
To prove or disprove a hypothesis.
A hypothesis is a testable prediction of what the investigator thinks the outcome will be.
How do scientists test a hypothesis in a scientific investigation?
It consists of collecting data that scientists can use to prove or disprove the hypothesis.
Data can be gathered through observations, experiments, or scientific models, and must be repeatable for other scientists to test the hypothesis.
What is the importance of defining variables in an experiment?
To distinguish the independent variable, dictated by the experimental design, from the dependent variable, which is the result of the independent variable.
Variables help control the experiment and understand the relationship between different factors.
What is the final step in the scientific method?
Drawing conclusions based on the data, which may support or refute the hypothesis, and often leads to new questions and investigations.
Scientists organize data into mediums like graphs and charts to compare with other sources and the control.
What is scientific investigation?
The systematic process of asking questions, forming hypotheses, conducting experiments, and drawing conclusions to answer specific questions
This process is commonly known as the scientific method.
What is the purpose of analyzing data in a scientific investigation?
To interpret the data collected through experiments.
This involves creating charts, graphs, and tables.
What is the purpose of drawing conclusions in a scientific investigation?
To report findings based on the analyzed data.
Conclusions help scientists determine if their hypothesis was supported.
What are some mediums used to organize data in a scientific investigation?
- Graphs
- Charts
- Tables
These mediums help in comparing data to other sources and the control.
What is the purpose of scientific investigations?
To answer a question by proving or disproving a theory or hypothesis.
What is a science experiment?
A way of figuring out the structure and behavior of the world using a systematic method.
What is the difference between accuracy and precision in data analysis?
- Accuracy refers to how close your data is to the true value.
- Precision refers to the consistency of your data when repeated.
Describe the importance of keeping all other factors constant in a science experiment.
To ensure a fair test and isolate the impact of the independent variable on the dependent variable.
What does a best-fit line in a graph represent in data analysis?
A visual representation of how well the data points align with the predicted trend.
What are independent and dependent variables in an experiment?
- The independent variable is what is changed in the experiment.
- The dependent variable is what is measured as a result of that change.
What is a control in an experiment?
The group or condition that does not receive the experimental treatment, used for comparison to isolate the effect of the independent variable
Controls are used for comparison purposes.
What is a hypothesis?
A testable prediction of what the investigator thinks the outcome will be.
E.g. “Does the weight of a paper airplane affect how far it can fly?” One possible hypothesis could be, “If the paper airplane is heavier, then it will fly shorter distances”. The purpose of the investigation to follow is to prove that hypothesis.
What is meant by the cycle of the scientific method?
It is often cyclical; answering one question leads to another.
What do scientists look for when interpreting data?
Patterns and trends between the variables to help prove or disprove the hypothesis.
What happens if a hypothesis is not supported by the data?
Scientists revise the hypothesis and begin the investigation again.
Why do scientists share their findings?
To allow others to test the same hypothesis and verify the results.
What did Louis Pasteur discover through scientific investigation?
Heating wine to 60-100°C eradicates unwanted microbes, a process now known as pasteurization.
