Year 8 Science · Unit 1 · Lesson 18
Apply Worksheet
Learning Goals
Read the data
Study the breathing-rate data table below, this is from the lesson. Then answer the questions.
| Condition | Breathing rate (breaths/min) |
|---|---|
| Resting | 14 |
| After short exercise | 24 |
| After recovery | 17 |
(a) Describe the pattern shown in the data. What happened to breathing rate, and what trend can you see?
(b) Write a conclusion for this data. Your conclusion must refer to specific numbers from the table and link the pattern back to the living system being investigated.
(c) A student wrote: "The results show that exercise is good for you." Is this a strong scientific conclusion? Explain why or why not, using the lesson's ideas about evidence-based conclusions.
Real-world context
Scientists at the Australian Museum regularly investigate native frog populations by collecting data on breeding sites and water quality. They use structured investigations to track population health over time. Before collecting data, they write a clear question, make a prediction, and plan their method carefully so that the data they collect will be useful. After collecting observations, they look for patterns and write conclusions that are supported by evidence, not just by what they hoped to find.
(a) The scientists' investigation follows a clear evidence path. Name each step of the investigation process described in the passage and the lesson, and explain the purpose of each step.
(b) Why is it important that the scientists base their conclusion on evidence from the data, even if the result is different from their original prediction?
Wrap Up
In one sentence, what was the main idea of this lesson?