General Science

th7GradeGeneral ScienceSummer PacketName:Date:This will be 5% of your 7th grade Quarter 1 Science Grade.1

Instructions for the 7th Grade Science Summer PacketThis packet is mandatory and must be submitted on the first day ofschool. ALL work must be shown in the space provided in the packet.The packet will constitute 5% of your grade for Quarter 1.No credit will be given for any correct answers if no work is shown.Have a Wonderful Summer! J2

The Scientific MethodRead the following passage and answer the questions that follow.What is science? Chances are you have been studying science for a few years now. Butscience is more than just a few chapters in a textbook. Science is a process. It is a constantsearch for information about our universe.The word science comes from the Latin word, "scire," meaning "to know." Scientists are likecrime scene investigators. They use a process to solve a mystery. The process they use iscalled the scientific method.Scientists begin this method by stating a problem. This is a question he or she wantsanswered. Have you ever wondered why the sky is blue? Or how your skin heals when youcut it? If so, you have taken the first step of the scientific method.Before they study it, scientists have to clearly define the problem. Usually they pose aquestion. For example, they might say, "Which warms faster, water or land?"Another step in the scientific method is to gather information. The scientist might study abody of water and an area of land. She would use instruments to take measurements. Shewould write notes about what she sees.After all the information is gathered, the scientist gives a possible solution to the problem. Thisis called a hypothesis. For example, she might say, "Water warms faster than land."Next, the scientist will test the hypothesis by doing an experiment. An experiment has to beset up carefully. First, she would pour a measured amount of water into a container. Then shewould put the same amount of soil into another container.She would put the containers under a heat source such as a light. She would put athermometer in each container. At certain intervals, the scientist would read eachthermometer.This is a simple version of an experiment. Every good experiment has at least one variable. Avariable is the factor that is being tested. Experiments should also have a control. In a controlexperiment, everything is set up the same, but the variable is missing.The next step in the scientific method is to record and analyze data. Data includes anymeasurements taken. It also includes observations made during the experiment.In the soil and water experiment, data would include the temperatures of each containerand the times that they were taken. Usually the data is recorded in a table. Then it might begraphed. This helps the scientist to compare the measurements.3

This experiment would be run many times before the scientist could come to a conclusion. Ifthe water heats up faster during each experiment, the scientist could conclude that waterheats faster than land.The steps in the scientific method do not have to be done in a certain order. They might beperformed differently, depending on the problem. After a conclusion is formed, a theorymay be developed. A theory is a logical explanation for events in nature.After the theory is tested many times, it could become a law. A law is a theory that has beenaccepted as true. However, even laws can be changed if different findings are obtained byother experiments. This is the spirit of science: questions can always be asked. Newexplanations can always be considered in any event.1. What is science?2. What is a variable?3. What Is a control?4. What is a hypothesis?5. What is the experiment or procedure?4

6. What is data?7. What is the point of graphing data?8. What is a conclusion?9. What is a theory?10. What is a law?5

Variables and ControlsVariable – part of the experiment that is changed.Independent variable – part of the experiment that YOU changeDependent variable – part of the experiment that you MEASURE or collect data on.Control – group that is not tested, used to compare resultsConstants – part of the experiment that you will keep the same for every trial.ExampleYou want to see if using fertilizer will make your grass grow better.Independent Variable – amount of fertilizer (this is what you change in the experiment)Dependent Variable – grass growth (this is what you measure, how much your grass grow)Control group – grass that doesn’t get any fertilizer (only water)Constants – same type of fertilizer, grass area, amount of water, amount of sunlightAnswer the following questions based on the definitions and examples above.1. What variables can affect the taste of pizza?2. What variables can affect the number of fish in a lake?3. What variables can affect the speed of a runner in a 100- yard dash race?4. What variables can affect the taste of a soft drink?5. You test out different soda types to see if they give you more energy.a. Independent variableb. Dependent variable6

6. I want to see if snows more the farther North you live.a. Independent variableb. Dependent variable7. I’m testing to see if you can accelerate faster when you drive a smaller car.a. Independent variableb. Dependent variable8. While eating a piece of cherry pie, Rachel Berry started watching Jeopardy. Aftergetting three answers correct in a row, she decided that cherry pie makes yousmarter, so she decided to take an IQ test and figure it out.a. Independent variableb. What are some constants that he might use?9. Finn Hudson just got a new laser gun and he wanted to see if the laser would bestronger if he used a high voltage battery. He got three different volt batteries andtested the strength by seeing how many sheets of metal the laser could burn through.a. Independent variableb. Dependent variablec. What are some constants that he might use?10. Mercedes decided she wanted to grow out her hair and she heard that drinkingchocolate milk makes hair grow faster. She decided to test it out over the next coupleof weeks.a. Independent variableb. Dependent variablec. What are some constants that she might use?7

