Scientific Methods Test

Grading and Answer Key

1. Why is proper communication so important in science?

Safety Sharing/Collaboration Clarification Consistency

P (2 pts)

2. How has science changed over the years?

P (2 pts)

3. Goggles make me look like a dork so I don’t want to wear them during lab.

Not wearing safety goggles would put your eyes in danger

You should always wear safety goggles whenever the instructor tells you to.

P (1 pt)

4. If I sweep this broken test tube under the counter, the teacher will never know.

By doing this you are creating an unsafe area for you and your classmates.

This is not the honest/ responsible way to handle a situation

The teacher WILL know :)

P (1 pt)

5. Write the names and purpose of the lab equipment pieces.

a) Graduated Cylinder: measures volume

b) Beaker: measures volume

c) Triple Beam Balance: measures mass

d) Meter Stick: measures length

d) Flask: measures volume C (5 pts)

6. What are some of the benefits of using the scientific method to investigate a problem?

It provides rational steps to solve a problem

It is a systematic process to help guide your thinking

P (1 pt)

7. List and describe the steps of the scientific method.

1. State the Problem

2. Research

3. Form a Hypothesis

4. Experiment

5. Collect and Analyze Data

6. State a Conclusion

P (3 pts)

8. Why do scientist use the metric system in most of their studies?

It’s easier: Powers of “10” To establish a common language with

the rest of the world It can give us more precise

measurements

A (2 pts)

9. What units do you use to measure length?

Meter

C (2 pts)

10. In your own words, define VOLUME and what units do you use to measure volume?

Volume is the amount of space an object takes up.

Units: Cm3 or mL or Liters

C (2 pts)

11. In your own words, define MASS and what units do you use to measure mass?

Mass is the amount of matter in an object.

Units: grams

C (2 pts)

12. Rewrite the table using prefixes that represent each square. Each square represents a factor of 10.

Kilo Hecto Deca Meter Deci Centi Milli

Bigger Smaller

C (3 pts)

Analyze an Experiment

Scenario: A group of students wanted to investigate the effect of temperature on the evaporation rate of water. To do this, the students obtained 12 beakers and poured 100 mL of water at room temperature into each beaker. The beakers where then divided into 4 groups of three. Each group was then placed on hot plates and water temperatures raised to 30 C, 45C, 60C and 75 C respectively. After four hours, the students measured the volume of remaining liquid in each beaker and calculated the amount of water that had evaporated.

19. What is a valid problem statement for this lab?

How does temperature effect the evaporation rate of water?

Which temperature of water would yield the most evaporation?

A (2 pts)

20. What is the independent variable?

Temperature of water

A (2 pts)

21. What is the dependent variable?

Amount of water evaporated

A (2 pts)

22. Write a possible hypothesis for this test.

I think that the ________ temperature will evaporate the most because _________

A (2 pts)

23. Identify the variables in the experiment that need to be held constant.

Size of the beaker Time that the beaker is on a hot plate (4 hours) Starting temperature of the water

A (2 pts)

24. Why did the students use three beakers at each water temperature?

To be more accurate To eliminate sources of error To obtain an average (accuracy)

A (2 pts)

25. Construct a bar graph that shows the relationship between temperature of water and the amount of water evaporated for each group.

0

5

10

15

20

25

30 deg. 45 deg. 60 deg. 75 deg.

Temp. of Water(Celsius)

Water Evaporation Amounts at Given Temperatures

Amt. ofEvaporation(mL)

Temp. of Water (degrees Celsius) C (8 pts)

+1

+1

+1 +1

+2

+2

26. Using your graph, predict the amount of water that would evaporate after 4 hours if the water was kept at 90 deg.

Between 30 – 45 mL of evaporated water.

A (2 pts)

27. What is a possible follow-up problem that you could test based on this first experiment?

Must be written in problem statement form.

Any ideas??

A (2 pts)