TWGHs Li Ka Shing College

CH 1 Introducing Biology (Scientific Investigation)

Name: _______________ Class:________ Class No.:____
A. Identifying variables
1. Mary prepared three similar set-ups to study the effects of different minerals 礦物質 on plant growth.
One of the set-ups is shown below. The three flasks were filled with complete nutrient solution,
magnesium-deficient solution and phosphorus-deficient solution. Mary observed whether the seedlings
grew healthily after two weeks. Identify different variables in her experiment.

Complete
Magnesium- Phosphorus-
nutrient solution
deficient solution deficient solution

Independent variable
-Purposely changed
-Only one IV in the exp

Dependent variable
-change depends on the IV during the exp
-Measured during the exp

Controlled variables
-keep the same

2. David carried out an experiment to investigate the effect of sucrose concentration on the change in mass
of potato strips. He prepared a number of potato strips and put them in different liquids as shown below.
Identify different variables in his experiment.

Independent variable
-Purposely changed
-Only one IV in the exp

Dependent variable
-change depends on the IV
during the exp
-Measured during the exp

Controlled variables
-keep the same
3. Tom carried out an experiment to investigate whether oxygen is needed in seed germination. He prepared the
following set-up and measured the number of mung beans germinated in each test tube after one week.
Identify different variables in his experiment.

Independent variable

How to manipulate IV?

Dependent variable

How to measure the DV?

Controlled variables

4. Susan carried out an experiment to investigate the effect of light intensity on the rate of photosynthesis.
Her set-up is shown below. She adjusted the light intensity by changing the distance between the lamp
and Hydrilla. The oxygen released by the Hydrilla was collected in the pipette. Identify different variables
in her experiment.

Independent variable

How to manipulate IV?

Dependent variable

How to measure the DV?

Controlled variables
B. Principle behind the design of this investigation
Case 1 (Bats)
Lazzaro Spallanzani found out that bats can fly and avoid hitting any objects in the
dark. He thought that bats relied on the sense of hearing to avoid the obstacles. He
prepared two groups of bats. One group was blocked with wax and hence the bats
lose the sense of hearing. The other group was not blocked with wax. He then
released the bats in a dark room with bells. The bats with the sense of hearing did
not hit the wires while the bats without the sense of hearing did.

1. Identify the variables

Independent Variable (IV) Dependent Variable (DV) Controlled Variable (CV)
- - -State 2-3 CV
-

2. How to manipulate the IV and measure the DV? (實驗操作)

Manipulation of IV Measurement of DV CV
- - /

3. Fair test
Factor being tested
-

Experimental *group or set-up Control *group or set-up

(factor being tested present) (factor being tested absent)
- -

Purpose of setting up a group with wax blocking the ears

(to act as a control group that ensures “Independent variable” is the only variable)
-

4. Assumption
State 1-2 assumptions
(something accepted as true without any proof)
-

-
 Case 2 (Generation of maggots)
In the 17th century, it was widely accepted that maggots arose spontaneously from rotting meat. However,
Francesco Redi observed that flies swarm around fresh meat and then maggots appear on the meat after
several days. This caused him to wonder whether the flies produce the maggots. He then proposed a
hypothesis and designed an experiment to test it.

In the experiment, Redi set up two jars and put a piece of meat inside each one. He left one jar open and
covered the other with gauze to keep out flies. After a few days, he observed that maggots appeared on
the meat in the open jar, but no maggots appeared on the meat in the covered jar. Redi concluded that
the maggots are produced by flies, not by the meat itself.
1. Identify the variables
Independent Variable (IV) Dependent Variable (DV) Controlled Variable (CV)
- - -State 2-3 CV
-

2. How to manipulate the IV and measure the DV? (實驗操作)

Manipulation of IV Measurement of DV CV
- - /

3. Fair test
Factor being tested
-

Experimental *group or set-up Control *group or set-up

(factor being tested present) (factor being tested absent)
- -

Purpose of setting up a covered jar

(to act as a control group that ensures “Independent variable” is the only variable)
-

4. Assumption
State 1-2 assumptions
(something accepted as true without any proof)
-

-
ANSWERS
A. Identifying variables
1. Mary prepared three similar set-ups to study the effects of different minerals 礦物質 on plant growth.
One of the set-ups is shown below. The three flasks were filled with complete nutrient solution,
magnesium-deficient solution and phosphorus-deficient solution. Mary observed whether the seedlings
grew healthily after two weeks. Identify different variables in her experiment.

Complete
Magnesium- Phosphorus-
nutrient solution
deficient solution deficient solution

Independent variable Type of mineral

-Purposely changed
-Only one IV in the exp

Dependent variable Whether the seedlings grow healthily

-change depends on the IV during the exp
-Measured during the exp

Controlled variables Volume of nutrient solution, temperature of the

-keep the same solution, light supply to seedlings, etc.

2. David carried out an experiment to investigate the effect of sucrose concentration on the change in mass
of potato strips. He prepared a number of potato strips and put them in different liquids as shown below.
Identify different variables in his experiment.

