Scientific Inquiry Notes The diverse ways in which people study the natural world and propose explanations based on evidence derived from their work.

Variables Manipulated (Independent) Variable: This is the one thing that you will change in an investigation. Found on left side of data table. Responding (Dependent) Variable: This is the result of your investigation. Found on right side of data table. Controlled Variables: This is all the things that should stay the same during an investigation. Found in procedure steps and/or diagram

Hypothesis A prediction or educated guess about what will happen as a result of an investigation Describe what changing the manipulated variable will do to the responding variable and why it will happen.

Writing Conclusions 4 pts. in 4 sentences Answer the investigative question specifically Give the lowest manipulated variable’s average data Give the highest manipulated variable’s average data Use explanatory language to compare the results of the manipulated variables

How does the thickness of the rope affect how much mass the rope will hold up? Manipulated Variable Responding Variable Average Rope Thickness (cm) Trial 1 mass (g) Trial 2 mass (g) Trial 3 mass (g) Avg. mass held up (g) 1 cm 2 g 3 g 2.33 g 2 cm 4 g 6 g 5 g 3 cm 8 g 7 g 7.33 g 4 pt/ 4 sentence Conclusion example Increasing the thickness of the rope increased the amount of mass that it held up. When the rope was 1 cm thick it held up an average of 2.33 grams. When the rope was 3 cm thick it held up an average of 7.33 grams. The 3 cm thick rope held up 5 grams more than the 1 cm thick rope.

9 Points to Writing an Investigation Prediction (Hypothesis) Prediction Reason List of minimum materials needed. Controlled Variables One manipulated variable Responding variable Record Measurements Trials are repeated Logical Steps