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's experimental data shows a strong positive correlation between two variables. What conclusion is most scientifically appropriate?
Answer: The two variables are related, but correlation does not establish causation
Correlation indicates a statistical relationship between variables but does not confirm that one variable causes changes in the other.
Which stage of the engineering design process involves creating a rough, testable version of the solution to evaluate its performance?
Answer: Prototyping
Prototyping involves building a preliminary physical or digital model of the design to test its functionality before final production.
A STEM educator asks students to investigate whether salt concentration affects the boiling point of water. What is the most important safety consideration before beginning?
Answer: Identifying hazards such as hot surfaces and boiling water, and establishing safety protocols
Before any lab activity, identifying hazards and establishing safety protocols protects students from injury.
When a scientist revises a hypothesis based on unexpected experimental results, this demonstrates which key feature of science?
Answer: Self-correcting nature of science
The willingness to revise hypotheses and theories in light of new evidence is what makes science a self-correcting enterprise.
Which practice best reflects 'systems thinking' as applied in STEM engineering projects?
Answer: Considering how all components of a design interact with each other and with the broader environment
Systems thinking requires engineers to consider the interactions among all components and between the system and its environment, not just individual parts.
A student argues that an experiment must be repeated because 'one result could be a fluke.' Which scientific principle supports this reasoning?
Answer: Replication
Replication — repeating an experiment multiple times — reduces the impact of random error and increases confidence in the results.
In a STEM classroom, students are asked to evaluate three possible solutions to a stormwater runoff problem using a decision matrix. What is the primary benefit of this tool?
Answer: It allows objective comparison of solutions against multiple weighted criteria simultaneously
A decision matrix provides a structured, transparent method to compare solutions across multiple criteria, reducing subjective bias in selection.