Scientific Methods and Principles MCQs

1. What is the first step in the scientific method?
(A) Forming a hypothesis
(B) Conducting an experiment
(C) Making an observation
(D) Drawing a conclusion

2. What is a hypothesis?
(A) A final conclusion
(B) A proven scientific law
(C) A testable explanation for an observation
(D) A guess with no evidence

3. Which of the following best defines a scientific theory?
(A) A simple guess
(B) A fact that never changes
(C) A well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world
(D) An untested opinion

4. What is the purpose of a control variable in an experiment?
(A) To change the outcome
(B) To test the hypothesis
(C) To serve as a standard for comparison
(D) To confuse the results

5. What does a scientific law describe?
(A) An untested idea
(B) An opinion of scientists
(C) An observable phenomenon that is consistently true
(D) A rejected theory

6. Which of the following is an essential characteristic of a good scientific experiment?
(A) It must be expensive
(B) It must be repeatable
(C) It must prove the hypothesis
(D) It must have one outcome

7. During which step of the scientific method are data collected?
(A) Hypothesis formulation
(B) Observation
(C) Experimentation
(D) Conclusion

8. What is empirical evidence based on?
(A) Opinions and beliefs
(B) Observations and experiments
(C) Historical documents
(D) Internet sources

9. Why is it important to communicate scientific results?
(A) To earn awards
(B) To allow replication and further study
(C) To publish books
(D) To increase fame

10. What does it mean when an experiment is said to be “controlled”?
(A) Only one variable is changed at a time
(B) No variables are changed
(C) All variables are changed
(D) The results are kept secret