Designing An Experiment Part 2

1. We planted 6 seedlings in the same type of soil, made sure they all got the same amount of sunlight and were grown at the same temperature. Every day we watered the seedlings. All received the same amount of water, but the experimental group of three seedlings received water that was polluted by adding 3 drops of detergent. Once a week for four weeks, we measured the height of the bean seedlings with a centimeter ruler. Which of the following is correct?

The seedlings were the independent variable and the sunlight was the dependent variable

The amount of water was the independent variable and the detergent was the dependent variable

The detergent was the independent variable and the height of the seedlings was the dependent variable.

The soil was the dependent variable and the height of the seedlings was the dependent variable.

In this experiment, the independent variable is the detergent because it is the factor that is intentionally manipulated by adding 3 drops to the water. The dependent variable is the height of the seedlings because it is the factor that is being measured and is expected to be influenced by the independent variable. The other options are incorrect because the seedlings, sunlight, and amount of water are not intentionally manipulated in this experiment. Additionally, the soil cannot be considered the dependent variable as it is not being measured or expected to be influenced by any other factor in this experiment.

Explanation

In this experiment, the independent variable is the detergent because it is the factor that is intentionally manipulated by adding 3 drops to the water. The dependent variable is the height of the seedlings because it is the factor that is being measured and is expected to be influenced by the independent variable. The other options are incorrect because the seedlings, sunlight, and amount of water are not intentionally manipulated in this experiment. Additionally, the soil cannot be considered the dependent variable as it is not being measured or expected to be influenced by any other factor in this experiment.

2. Which of the following would make a good scientific question?

Do you like learning about plants?

Does the number of hours of sunlight affect a WFP's leaf color?

Is honesty the best policy?

Why do bad things happen to good people?

The question "Does the number of hours of sunlight affect a WFP's leaf color?" would make a good scientific question because it is specific, testable, and focuses on a cause and effect relationship. It can be answered through experimentation and data analysis, allowing for a scientific investigation to determine if there is a correlation between the number of hours of sunlight and the leaf color of a WFP (presumably referring to a specific type of plant).

Explanation

The question "Does the number of hours of sunlight affect a WFP's leaf color?" would make a good scientific question because it is specific, testable, and focuses on a cause and effect relationship. It can be answered through experimentation and data analysis, allowing for a scientific investigation to determine if there is a correlation between the number of hours of sunlight and the leaf color of a WFP (presumably referring to a specific type of plant).

3. What does "QFS" stand for?

Quest for success

Quit forgetting stuff!

Question for Stanley

Question for further Study

The acronym "QFS" stands for "Question for further Study". This suggests that the term is used to refer to a question that requires additional investigation or research in order to gain a deeper understanding or find a more comprehensive answer.

Explanation

The acronym "QFS" stands for "Question for further Study". This suggests that the term is used to refer to a question that requires additional investigation or research in order to gain a deeper understanding or find a more comprehensive answer.

4. What is the independent variable for this experiment?

Type of flower

Different food coloring

Amount of water

Size of the glass

The independent variable in this experiment is the different food coloring. This is because it is the variable that is deliberately manipulated or changed by the experimenter. The other options, such as the type of flower, amount of water, and size of the glass, are not being intentionally varied in this experiment.

Explanation

The independent variable in this experiment is the different food coloring. This is because it is the variable that is deliberately manipulated or changed by the experimenter. The other options, such as the type of flower, amount of water, and size of the glass, are not being intentionally varied in this experiment.

5. When talking about healthy plants, one might operationally define a "healthy plant" as

A plant that produces at least the average number of flowers for that plant type

A plant that produces at least the average number of leaves for that plant type

A plant that grows to at least the average height for that plant type

Any one of these could be used to operationally define a "healthy plant"

The correct answer is any one of these could be used to operationally define a "healthy plant" because operational definitions are based on measurable and observable criteria. In this case, all three options provide specific criteria that can be used to determine whether a plant is healthy or not. The average number of flowers, leaves, or height can be used as benchmarks to assess the health of a plant. Therefore, any of these options can be used as an operational definition for a "healthy plant".

