Scientific Inquiry and Skills

The water pressure

The depth of the water

The density of the water

The container's width

To make sure water is the independent variable

To keep water as a control variable

To measure the growth accurately

To make the plants grow faster

The temperature of the tea

The volume of the tea

The material of the cup

The time elapsed

Independent variable

Dependent variable

Control variable

Constant

The color of the flowers

The pH level of the soil

The amount of fertilizer used

The species of Hydrangea

The power of the light bulb in Watts

The distance from the light source

The brightness or intensity of the light measured by a sensor

The color of the light bulb

The amount of water given to each seed group

The height of the grass after two weeks

The type of grass seeds and the amount of light they receive

The rate at which the grass grows

The pH of the acid rain used.

The duration of the rainfall.

The change in mass of the limestone sample after exposure.

The chemical composition of the limestone before the test.

The color of the light.

The type of plant used.

The light intensity.

The duration of the count.

IV: Salinity; Levels: 0%, 1%, 2%, 3% salt solutions.

IV: Germination rate; Levels: number of seeds sprouted per day.

IV: Radish seeds; Levels: 10 seeds, 20 seeds, 30 seeds.

IV: Water volume; Levels: $10\text{ml}$, $20\text{ml}$, $30\text{ml}$.

How many times the experiment was repeated

Whether the experiment actually tests what it claims to test

How expensive the laboratory equipment was

The number of people who liked the results

The height of the plant

The type of soil

The amount of water given to each plant

The growth rate

Hypothesizing

Peer review

Data collection

Variable control

A graduated cylinder

A digital balance

A ruler

A thermometer

The raw data table and the final graph

A discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of the method used

A list of all the materials that were used in the experiment

The original hypothesis and whether it was correct

It might break the glass beaker

It would measure the temperature of the beaker glass rather than the liquid

The thermometer scale will become hard to read

The liquid will evaporate faster

The data is highly reliable

The data has low reliability and likely contains significant random errors

The experiment is perfectly designed

The hypothesis must be wrong

The simulation is based on mathematical models which may oversimplify complex real-world interactions.

The simulation cannot be repeated, whereas real-world experiments can be done multiple times.

The simulation is less precise because it does not involve using physical measuring tools.

Simulations are only useful for qualitative data and cannot provide quantitative values.

The temperature of the flask, because gas density and volume are highly sensitive to temperature changes.

The color of the flask, as dark colors might absorb more light and heat.

The volume of the flask, though this is usually constant for a glass container.

The brand of the digital balance used to take the mass readings.

Ensure the total mass of the large chips is exactly equal to the total mass of the powder.

Use twice the volume of acid for the powder because it reacts faster.

Perform the powder experiment at a lower temperature to slow it down for easier measurement.

Use different acids for the chips and the powder to see which one works better.

To save time

To ensure that any change in the dependent variable is caused by that specific factor

To make the data table smaller

Because the lab equipment cannot handle more than one change

$1\text{ g}$

$0.1\text{ g}$

$0.01\text{ g}$

$10\text{ g}$

To connect every single dot

To show the general trend of the data

To make the graph look more complicated

To hide the outliers

Liters

Kiloliters

Milliliters

Meters

6 apples and 3 oranges

12 apples and 4 oranges

9 apples and 6 oranges

3 apples and 3 oranges

The speed is increasing at a constant rate

The object is not moving

The speed is constant over time

The acceleration is increasing

1

2

3

4

Measuring the change in mass of the metal using a $4$-decimal place balance.

Counting the number of bubbles produced per minute.

Taking a photograph of the metal before and after the experiment.

Describing the change in color of the metal using a scale of 1-10.

$6.25\%$

$6.67\%$

$0.20\%$

$3.12\%$

A descriptive title, clear headings with units, and propagated uncertainties.

Only the final averages and the conclusion.

The raw data for every single trial including all errors made.

A list of all the materials and equipment used.

To list all the equipment needed

To state the purpose or goal of the investigation

To describe the safety precautions

To show the final results in a table

A social media post from a friend

A peer-reviewed scientific journal article

An anonymous blog post

A comic book

Independent variable

Controlled variable

Dependent variable

Anomalous variable

Fahrenheit ($^\circ F$)

Kelvin ($K$)

Celsius ($^\circ C$)

Calories ($cal$)

The method is highly reproducible because many groups did it.

The method has low reproducibility, suggesting it may be unclear or flawed.

The metal block was changing its mass during the experiment.

The groups were all using the same equipment, which is wrong.

The temperature of the liquid increased by $5^{\circ}C$.

The reaction produced $25\,ml$ of gas.

The solution turned from blue to a cloudy green.

The object had a mass of $1.5\,kg$.

To give the student time to get ready for the exercise.

To serve as a baseline for comparing the changes caused by exercise.

To ensure the student's lungs are working correctly before they start.

To make the experiment take longer so it looks more professional.

Paper towels are designed to absorb different amounts of water.

The amount of water is a controlled variable that must be kept constant to isolate the effect of the brand (independent variable).

The student should have used oil instead of water to be more scientific.

The brands of paper towels are the dependent variable.

The result is likely due to chance because $0.04$ is a small number.

The result is statistically significant (usually defined as $p < 0.05$), suggesting the diet likely had an effect.

The diet caused exactly $4\%$ of the weight loss.

The study is invalid because $p$-values must be exactly $0$.

Repeating the experiment more times to get a better average.

Using a copper container instead of a glass beaker.

Using a lid and insulating the container with cotton wool.

Stirring the liquid more vigorously during the reaction.

Erase it immediately so the graph looks perfect

Investigate why it happened and report it, rather than just hiding it

Change its value to match the other points

Assume the equipment was broken and write down a different number

Always telling the truth about your findings, even if they aren't what you hoped for

Only telling people the 'good' results

Never admitting you made a mistake

Telling people what they want to hear so they give you money

The names of the scientists

Standard quantities like $cm$, $s$, or $^{\circ}C$

The colors used to draw the bars

The paper size of the graph

To clearly state the purpose and goal of the experiment

To make the report look more professional with more headings

To tell the reader the scientist's name

To provide a list of all the books used

It makes the diagram more colorful

It allows scientists from different languages to understand the process

It is a requirement of the peer review board to use at least five arrows

It proves the scientist used a computer to make the drawing

To provide a baseline for comparison to see if the medicine actually had an effect

To ensure that more people get the medicine for free

To make the experiment take a longer amount of time

To hide the results of the experimental group

Only report the successful cases to avoid scaring people

Report both the effectiveness and the side effects in their publication

Remove the $2\%$ of people from the data set before publishing

Wait until $10\%$ of people get the rash before mentioning it

Integrity in scientific communication

The law of conservation of energy

The 'Publish or Perish' mandate

Financial market speculation

To grade the students' final science exams

To provide an independent review of research plans to protect participants and the institution

To make sure all scientists wear the correct safety goggles

To decide which scientific theories are 'true' and which are 'false'

A clever way to make the essay more authoritative

An ethical violation of accuracy and proper attribution

Permissible if the quote is related to physics

Not an issue since Einstein's work is in the public domain