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Writing Strong Questions, Name ________
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Predictions & Hypothesis Period ____
Part A - Writing a Strong Scientific Question
1. In this experiment, two bathroom plungers, one with a hole through the rubber suction cup, one without a hole in the suction cup, are used. Each plunger is pushed down on a lab stool and pulled straight up, pulling the stool with the plunger. The amount of hang time the stool has before dropping to the floor is measured and recorded. Afterwards, students compare the results from each trial.
Tell the study subject, manipulated and responding variable for the above experiment.
1a. SS =
1b. MV =
1c. RV =
Rewrite this weak scientific question into a properly formatted strong scientific question.
1d. How will changing a plunger change the time of the stools.
2. In this experiment, two 2 Liter bottles with the caps tightened down are used. One 2 Liter bottle is placed under running hot water for 1 minute. The other 2 Liter bottle is kept at room temperature on a lab station. After 1 minute, each 2 liter bottle is squeezed with two hands to measure the air pressure in the 2 liter bottle. The data for each trial is compared.
Tell the study subject, manipulated and responding variable for the above experiment.
2a. SS =
2b. MV =
2c. RV =
Rewrite this weak scientific question into a properly formatted strong scientific question.
2d. Will pouring water on it affect its softness?
3. In this exciting experiment a farmer feeds 6 of his guinea pigs a diet of apples. The same farmer feeds 6 other guinea pigs a variety of foods. At the end of each week the farmer weighs each guinea pig and compares the apple fed guinea pigs weight to that of the guinea pigs fed a variety of foodís weight.
Tell the study subject, manipulated and responding variable for the above experiment.
3a. SS =
3b. MV =
3c. RV =
Rewrite this weak scientific question into a properly formatted strong scientific question.
3d How will giving guinea pigs different diets affect its weight.
4. Science Seven students planted 5 Western White Pine trees outside the lab. The students put fertilizer on the roots of 3 Western White Pines. The other 2 received no fertilizer. Each month the height of the Western White Pines is measured and the data for the trees with and without fertilizer is compared.
Tell the study subject, manipulated and responding variable for the above experiment.
4a. SS =
4b. MV =
4c. RV =
Rewrite this weak scientific question into a properly formatted strong scientific question.
4d. How do the western white pine and the fertilizer affect their growth at the end of the experiment?
Part B - Writing a Strong Scientific Prediction
Use the same 4 experimental scenarios as above to make strong predictions.
1. Identify the study subject, manipulated and responding variable, as well as the control and experimental trials for the bathroom plunger experiment
1a. SS =
1b. MV =
1c. RV =
1d. Control
1e. Exp Trial
Rewrite this weak prediction into a properly formatted strong prediction.
1f. If a plunger has a hole,
Then its hang time will change more than a plunger without a hole.
2. Identify the study subject, manipulated and responding variable, as well as the control and experimental trials for the 2 Liter Bottle experiment
2a. SS =
2b. MV =
2c. RV =
2d. Control
2e. Exp Trial
Rewrite this weak prediction into a properly formatted strong prediction.
2f. If a 2 Liter bottle has a different temperature,
itís pressure will be different than the pressure of the room temperature bottle.
3. Identify the study subject, manipulated and responding variable, as well as the control and experimental trials for the Guinea Pig experiment
1a. SS =
1b. MV =
1c. RV =
1d. Control
1e. Exp Trial
Rewrite this weak prediction into a properly formatted strong prediction.
3f. If a guinea pig has apples,
Then other pigs fed lots of other food would have a different mass than guinea pigís fed only apples.
4. Identify the study subject, manipulated and responding variable, as well as the control and experimental trials for the Western White Pine experiment
4a. SS =
4b. MV =
4c. RV =
4d. Control
4e. Exp Trial
Rewrite this weak prediction into a properly formatted strong prediction.
If fertilizer was added to a Western White Pineís roots,
Then the Western White Pine with no fertilizer would change height compared to the other Western White Pine.
Part C - Writing a Strong Scientific Hypothesis
Use the same 4 experimental scenarios as before to make strong hypothesis.
1. Identify the study subject, manipulated and responding variable, as well as the control and experimental trials for the bathroom plunger experiment
1a. SS =
1b. MV =
1c. RV =
1d. Control
1e. Exp Trial
Rewrite this weak prediction into a properly formatted strong prediction.
1f If a plunger has a hole
Then the stool wonít be held up as long as the stool that was held up by a plunger with no hole
Because the plunger with no hole has less suction.
2. Identify the study subject, manipulated and responding variable, as well as the control and experimental trials for the 2 Liter Bottle experiment
2a. SS =
2b. MV =
2c. RV =
2d. Control
2e. Exp Trial
Rewrite this weak prediction into a properly formatted strong prediction.
2f If the bottleís temperature is changed higher or lower,
Then it will affect the pressure inside the bottle,
Because the temperature was changed.
3. Identify the study subject, manipulated and responding variable, as well as the control and experimental trials for the Guinea Pig experiment
3a. SS =
3b. MV =
3c. RV =
3d. Control
3e. Exp Trial
Rewrite this weak prediction into a properly formatted strong prediction.
3f. If guinea pigs diet is changed
Then the mass will increase compared to the other pigs
Because changing the diet changes its mass.
4. Identify the study subject, manipulated and responding variable, as well as the control and experimental trials for the Western White Pine experiment
4a. SS =
4b. MV =
4c. RV =
4d. Control
4e. Exp Trial
Rewrite this weak prediction into a properly formatted strong prediction.
4f. If adding fertilizer on the tree
Then the tree will grow more than a tree without fertilizer on it
Because the tree will have more nutrients.
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