Question

matching. match the word to the definition. write the letter on the line.

1. scientific inquiry
2. hypothesis
3. control group
4. experimental group
5. independent variable
6. dependent variable
7. scientific theory
8. scientific law

a. this group shows the effect of the variable being tested.
b. this is the one variable that is changed.
c. a well - tested explanation for experimental results.
d. the many ways in which scientists study the natural world.
e. a possible answer to a scientific question.
f. this describes an observed pattern in nature.
g. this group is left alone and not experimented on.
h. this is the variable that gets measured.
variable - something that is changed.
in scientific experiments there are two variables: one that you control and one that is the result.

1. the independent variable

“the cause”
the one thing that is changed in an experiment
this variable makes one test “independent” of another test
on a graph it is on the x - axis (along the bottom)

1. the dependent variable

“the effect”
the result of the experiment
what is measured
what is measured
this “depends” on what you changed
on a graph, it is on the y - axis (along the vertical side)

Explanation:

• Scientific inquiry is how scientists study nature, so 6 - D.
• Hypothesis is a possible answer to a scientific question, so 7 - E.
• Control group is left alone and not experimented on, so 8 - G.
• Experimental group shows the effect of the variable being tested, so 9 - A.
• Independent variable is the one variable that is changed, so 10 - B.
• Dependent variable is the variable that gets measured, so 11 - H.
• Scientific theory is a well - tested explanation for experimental results, so 12 - C.
• Scientific law describes an observed pattern in nature, so 13 - F.

Answer:

1. D
2. E
3. G
4. A
5. B
6. H
7. C
8. F