AZSCI Planning Investigations

Question 1

A student wants to test how the amount of sunlight affects the height of a bean plant. What is the independent variable in this investigation?

Accepted Answer

The amount of sunlight the plant receives.

Answer

The final height of the bean plant.

Answer

The amount of water given to the plant each day.

Answer

The type of soil used for the plant.

Question 2

A group of students is designing an experiment to see which brand of paper towel is the most absorbent. Which of the following is the most important variable to keep constant (controlled) for each trial?

Accepted Answer

The amount of liquid poured onto the paper towel.

Answer

The brand of paper towel.

Answer

The amount of liquid absorbed by the paper towel.

Answer

The time of day the experiment is conducted.

Question 3

A scientist wants to investigate the effect of different types of fertilizer on the number of tomatoes produced by a plant. Which tool would be LEAST useful for collecting data in this investigation?

Accepted Answer

A telescope to observe the plants.

Answer

A scale to weigh the tomatoes.

Answer

A notebook to record the number of tomatoes.

Answer

A ruler to measure plant height.

Question 4

When planning an investigation to test the freezing point of saltwater solutions, what is the best way to ensure the results are reliable?

Accepted Answer

Perform multiple trials for each salt concentration.

Answer

Use only one concentration of salt.

Answer

Conduct the experiment only one time.

Answer

Measure the temperature in Fahrenheit instead of Celsius.

Question 5

A student hypothesizes that a heavier ball will roll down a ramp faster than a lighter ball. To test this, they plan to release two balls of different masses but the same size from the top of a ramp. What is the dependent variable?

Accepted Answer

The time it takes the ball to reach the bottom.

Answer

The mass of the ball.

Answer

The height of the ramp.

Answer

The material the ramp is made of.

Question 6

Which of the following is the best reason for creating a detailed, step-by-step procedure before starting an investigation?

Accepted Answer

To ensure that other scientists can replicate the experiment exactly.

Answer

To make the experiment seem more professional and scientific.

Answer

To guarantee that the hypothesis will be proven correct.

Answer

To prevent any unexpected results from occurring.

Question 7

A student is investigating how the angle of a ramp affects the distance a toy car travels after it leaves the ramp. Which plan describes the most systematic way to carry out this investigation?

Accepted Answer

Test one car, releasing it from the same point, on a ramp set at specific, measured angles (e.g., 10°, 20°, 30°), and measure the distance for each angle.

Answer

Test many different cars on many different ramp angles all at once.

Answer

Test one car on one angle, then a different car on a different angle.

Answer

Set the ramp at a random angle, roll the car, and then change the starting point on the ramp for the next trial.