11.1.1

Scientific Questions

Test yourself on Scientific Questions

Test your knowledge with free interactive questions on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

Scientific Questions

Humans are curious animals. We ask questions all the time. Scientific questions are those that can be explored and tested.

Early experiments

Early experiments

  • An early example of a scientific question being tested is Van Helmont’s tree experiment.
    • In 1634, Jan Baptist van Helmont asked if it was true that trees ate soil as people believed.
Observation and measurement

Observation and measurement

  • To test ideas, scientists make observations and take measurements.
  • Jan Baptist van Helmont carried out an investigation.
Van Helmont's experiment

Van Helmont's experiment

  • Jan Baptist van Helmont wanted to work out if trees ate soil.
    • van Helmont weighed a tree and its soil.
    • After 5 years, he weighed both the tree and the soil again.
    • The tree had increased, but the weight of the soil had hardly changed.
    • He used this as evidence that the tree had not ‘eaten’ the soil.
Jump to other topics
1

Year 5: Living Things & Their Habitats

1.1

Asexual Reproduction

1.1.1Basics of Asexual Reproduction1.1.2Uses of Asexual Reproduction
1.2

Sexual Reproduction

1.2.1Basics of Sexual Reproduction1.2.2Reproductive Cells in Animals1.2.3Reproductive Cells in Plants
1.3

Fertilisation

1.3.1Fertilisation1.3.2Internal Fertilisation - Type 11.3.3Internal Fertilisation - Type 21.3.4Internal Fertilisation - Type 31.3.5External Fertilisation in Water
1.4

Reproduction in Plants

1.4.1Sexual Reproduction in Plants - Male1.4.2Sexual Reproduction in Plants - Female1.4.3Pollination
1.5

Life Cycles in Plants

1.5.1Seeds & Germination1.5.2Growth & Pollination
1.6

Life Cycles in Mammals

1.6.1Gestation & Young Mammals1.6.2Adult Mammals
1.7

Life Cycles in Amphibians

1.7.1Birth & Young Amphibians1.7.2Adult Amphibians
1.8

Life Cycles in Birds

1.8.1Birds' Eggs1.8.2Young & Adult Birds
1.9

Life Cycles in Insects

1.9.1Eggs & Larva1.9.2Pupa & Adults
1.10

Understanding the Natural World

1.10.1Animal Behaviourists1.10.2Naturalists
2

Year 5: Animals (Including Humans)

2.1

Humans Life Cycles

2.1.1Fertilisation & Early Development in Humans2.1.2Adolescence & Adult Humans
2.2

Gestation

2.2.1Early Stages of Gestation2.2.2The Umbilical Cord2.2.3Foetus & Birth2.2.4Comparing Gestation of Animals
3

Year 5: Properties & Changes of Materials

3.1

Properties of Materials

3.1.1Materials3.1.2Hardness, Solubility, Transparency3.1.3Conductors & Magnetic3.1.4Metals & Wood3.1.5Plastic
3.2

Separating Mixtures

3.2.1Salt Separation3.2.2Separating Solids from Liquids3.2.3Physical Changes3.2.4Chemical Changes
3.3

Experiments

3.3.1Conducting Experiments
4

Year 5: Earth & Space

4.1

How Do We Have Night & Day?

4.1.1The Sun & the Moon4.1.2Earth and Other Planets4.1.3The Solar System4.1.4Planet Features4.1.5Day & Night4.1.6Moons of the Solar System
5

Year 5: Forces

5.1

Forces

5.1.1What are Forces?5.1.2What do Forces Do?
5.2

Forces that Move Objects

5.2.1Friction5.2.2Air Resistance5.2.3Reducing Air Resistance5.2.4Water Resistance5.2.5Reducing Water Resistance5.2.6The Discovery of Gravity5.2.7The Force of Gravity5.2.8Gravity & Other Forces
5.3

Gears, Levers & Pulleys

5.3.1Gears5.3.2Levers5.3.3Pulleys
6

Year 6: Living Things & Their Habitats

6.1

Classification of Living Things

6.1.1Classification of Living Things6.1.2The Animal Kingdom6.1.3Vertebrates & Invertebrates6.1.4Fish, Amphibians, Reptiles6.1.5Birds & Mammals6.1.6Arthropods, Molluscs, Annelids6.1.7The Plant Kingdom6.1.8Groups of Plants6.1.9Microorganisms & Viruses6.1.10Using Keys to Classify Living Things
7

Year 6: Animals (Including Humans)

7.1

The Circulatory System

7.1.1Blood Cells7.1.2Substances Transported in the Blood7.1.3Blood Vessels7.1.4Pulmonary Artery & Pulmonary Vein7.1.5The Heart7.1.6Chambers of the Heart
8

Year 6: Evolution & Inheritance

8.1

Evolution

8.1.1Adaptation to Cold Areas8.1.2Adaptation to Hot Areas8.1.3Variation in Humans8.1.4Variation in Dogs8.1.5Evolution & Mutations8.1.6Examples of Evolution8.1.7Fossils8.1.8Natural Selection8.1.9Darwin & Wallace
9

Year 6: Light

9.1

How Do We See?

9.1.1Light9.1.2Light & Shadows9.1.3Reflection9.1.4Periscopes
10

Year 6: Electricity

10.1

What is Electricity?

10.1.1Electricity, Current & Voltage10.1.2Electrical Symbols10.1.3Circuit Diagrams: Lamp10.1.4Circuit Diagrams: Buzzer10.1.5Electrical Safety
11

Year 5 & 6: Working Scientifically

11.1

Thinking Scientifically

11.1.1Scientific Questions11.1.2Ideas & Evidence11.1.3Punished Scientists:Galileo Galilei11.1.4Evidence is Not Proof11.1.5Hypothesis11.1.6Theory
11.2

Scientific Enquiry

11.2.1Starting an Enquiry11.2.2Observations & Testing11.2.3Research11.2.4Data Patterns11.2.5Correlations11.2.6Sorting & Classifying11.2.7Tools for Sorting & Classifying11.2.8Variables
11.3

Planning an Investigation

11.3.1Planning an Investigation: Question11.3.2Planning an Investigation: Equipment11.3.3Planning an Investigation: Equipment (2)11.3.4Planning an Investigation: Measurement
11.4

Carrying Out an Investigation

11.4.1Health & Safety11.4.2Using Equipment Correctly11.4.3Observing, Measuring & Recording11.4.4Replication & Annomalies11.4.5Recording & Presenting Information
11.5

Writing Up an Investigation

11.5.1Writing Up an Investigation11.5.2Presenting Data11.5.3Diagrams & Images
11.6

Conclusions & Discussions

11.6.1Writing a Conclusion11.6.2Finalising Your Conclusion

Practice questions on Scientific Questions

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    What type of questions can be explored and tested to provide us with evidence for our ideas?Multiple choice
  2. 2
    In 1634, Jan Baptist van Helmonnt asked if it was true that trees ate what?Multiple choice
  3. 3
    What is correct about van Helmont's experiment?True / false
  4. 4
    What did van Helmont discover about the weight of the soil in his experiment?Multiple choice
  5. 5
    What was the goal of van Helmont's experiment?Multiple choice
Answer all questions on Scientific Questions

Unlock your full potential with Seneca Premium

  • Unlimited access to 10,000+ open-ended exam questions

  • Mini-mock exams based on your study history

  • Unlock 800+ premium courses & e-books

Get started with Seneca Premium

Electrical Safety

Ideas & Evidence