Measurement and Conversions(You will need a calculator for this section)SI Units and SI Prefixes:Scientists use a set of measuring units called SI, or the International System of Units. Theabbreviation SI derives from the French name System International d’Unites. The SI Unitsystem is used as a universal way to readily interpret data.The following table depicts the SI base units.You are required to know the SI measuring base units and prefixes.SI Prefixes are metric prefixes that allow for a more convenient way to express SI base units.The following table depicts the SI prefixes.8

ConversionsA conversion factor is a ratio of equivalent measurements that is used to convert a quantityexpressed in one unit to another unit.Common Conversions:1. There are 5280 feet in 1 mile2. There are 0.034 ounces in 1 milliliter3. There are 0.454 kg in 1 pound4. There are 1.6 kilometers in 1 mile5. There are 73 gallons in 2 barrels6. There are 1.05 quarts in 1 liter7. There are 4 quarts in 1 gallonDo the following one-step unit conversions.1.Convert 0.347 kilometers to miles.2.Convert 870 kilograms to pounds.3.Convert 84 ounces to milliliters.4.Convert 82 miles to feet.5.Convert 4 gallons to barrels.9

Unit conversions. Convert the following units.6.3470 mL L7.13.5 cm m8.0.65 L mL9.234 mL L10. 238 g cg10

Temperature ConversionsKelvin is the SI base unit for temperature. A thermometer is an instrument used to measuretemperature. Temperature is measured in Fahrenheit (ºF), Celsius (ºC), or Kelvin (K). Below arethe formulas used to convert from one scale of temperature to another.K oC 273Convert the following temperatures to the desired unit.11. 11 ºC into ºF.12. 27 ºF into ºC.13. 15 º C into K11

Name ""Date ""Section "Introducing the Engineering Design ProcessThe Engineering Design Process is a series of eight steps that engineers, people trained touse science and technology, use to solve practical problems. The steps involve identifyingthe need or problem, researching the problem, developing possible solutions, selecting thebest possible solution(s), constructing a prototype, testing and evaluating the solution,communicating the solution(s), and redesigning. Good engineers will brainstormwith other people to come up with several different ideas before choosing apath to take. When they make their prototype, a working model of their design,they will have to be mindful of constraints. These are factors that limit or restricta design, such as only having a limited amount of time or money. Engineers might alsomake trade-offs, where they give up one benefit in order to obtain another.During this process, engineers will troubleshoot and redesign their products toidentify and fix any problems that might occur. When a person develops anew product, they can apply for a patent, which is legal document issued bythe government, to protect their invention for a limited time.True or FalseIf the answer is true, write “true” on the line. If the answer is false, replace the underlined wordor phrase with one that will make the sentence correct. Write the new word(s) on the line.1. Engineers will redesign their products when they find flaws.2. It is best to brainstorm by yourself so you can come up with a lotof great ideas.3. A person can sell a product that has a patent if they obtainpermission from the patent holder.4. After researching the problem, you should begin constructing aprototype.5. Having access to unlimited resources is an example of a constraint.6. The first step of the Engineering Design Process is to select thebest possible solution.122016 Adventures in Science

MatchingPut the eight steps of the Engineering Design Process in order from first to last:7. 1st stepA.Test and evaluate the solution(s)8. 2nd stepB.Construct a prototype9. 3rd stepC.Research the problem10. 4th stepD.Identify the need or problem11. 5th stepE.Select the best possible solution(s)12. 6th stepF.Redesign13. 7th stepG.Communicate the solution(s)14. 8th stepH.Develop possible solutionsShort AnswerAnswer the following questions in the space below. Make sure to use complete sentences.15. An ice-cream company decides to make a new lower calorie flavor, but testers reported thatthe flavor wasn’t as good as the original. Is this an example of trade-off? Explain why or why-not."16. A cookie company decides to develop a new chocolate chip cookie. They decide to test threedifferent recipes at once. What are the advantages of making more than one prototype at a time?""17. What are three reasons why you should make your first prototype on a smaller scale?"18. What is an example of a trade-off that a car company might make?""132016 Adventuresin Science

Unit 3: The Engineering Design ProcessU3C2: Engineering Design Process Practice Due Friday, September 28, 201819. Define the following terms:A. Engineering Design Process:B. Constraint:20. Why should you find out about past solutions to problems?21. How does brainstorming help find solutions to problems?22.Does every problem have one perfect solution?14