Unit 1 Study Guide

Study Guide

Test Date:  Friday, September 25th

The Scientific Method

Fill in the Blank

1.  A systematic approach to problem solving is called the __________________.

2.  The first step of the scientific method is to state the __________________ or ask a _________________.

3.  Before you create a hypothesis, you must gather __________________, and is known as the second step of the scientific method.

4.  Before experimenting, you must state the __________________, which is the third step of the scientific method.  A hypothesis is a suggested __________________to a scientific problem.

5.  In which step of the scientific method does the scientist test their hypothesis? __________________

6.  A step by step plan for your experiment is called a __________________.

7.  In an experiment there are two variables, the __________________ variable, and the __________________ variable.

8.  The scientist changes the __________________ variable, and the __________________ variable responds to the __________________    variable.  The purpose of the independent variable is to have a variable that   gets__________________.

9.  A controlled experiment has two different types of set-ups…the__________________ set up, and the __________________ set up. __________________ are the factors that remain the same in an experiment.

10.  In an experiment, the setup without the independent variable is the__________________.

11.  List the 7 steps of the scientific method in order:         

1__________________         

2__________________         

3__________________         

4__________________         

5__________________         

6__________________

7__________________

The Scientific Method in Action         

A scientist wanted to see if fertilizer would affect the growth of tulip flower plants.  The scientist put both tulips in the sunlight for the same amount of time, and gave them an equal amount of water each day.  The scientist gave one of the tulips fertilizer and didn’t give it to the other plant.  She compared the growth of the tulip without fertilizer to the tulip with fertilizer.  The tulip with fertilizer was much taller.

Fill in the Blank

12.  What is this experiment’s problem? ________________________________

13.  What is the independent variable? _________________________________

14.  The water temperature responded to the sunlight, this is called the _____________________ variable.

15.  Name 2 constants._____________________________________________

16.  What is the control in this experiment?_____________________________

17.  What would be a good way to organize your data?  A Chart, table, or graph…or all three?­­­­__________________________________________________

18.  Why would you want to repeat the steps of this experiment?_____________          _________________________________________________________