Analyzing Elements of a Scientific Method

Read the following statements and then answer each question below.

1. You and your friend are walking along a beach in Maine on January 15, at 8:00 am.

2. You notice a thermometer on a nearby building that reads -1 degrees C.

3. You also notice that there is snow on the roof of the building and icicles hanging from the roof.

4. You further notice a pool of sea water in the sand near the ocean.

5. Your friend looks at the icicles and the pool and says, "How come the water on the roof is frozen and the sea water is not?"

6. You answer, "I think that the salt in the sea water keeps it from freezing at -1 degrees C."

7. You go on to say, "And I think under the same conditions, the same thing will happen tomorrow."

8. Your friend asks, "How can you be sure?" You answer, "I'm going to get some fresh water and some salt water and expose them to a temperature of -1 degrees C and see what happens."

Questions

A. Which statement states a problem?

B. Which statements contains data (information)?

C. Which statement contains a hypothesis?

D. In which statement is an experiement described?

I'll be glad to check your answers.

#5 states a problem

#7 states hypothesis
#8 describes an experiment
#6 contains data information

n/a

What does prediction mean

A. Statement 5, "How come the water on the roof is frozen and the sea water is not?"

B. Statements 2, 3, 4, and 6 contain data:

- Statement 2 provides the data of the temperature reading on the thermometer, which is -1 degrees C.
- Statement 3 describes the observation of snow on the roof and icicles hanging from it.
- Statement 4 mentions the observation of a pool of sea water on the sand near the ocean.
- Statement 6 is the answer to the friend's question and provides an explanation considering the salt in the sea water.

C. Statement 6 contains a hypothesis:

- The hypothesis is, "I think that the salt in the sea water keeps it from freezing at -1 degrees C."

D. Statement 8 describes an experiment:

- In statement 8, the narrator mentions the plan to get fresh water and salt water and expose them to a temperature of -1 degrees C to see what happens. This indicates an experimental procedure to test the hypothesis.