DO NOT WRITE ON THIS COPY K E YESP Worksheet Lesson 21

Scientific Method * 8 Gradeth

Directions: Read the following information. Answer the

questions on the bottom of the page from the reading.

Write the most complete answer. Do not write the

question just write the answer.

Stating the Problem

Suppose you stay at a friend's house one cold winter night.

In the morning, your friend's father decides to drive you to

school. However, when he turns the key in the ignition, the

car does not start. Your friend discovers that there is a pool of

ice under the car's engine.

A quick check with a mechanic provides an explanation.

The water in the engine's cooling system froze overnight. As

the water froze, it expanded and caused the engine to crack in places. Some water leaked onto the ground where it, too, froze. "I forgot

to put antifreeze in my car," states the father. You nod your head in agreement, without any real idea about what antifreeze does.

How is it that an engine with antifreeze and water in its cooling system will not freeze on a cold night, while an engine without

antifreeze will? If you have ever wondered about this, you have taken the first step toward recognizing a scientific problem. This kind of

problem is one a scientist might try to solve.

Before investigating any problem, a scientist must develop a clear statement defining the problem. In this example, a physical

scientist might state the problem this way: In what way does antifreeze keep the water in a car's engine from freezing on cold nights?

Gathering Information on the Problem

Once the problem has been clearly stated, all available information related to the problem must be gathered. In this example, a

scientist would discover that antifreeze is needed to prevent freezing only in areas where the temperature goes below the freezing point

of water, The freezing point of water is the temperature at which liquid water becomes ice. A scientist would also discover that people

who live in extremely cold areas must put more antifreeze in their cars than people who live in moderately cold areas. Finally, a scientist

would note that water normally freezes at zero degrees Celsius, 0EC.

Forming a Hypothesis

After gathering all available information on the problem, a scientist would suggest a possible solution. A proposed solution to a

scientific problem is called a hypothesis (high-PAI-ITX~-uh-sihs). One hypothesis that might be considered is that antifreeze prevents

water from freezing by lowering the temperature at which water freezes. A scientist might state the hypothesis as a question: Does

antifreeze lower the freezing point of water?

Performing Experiments

A scientist does not stop once a hypothesis has been formed. Evidence that either supports or does not support the hypothesis must be

found. So a scientist must test a hypothesis to see if it is correct. Such testing is usually done by performing one or more experiments.

1. Your friend discovers that there is a pool of ice water under the car’s engine. A quick check with a mechanic provides

an explanation. What was the explanation? The water in the engine’s cooling system froze overnight.

2. What happened as the water froze? It expanded and caused the engine to crack in places.

3. What did the father state? “I forgot to put antifreeze in my car”

4. How is it that an engine with antifreeze and water in its cooling system will not freeze on a cold night, while an engine

without antifreeze will? If you have ever wondered about this, you have taken the first stem toward recognizing a?

Scientific problem

5. What must a scientist do before investigating any problem? Develop a clear statement defining the problem

6. In this example, a physical scientist might state the problem in what way? In what way does antifreeze keep the

water in a car’s engine from freezing on cold nights

7. Once the problem has been clearly stated what will a scientist do next? Gather all available information related to the

problem

8. In this example, a scientist would discover that? Antifreeze is needed to prevent freezing only in areas where the

temperature goes below the freezing point of water

9. A proposed solution to a scientific problem is called a? Hypothesis

10. A scientist does not stop once a hypothesis has been formed. What will the scientist do next? Find evidence that

either supports or does not support the hypothesis

DO NOT WRITE ON THIS COPYESP Worksheet Week 1

Scientific Method * 8 Gradeth

Directions: Read the following information. Answer the

questions on the bottom of the page from the reading.

Write the most complete answer. Do not write the

question just write the answer.

Stating the Problem

Suppose you stay at a friend's house one cold winter night.

In the morning, your friend's father decides to drive you to

school. However, when he turns the key in the ignition, the

car does not start. Your friend discovers that there is a pool of

ice under the car's engine.

A quick check with a mechanic provides an explanation.

The water in the engine's cooling system froze overnight. As

the water froze, it expanded and caused the engine to crack in places. Some water leaked onto the ground where it, too, froze. "I forgot

to put antifreeze in my car," states the father. You nod your head in agreement, without any real idea about what antifreeze does.

How is it that an engine with antifreeze and water in its cooling system will not freeze on a cold night, while an engine without

antifreeze will? If you have ever wondered about this, you have taken the first step toward recognizing a scientific problem. This kind of

problem is one a scientist might try to solve.

Before investigating any problem, a scientist must develop a clear statement defining the problem. In this example, a physical

scientist might state the problem this way: In what way does antifreeze keep the water in a car's engine from freezing on cold nights?

Gathering Information on the Problem

Once the problem has been clearly stated, all available information related to the problem must be gathered. In this example, a

scientist would discover that antifreeze is needed to prevent freezing only in areas where the temperature goes below the freezing point

of water, The freezing point of water is the temperature at which liquid water becomes ice. A scientist would also discover that people

who live in extremely cold areas must put more antifreeze in their cars than people who live in moderately cold areas. Finally, a scientist

would note that water normally freezes at zero degrees Celsius, 0EC.

Forming a Hypothesis

After gathering all available information on the problem, a scientist would suggest a possible solution. A proposed solution to a

scientific problem is called a hypothesis (high-PAI-ITX~-uh-sihs). One hypothesis that might be considered is that antifreeze prevents

water from freezing by lowering the temperature at which water freezes. A scientist might state the hypothesis as a question: Does

antifreeze lower the freezing point of water?

Performing Experiments

A scientist does not stop once a hypothesis has been formed. Evidence that either supports or does not support the hypothesis must be

found. So a scientist must test a hypothesis to see if it is correct. Such testing is usually done by performing one or more experiments.

1. Your friend discovers that there is a pool of ice water under the car’s engine. A quick check with a mechanic provides

an explanation. What was the explanation? Do Not Write On This Copy

2. What happened as the water froze?

3. What did the father state?

4. How is it that an engine with antifreeze and water in its cooling system will not freeze on a cold night, while an engine

without antifreeze will? If you have ever wondered about this, you have taken the first stem toward recognizing a?

5. What must a scientist do before investigating any problem?

6. In this example, a physical scientist might state the problem in what way?

7. Once the problem has been clearly stated what will a scientist do next?

8. In this example, a scientist would discover that?

9. A proposed solution to a scientific problem is called a?

10. A scientist does not stop once a hypothesis has been formed. What will the scientist do next?