Explanation

The correct answer is any one of these could be used to operationally define a "healthy plant" because operational definitions are based on measurable and observable criteria. In this case, all three options provide specific criteria that can be used to determine whether a plant is healthy or not. The average number of flowers, leaves, or height can be used as benchmarks to assess the health of a plant. Therefore, any of these options can be used as an operational definition for a "healthy plant".

6. To be sure that you have good operational definitions on terms in your experiment's purpose and/or hypothesis, what is a good question to make sure you can answer "yes" to?

"Will this definition tell another person what to observe and/or how to measure?"

"Will this definition tell another person what the outcome of the experiment should be?"

"Is this definition supported by our data?'

"Would this definition be found in my Personal Glossary?"

A good question to make sure you can answer "yes" to is "Will this definition tell another person what to observe and/or how to measure?" This question ensures that the operational definitions in your experiment's purpose and/or hypothesis are clear and specific enough to guide others in conducting the experiment and collecting data. It emphasizes the importance of providing explicit instructions on what should be observed and how it should be measured, ensuring consistency and reproducibility in the experiment.

Explanation

A good question to make sure you can answer "yes" to is "Will this definition tell another person what to observe and/or how to measure?" This question ensures that the operational definitions in your experiment's purpose and/or hypothesis are clear and specific enough to guide others in conducting the experiment and collecting data. It emphasizes the importance of providing explicit instructions on what should be observed and how it should be measured, ensuring consistency and reproducibility in the experiment.

7. What is the purpose of a critique?

To reflect on whether your experiment was done carefully and whether the results can be trusted

To consider how the experiment could be improved to be more trustworthy

To learn from mistakes so that future experiments might be more exact

All of the above

The purpose of a critique is to reflect on whether the experiment was done carefully, assess the trustworthiness of the results, consider improvements to make the experiment more trustworthy, and learn from any mistakes made in order to conduct more precise future experiments.

Explanation

The purpose of a critique is to reflect on whether the experiment was done carefully, assess the trustworthiness of the results, consider improvements to make the experiment more trustworthy, and learn from any mistakes made in order to conduct more precise future experiments.

8. What would NOT be a constant in this experiment?

Type of flower

The color of the water

Amount of water

Time the flower was left in the water

In this experiment, the type of flower, amount of water, and time the flower was left in the water are all factors that can be controlled and kept constant. However, the color of the water may vary and is not a constant.

Explanation

In this experiment, the type of flower, amount of water, and time the flower was left in the water are all factors that can be controlled and kept constant. However, the color of the water may vary and is not a constant.

9. Which word needs an operational definition in the following hypothesis: If babies eat Brand X baby food, then the babies will be healthier.

Brand X

Babies

Healthier

All of these

The word "healthier" needs an operational definition in the given hypothesis. This is because the term "healthier" is subjective and can have different interpretations. To make the hypothesis more precise and measurable, the term "healthier" should be defined in specific terms such as improved growth, increased immunity, or reduced illness.

Explanation

The word "healthier" needs an operational definition in the given hypothesis. This is because the term "healthier" is subjective and can have different interpretations. To make the hypothesis more precise and measurable, the term "healthier" should be defined in specific terms such as improved growth, increased immunity, or reduced illness.

10. Why must you use a control when setting up an experiment?

To have something to compare your experimental group to in order to determine if there has been a change

To determine whether the independent variable had an effect on the outcome

To determine whether the dependent variable had an effect on the outcome

All of the above

Only the first two options are correct

A control is necessary when setting up an experiment because it provides a baseline or reference point for comparison. By having a control group that is not exposed to the independent variable, researchers can determine if any observed changes in the experimental group are due to the independent variable or other factors. This helps in determining whether the independent variable had an effect on the outcome. Additionally, by comparing the results of the experimental group with the control group, researchers can assess whether the dependent variable had an effect on the outcome. Therefore, only the first two options are correct.

Explanation

A control is necessary when setting up an experiment because it provides a baseline or reference point for comparison. By having a control group that is not exposed to the independent variable, researchers can determine if any observed changes in the experimental group are due to the independent variable or other factors. This helps in determining whether the independent variable had an effect on the outcome. Additionally, by comparing the results of the experimental group with the control group, researchers can assess whether the dependent variable had an effect on the outcome. Therefore, only the first two options are correct.