Testing Scientific Questions

Question 1

What does a scientific method consist of?

Answer 1

A process by which scientists as and answer scientific questions

A systematic observation
Measurement 
And experiment 
And the formulation 
Testing 
And modification of the hypothesis

Question 2

What is a hypothesis?

Answer 2

It is a statement that can be used to predict the outcome of future observations for example ‘if I do this, then this will happen’
My understanding would be predicting something that will happen based on the information you know about the objects, materials, situation of the experiment
Hypothetically this should happen based on these facts
An idea or attempt to explain something that has not yet been tested

An educated guess of how something works

Question 3

What step are taken in a scientific method?

Answer 3

1. Define a question
2. Make observations
3. Form a hypothesis
   4.experiment to test your hypothesis
4. Analyse and interpret data
   6 draw conclusions - do your observations support your hypothesis ?
5. If yes - communicate your findings
   If no - go back to step 4

Question 4

How do you test a hypothesis?

Answer 4

By designing and performing an experiment - making sure data is collected in a reproducible way

Question 5

What is the difference between a dependent and independent variable?

Answer 5

Independent variable - thing you change (vary) during an experiment

Dependent variable - change that you observe as a result during an experiment

Question 6

Which is the dependent and the independent variable in an experiment investigating how much sugar can be dissolved in water when the temperature of the water is raised?

Answer 6

The temperature of the water is the independent variable

The sugar is the dependent variable

Question 7

What two categories do water molecules in a glass or water largely fall in to?

Answer 7

Those on the surface

Those within the body of the water

Question 8

What is meniscus?

Answer 8

Meniscus is the curved surface of liquid
It can be seen with a glass of water, at the glass edge the water molecules curve upwards and this is due to the molecules being more attracted to the glass

Question 9

What is surface tension?

Answer 9

It is a direct result of the water being polar

It is a phenomenon at the surface of a liquid caused by intermolecular forces - it gives an appearance of a skin on the surface of water
Air is not polar so water is not attracted to it
The water molecules are being pulled downwards and sideways and this results in a tight surface layer

Question 10

Why are water droplets on a leaf spherical?

Answer 10

Because the molecules are strongly attracted to each their and not the leaf

Question 11

How does a pond skater manage to walk on the surface of the water?

Answer 11

The pond skaters flexible legs enable its weight to be distributed over a large surface area, so that it can use surface tension to its advantage. The pond skater is managing to walk on the waters surface without breaking the attraction between adjacent water molecules. So it is not breaking the surface skin on the water

Question 12

What gases do air contain?

Answer 12

Nitrogen (N2)
Oxygen (O2)
Argon (Ar)
Carbon dioxide (CO2)

Question 13

Nitrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide all dissolve in water

Can you think of two variables which could affect the amount of gases dissolved in water?

Answer 13

Both temperature and pressure could affect the amount of gases dissolved in water

Question 14

What happens to the amount of gases that dissolve in low temperature?

Answer 14

Dissolved gases increase with lower temperature

Question 15

What happens to the amount of gases that dissolve in low pressure?

Answer 15

Dissolved gases decrease with low pressure

Question 16

What happens to the amount of gases that dissolve in high temperature?

Answer 16

Dissolved gases decrease with high temperature

Question 17

What happens to the amount of gases that dissolve in high pressure?

Answer 17

Dissolved gases increase with high pressure

Question 18

When water gets warm bubbles form on the water container what are the bubbles filled with?

Answer 18

Dissolved gases that are coming out of the solution because warm water does not hold as much gas as cold water

Question 19

Many people like carbonated drinks. How is it possible to increase the amount of CO2 carbon dioxide dissolved within carbonated drinks?

Answer 19

Carbonated drinks are canned at low temperature and under pressure in order to increase the carbon dioxide dissolved within carbonated drinks

Question 20

What happens to the CO2 in a carbonated drink when you open it?

Answer 20

As a result of the decrease in pressure the CO2 bubbles off

Question 21

What does the prefix ‘di’ mean?

Answer 21

It mean two

E.g. Diatomic

Question 22

What is diatomic ?

Answer 22

Two atoms

Question 23

Coal burning power plants heat water to produce steam which turns turbines to make electricity. After using water it is cooled before being returned to rivers or lakes. Why is it important the water is cooled before returning it?

Answer 23

If the water is returned to the rivers and lakes while it is heated it would raise the temperature of rivers and lakes and allow the dissolved gases essential for aquatic life to escape.

Question 24

What is a whirlpool?

Answer 24

It is a body of water in a circular motion that is produced when opposing currents meet

Question 25

What is a whirlpool also known as?

Answer 25

A vortex (has a downdraft)
Small scale of sinking air

Question 26

What are oceanic eddies ?

Answer 26

It is the transport of large amounts of water,heat debris between different areas of the planet. May have implications on the environment