Module 1: The Nature of Science

Question 1

Any technological application using living things or living systems is called __________.

Answer 1

biotechnology

Question 2

Why is a cubic centimeter an example of a derived unit?

Answer 2

The cubic centimeter is obtained by using a length measurement. This unit is used to express volume.

Question 3

Other than time, how are SI units used in the United States?

Answer 3

Some uses of SI units include measurements in medicine, in science labs, automotive parts, and tools.

Question 4

What should not be included in the scientific process?

Answer 4

experimenter bias

Question 5

What is not a standard component of the experimental process?

Answer 5

opinions

Question 6

Life science is the study of living things. According to this definition, a life scientist would most likely study __________.

Answer 6

cellular respiration

Question 7

Melissa heated a few blue crystals in a test tube. After a few minutes, she observed that the crystals had turned white and a film of water had formed on the inside of the test tube. Before Melissa conducted this experiment, she most likely __________.

Answer 7

developed a hypothesis

Question 8

In science, activities are performed that test the validity of theories. These activities are called ____________.

Answer 8

experiments

Question 9

Sometimes scientists misinterpret their data, causing them to draw the wrong conclusion. What is one common cause of scientific misinterpretation?

Answer 9

researcher bias

Question 10

In a survey, it was reported that 56 out of 245 people would rather drink orange juice than coffee in the morning. Calculate what percentage of a circle graph orange juice drinkers would occupy. How many degrees of the circle would orange juice drinkers occupy?

Answer 10

56/245 = 0.229

0.229*100 = 22.9%

0.229*360 = 82 degrees of circle graph

Question 11

In 2010, the Department of Defense’s overall budget was approximately $534 billion. In the same year, the Department of Defense budgeted $79.1 billion for research, development, tests, and evaluations. What percentage of the budget does this represent?

Answer 11

79.1/534 = 0.18

0.18*100 = 18%

18 percent

Question 12

What is the SI unit for time?

Answer 12

second

Question 13

One one-thousandth is expressed by which prefix?

Answer 13

milli-

Question 14

What is the symbol for deciliter?

Answer 14

dL

Question 15

What is not considered technology?

Answer 15

leaf

Question 16

Identify when bias occurs in scientific experimentation. Describe steps scientists can take to reduce bias and validate their experimental data.

Answer 16

Bias occurs when a scientist’s expectations about the experiment change how he or she views the results.

Running multiple trials, keeping accurate records of measurable data, peer review, and designing experiments that can be repeated reduces bias and helps validate data.

Question 17

Suppose you set a glass of water in direct sunlight for 2 h and measure its temperature every 10 min. What type of graph would you use to display your data? What would the dependent variable be? What would the independent variable be?

Answer 17

A line graph
time would be the independent variable
temperature would be the dependent variable

Question 18

Make the following conversions:
1500 mL to L
2 km to cm
5.8 dg to mg
22 degrees C to K

Answer 18

1.5 L
200,000 cm
580 mg
295 K

Question 19

Students drop different objects from the same height and measure the time it takes each object to reach the ground. What is the dependent variable? What is a constant in this experiment?

Answer 19

falling time
dropping each object from the same height

Question 20

Make the following conversions:
27 degrees Celsius to Kelvin
20 dg to mg
3 m to dm

Answer 20

300 K
2,000 mg
30 dm