formulating a scientific question examples

📚 Quick Study Guide

• 🔬 Purpose: A scientific question guides an investigation or experiment. It should be clear, focused, and testable.
• 🤔 Characteristics of a Good Scientific Question:
  • 🎯 Specific: Avoid vague terms.
  • 🧪 Testable: Capable of being investigated through experiments or observations.
  • 📐 Measurable: The variables can be quantified.
  • ✅ Relevant: Connects to existing knowledge or real-world problems.
• 📝 General Format: Often follows the format: "What is the effect of [independent variable] on [dependent variable]?" or "How does [factor] affect [outcome]?"
• 💡 Example: Instead of "Does light affect plants?", a better question is "How does the intensity of light affect the growth rate of tomato plants?"
• 🔢 Key Variables: Understanding independent, dependent, and control variables is crucial.
  • 🌱 Independent Variable: The factor you change (e.g., light intensity).
  • 📈 Dependent Variable: The factor you measure (e.g., plant growth rate).
  • 🔒 Control Variables: Factors kept constant (e.g., type of soil, amount of water).

🧪 Practice Quiz

1. Which of the following is the *LEAST* important characteristic of a good scientific question?
   1. A. It is testable.
   2. B. It is interesting.
   3. C. It is specific.
   4. D. It is measurable.
2. Which of the following is the best scientific question?
   1. A. Are plants cool?
   2. B. How does fertilizer affect plant growth?
   3. C. Do plants need sunlight?
   4. D. What is the best way to grow plants?
3. In the question, "How does the amount of water affect the height of a bean plant?", what is the independent variable?
   1. A. Type of bean plant.
   2. B. Amount of sunlight.
   3. C. Amount of water.
   4. D. Height of the bean plant.
4. Which of the following questions is the most *SPECIFIC*?
   1. A. How do different liquids affect plant growth?
   2. B. How does water affect plants?
   3. C. How does the pH level of water affect the growth rate of bean plants over two weeks?
   4. D. What makes plants grow?
5. Why is it important for a scientific question to be testable?
   1. A. To make the experiment easier.
   2. B. To ensure the answer is correct.
   3. C. To allow for data collection and analysis.
   4. D. To prove a hypothesis.
6. Which of the following is an example of a poorly formulated scientific question?
   1. A. How does temperature affect the rate of a chemical reaction?
   2. B. How does the concentration of salt affect the boiling point of water?
   3. C. Is climate change real?
   4. D. How does the color of light affect photosynthesis in spinach leaves?
7. What role do control variables play in answering a scientific question?
   1. A. To confuse the results.
   2. B. To ensure the independent variable is the only factor affecting the dependent variable.
   3. C. To make the experiment more complicated.
   4. D. To change the outcome of the experiment.