Scientific Inquiry

Question 1

What is scientific inquiry?

Answer 1

the diverse ways in which scientists study the natural world and propose explanations based on the evidence they gather.

Question 2

Step 1: Posing Questions

Answer 2

Scientific inquiry usually begins with a question about an observation

Question 3

Step 2: Developing a Hypothesis

Answer 3

A hypothesis is a possible answer to a scientific qusetion. A hypothesis is not a fact.

Question 4

How do you design and conduct an experiment?

Answer 4

An experiment must follow sound scientific principles for the results to be valid.

Question 5

Variables

Answer 5

A variable is a factor that can change in an experiment. The variable that is purposely changed to test the hypothesis is the manipulated variable. The variable that may change in response to the manipulated variable is the responding variable

Question 6

What is a controlled experiment?

Answer 6

An experiment in which only one variable is manipulated at a time. All other variables are kept the same. If your experimet had more than one manipulated variable, there would be no way to tell which variable influenced your results.

Question 7

Collecting and Interpreting Data

Answer 7

Data are the facts, figures, and other evidence gathered through qualitative and quantitative observations. To organize your data, make a dat table. After your data is collected, it needs to be interpreted. A great tool to interpret your data is a graph. Graphs reveals patterns and trends of data.

Question 8

Drawing Conclusions

Answer 8

A conclusion is a summary of what you learned from your experiment. To draw your conclusion you must examine your data objectively to see if they do or do not support your hypothesis. Many trials are needed before a hypothesis is deemed true. Scientific inquiry doesn’t end once the experiment is done . Usually, one experiment leads to another.

Question 9

Communicating Results

Answer 9

Communicating is the sharing of ideas and results with others through writing and speaking. Scientists communicate by giving talks at scientific meetings, exchanging information on the Internet, or publishing articles in scientific journals.

Question 10

Scientific Law

Answer 10

A statement that describes what scientists expect to happen every time under a specific set of conditions

Question 11

Scientific Theory

Answer 11

a well-tested explanation for a wide range of observations and experimental results

Question 12

Scientific Theory vs. Scientific Law

Answer 12

Unlike a scientific theory, a scientific law describes a observed pattern in nature without attempting to explain it.