Independent variable Concentration of sucrose solution

-Purposely changed
-Only one IV in the exp

Dependent variable Change in mass of potato strip

-change depends on the IV
during the exp
-Measured during the exp

Controlled variables Size of potato strips, volume of distilled water and sucrose solution
-keep the same in each test tube, temperature of distilled water and sucrose
solution, etc.
3. Tom carried out an experiment to investigate whether oxygen is needed in seed germination. He prepared
the following set-up and measured the number of mung beans germinated in each test tube after one week.
Identify different variables in his experiment.

Independent variable Presence of oxygen

How to manipulate IV? Boil the water to remove dissolved oxygen for one set-up while
the water is not boiled for another set-up

Dependent variable Whether the mung beans germinate

How to measure the DV? Count the number of germinated mung beans

Controlled variables Amount of mung beans, light supply etc.

4. Susan carried out an experiment to investigate the effect of light intensity on the rate of photosynthesis.
Her set-up is shown below. She adjusted the light intensity by changing the distance between the lamp
and Hydrilla. The oxygen released by the Hydrilla was collected in the pipette. Identify different variables
in her experiment.

Independent variable Different light intensities

How to manipulate IV? Adjust the distance between the lamp and the beaker

Dependent variable Rate of photosynthesis

How to measure the DV? Volume of oxygen released from Hydrilla per unit time

Controlled variables Temperature of water, volume and concentration of sodium

hydrogencarbonate solution, etc.
B. Principle behind the design of this investigation
Case 1 (Bats)
Lazzaro Spallanzani found out that bats can fly and avoid hitting any objects in the
dark. He thought that bats relied on the sense of hearing to avoid the obstacles. He
prepared two groups of bats. One group was blocked with wax and hence the bats
lose the sense of hearing. The other group was not blocked with wax. He then
released the bats in a dark room with bells. The bats with the sense of hearing did
not hit the wires while the bats without the sense of hearing did.

1. Identify the variables

Independent Variable (IV)
-Purposely changed
-Only one IV in the exp
Presence of the sense of
hearing
Dependent Variable (DV)
-change depends on the IV during the exp
-Measured during the exp
Whether the bats hit the bells
Controlled Variable (CV)
-keep the same
Size of the bats, darkness of the room,
number of wires
X Size (not specific enough)
X Temperature (not specific enough)
X Height of Lazzaro Spallanzani (not
relevant)

2. How to manipulate the IV and measure the DV? (實驗操作，具體)

Manipulation of IV Measurement of DV CV
One group of bats, their ears were blocked with wax while Hear bells ringing /
another group of bats were not.
👍👍👍
(One group of bats, their ears were blocked with wax 👍)

3. Fair test
Factor being tested
Sense of hearing

Experimental group or set-up Control group or set-up

(factor being tested present) (factor being tested absent)
The group without wax blocking their ears. The group with wax blocking their ears.

Purpose of setting up a group with wax blocking the ears

(to act as a control group that ensures “Independent variable” is the only variable)
To act as a control group that ensures the sense of hearing is the only variable that affects the bat to avoid the obstacles.

4. Assumption
State 1-2 assumptions
(something accepted as true without any proof)
- All the bats in the experiment have the same hearing abilities.
- All the bats have similar flying abilities. /Other reasonable answers.
Case 2 (Generation of maggots)
In the 17th century, it was widely accepted that maggots arose spontaneously from rotting meat. However,
Francesco Redi observed that flies swarm around fresh meat and then maggots appear on the meat after
several days. This caused him to wonder whether the flies produce the maggots. He then proposed a
hypothesis and designed an experiment to test it.

In the experiment, Redi set up two jars and put a piece of meat inside each one. He left one jar open and
covered the other with gauze to keep out flies. After a few days, he observed that maggots appeared on
the meat in the open jar, but no maggots appeared on the meat in the covered jar. Redi concluded that
the maggots are produced by flies, not by the meat itself.

1. Identify the variables

Independent Variable (IV)
Presence of flies to the meat
x Presence of cover
(Presence of cover is the way to
manipulation)
Dependent Variable (DV)
Whether the maggots appear on the meat
Controlled Variable (CV)
Size of the meat, size of the jar,
temperature of the meat
X Size (not specific enough)
X Temperature (not specific enough)

2. How to manipulate the IV and measure the DV? (實驗操作)

Manipulation of IV Measurement of DV CV
One jai is open while another jar Count the number of maggots /
is covered.

3. Fair test
Factor being tested
Flies

Experimental group / set-up Control group / set-up

(factor being tested present) (factor being tested absent)
The jar with cover The jar without cover

Purpose of setting up a jar without cover

(to act as a control group that ensures “Independent variable” is the only variable)
To act as a control set up that ensures the presence of flies to the meat is the only variable that causes the maggots to
appear on the meat.

4. Assumption
State 1-2 assumptions
(something accepted as true without any proof)
-The two pieces of meat are identical./Other reasonable answers.