Scientific Method & Engineering Process Flashcards
7 cards from real STEM practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Scientific Method & Engineering Process flashcards as text
A student notices that plants near a window grow taller than those in a darker corner. Which step of the scientific method does this observation most directly lead to?
Answer: Forming a hypothesis
An observation prompts the formation of a testable hypothesis about the relationship between light and plant growth.
In the engineering design process, what is the primary purpose of the 'Define the Problem' phase?
Answer: To clearly identify constraints, criteria, and the need being addressed
Defining the problem establishes the criteria for success and the constraints that any solution must satisfy.
Which type of variable is deliberately changed by the researcher in a controlled experiment?
Answer: Independent variable
The independent variable is the one the experimenter intentionally manipulates to observe its effect on the dependent variable.
A research team tests three different bridge designs under identical load conditions. What role do the identical load conditions serve?
Answer: They serve as controlled variables to ensure a fair test
Keeping load conditions identical controls extraneous variables so that differences in bridge performance can be attributed to design alone.
After testing a prototype, engineers find it fails to meet one of the design criteria. According to the engineering design process, what should happen next?
Answer: Iterate by revising the design and testing again
Iteration — revising and retesting — is a core feature of the engineering design process that leads to improved solutions.
Which of the following best describes a 'null hypothesis'?
Answer: A statement that assumes no relationship or effect exists between variables
The null hypothesis states there is no significant relationship between variables, serving as the default position to be tested.
A teacher asks students to rank five materials by thermal conductivity from most to least conductive. What type of data are students producing?
Answer: Ordinal data
Ordinal data places items in a ranked order but does not specify the magnitude of differences between ranks.