Identifying the Steps of the Scientific Method
Directions:
●
Read the following statements & match the statement letter(s) to the questions below.
● Some questions will have more than one answer.
Statements:
AA scientist wants to find out why ocean water freezes at a lower temperature than fresh water.
B. The scientist goes to the library and reads a number of articles about the physical properties of
solutions.
C. In the library, the scientist also reads about the composition of ocean water.
The scientist travels to a nearby beach and observes the conditions there while taking notes on the
taste of the ocean water as well as waves, wind, air pressure, temperature, and humidity.
E. After considering all this information, the scientist sits at a desk and writes, "My guess is that
ocean water freezes at a lower temperature than freshwater because ocean water has salt in it."
The scientist goes back to the laboratory and does the following:
Fills two beakers with 1 Liter of fresh water
-
Dissolves 35g of table salt in one of the beakers
Places both beakers in a refrigerator whose temperature is -1°C
Leaves the beakers in the refrigerator for 24 hours
G. After 24 hours, the scientist examines both beakers and finds the fresh water to be frozen. The
salt water (ocean water) is still liquid.
H. The scientist writes in a notebook, "It appears as if salt water (ocean water) freezes at a lower
temperature than fresh water does"
I. The scientist continues, "Therefore, I suggest that the reason ocean water freezes at a lower
temperature is that ocean water contains dissolved salts while fresh water does not."
Questions:
1. Which statements contain conclusions?
2. Which statement contains a hypothesis?
3. Which statements contain observations?
4. Which statements describe an experiment?
5. Which statement supports the hypothesis?
6. In which statement is the problem defined?
7. Which statements contain data?