Scientific Methods Questions

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Very Short Answers Questions [1 Mark Questions]

Ques. Choose the wrong option. Functions performed by the hypothesis are:

1. A hypothesis does not help in verifying the observations
2. Hypothesis helps in directing the inquiries in the right direction
3. It becomes the starting point for the investigation
4. It helps in making an observation and experiments possible

Ans. The correct answer is a. A hypothesis does not help in verifying the observations

Explanation: A hypothesis is a proposed explanation of the happening of something. It helps in varying the observations.

Ques. What is the scientific method?

Ans. The scientific method is a rule-based approach to conducting scientific research and collecting knowledge about the natural world.

Ques. A student hypothesized that the amount of sunlight a sunflower plant receives determines the number of sunflower seeds the plant produces. In her experiment, the number of seeds produced is the………….

1. dependent variable
2. independent variable
3. uncontrolled variable
4. controlled variable

Ans. The correct answer is a. dependent variable

Explanation: In the experiment, the number of seeds produced is dependent on the amount of sunlight. Hence, the number of seeds produced is the dependent variable.

Ques. What is the aim of scientific methods?

Ans. The aim of the scientific method is to investigate and understand the natural world through empirical evidence and logical reasoning.

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Short Answers Questions [2 Marks Questions]

Ques. What is a hypothesis?

Ans. A hypothesis is a potential explanation of something based on evidence or observations that can be tested through further investigation. It is an important component of the scientific method and treats as a starting point for scientific research.

Ques. Can the scientific method answer all questions?

Ans. No, the scientific method does not answer all the questions it has certain limitations. It can only answer questions based on quantitative facts from measurable, observable, and repeatable experiments.

Ques. What are the limitations of the scientific method?

Ans. The limitations of the scientific method are

• Human error i.e. mistakes can occur in taking observations or the use of faulty measuring instruments.
• Scientific research requires significant resources, including funding and equipment.
• The scientific method depends on the evidence which means it is limited to studying phenomena that are measurable, observable, and repeatable.

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Long Answers Questions [3 Marks Questions]

Ques. What are the steps of the scientific method?

Ans. There are six steps of the scientific method. They are

1. Asking a question about something you observe
2. Do background research about the topic before moving to the next step
3. Constructing a hypothesis
4. Experimenting to test the hypothesis
5. Conclusion of the experiment
6. Communicating the results to others.

Ques. Who invented the scientific method?

Ans. The scientific method was not invented by anyone, it is the result of centuries of debate about how nature works. 

• The ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle was the first to promote that reasoning and observation must be applied to figure out how nature works.
• Many scientists have written about the way how science can be ideally conducted and also contributed to the latest understanding of scientific methods.
• Those scientists include Thomas Aquinas, John Stuart Mill, Galileo Galilei, Francis Bacon, John Hume, Isaac Newton, and Roger Bacon.

Ques. Evidence that agrees with your prediction supports your hypothesis. Does such evidence prove that your hypothesis is true?

Ans. No, a hypothesis cannot be proved to be true by one piece of evidence or observation because we can never test all the possible evidence, and maybe someday it is found to be disproved by some evidence. The more the number of evidence that supports a hypothesis, the chance of the hypothesis being true increased.

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Very Long Answers Questions [5 Marks Questions]

Ques. State and explain different types of hypotheses.

Ans. There are mainly six types of hypotheses

1. Simple Hypothesis: It gives the relationship between two variables. One is called a dependent variable, and the other is called an independent variable.
2. Complex Hypothesis: It shows the relationship between two or more existing dependent and independent variables.
3. Directional Hypothesis: It predicts how independent variables affect dependent variables. It predicts in which direction the change will take place.
4. Non-directional Hypothesis: It gives a relationship between two existing variables without predicting the exact nature that is the direction of the relationship.
5. Null Hypothesis: It is a negative statement and provides no relationship between independent and dependent variables.
6. Associative and Causal Hypothesis: Associative hypothesis will occur if the change in one variable results in a difference in the other variable. The causal hypothesis, on the other hand, proposes a cause-and-effect relationship between several variables.

Ques. For an experiment, a scientist put lime at the base of tomato plant A and baking soda at the base of tomato plant B. She then sealed the plants in plastic bags. Tomato plant A eventually died, and tomato plant B stayed healthy. What is the dependent variable in this experiment?

Ans. The dependent variables are the ones whose values changed with the change in the value of the other variable.

The independent variables are the one that is independent of the change in the other variable.

From the given experiment, the growth of the plant is dependent on the amount of lime and baking soda put in. Thus the growth of the plants is a dependent variable.

However, the amount of baking soda and lime added does not depend on or is independent of any factor. Thus, the amount of lime and baking soda is an independent variable.

Ques. Give an example of people using the scientific method in everyday life.

Ans. An example of the scientific method is when you turn on the switch of the bulb and the bulb does not light.

• Observation: Bulb did not give light
• Question: Why the bulb is not lightening?
• Hypothesis: The bulb is blown
• Prediction: If I put another bulb and if the bulb glows then my hypothesis will be true, else it will be false.
• Experiment: Replace the bulb
• Result: The bulb lights up
• Conclusion: My hypothesis is true.

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