Name ___________________________________ Texas High School

Course _____________________, Period ______ Teacher _____________________________ Date ___________

Activity Worksheet: Thinking Like a Scientist

PROBLEM NUMBER ONE:

1. What does hypothesis A predict will happen if a jar is placed over a burning candle?

2. What does hypothesis B predict will happen if a jar is placed over a burning candle?

3. When a jar is placed over the candle, the flame goes out. Which hypothesis is shown to be

incorrect?

4. Do these results prove that the other hypothesis is correct? Explain your answer.

PROBLEM NUMBER TWO:

5. What is the question that the students are trying to answer?

6. Describe the experiment the students might do to find the answer.

7. What type of observations will the students make?

PROBLEM NUMBER THREE:

8. Suggest a hypothesis for this experiment.

9. What are the two variables in this experiment?

10. Which is the independent variable? The dependent variable?

11. List at least two variables that were controlled in this experiment.

12. What is the conclusion of this experiment?

PROBLEM NUMBER FOUR:

13. What is the correct order of the statements?

14. What is the hypothesis in this experiment?

15. What are the variables in this experiment?

16. What is the purpose of the graph in this experiment?

PROBLEM NUMBER FIVE:

17. What is the function of the group B seedlings?

18. What are the variables in this experiment?

19. List at least three variables that were constant.

20. Write a brief conclusion of this experiment.

CONCLUDING QUESTIONS:

21. A window has light blue glass in it. Plants placed on this windowsill either die or grow poorly.

Suggest a hypothesis based on this observation. Describe an experiment that would test your

hypothesis.

22. A medical scientist tests a new drug intended to treat a certain disease. Two groups of people are

selected who have the disease. One group is given the drug. The other is given a sugar pill that

looks like the drug. What is the purpose of the second group? Why is this group given a sugar pill

instead of nothing?

23. An investigation is done to see if the amount of calcium chloride added to water affects the

temperature of the water. Which is the independent variable? The dependent variable? List 5 things

the scientist needs to keep constant.

24. A scientist develops a new outdoor house paint. The scientist believes the paint will last longer than

any other house paint. What experiment could be done to test the scientist’s hypothesis? Describe a

control for this experiment.

25. Name the variable being manipulated in this investigation: The amount of pollution produced by

cars was measured for cars using gasoline containing different amounts of lead.