1. Hypothesis or Not?

2. Albert Einstein was the greatest scientist in history.
Hypothesis or Not?
Albert Einstein was the greatest scientist in history.
Answer: Not. This is an opinion and not something that could be tested.

3. Hypothesis or Not?
Bacteria will grow more quickly in a warm environment than a cold environment.
Answer: Yes, this is a hypothesis. This is testable and has a clearly identifiable independent variable (temperature) and dependent variable (bacteria growth).

4. Hypothesis or Not?
If a seed is exposed to acids with a pH less than 4, it will not germinate.
Answer: Yes, this is a hypothesis. It is testable and has a clear independent variable (pH level) and dependent variable (seed germination).

5. If a person takes vitamins each day, they will be healthier.
Hypothesis or Not?
If a person takes vitamins each day, they will be healthier.
Answer: No, not a hypothesis. There is no way to measure “healthier”. If it was more specific, such as “will have less cholesterol” and specified which vitamin, then it could be tested.

6. Hypothesis or Not?
If a person lives in the Midwest, they will be friendlier than other people.
Answer: No, not a hypothesis. There is no way to measure “friendlier”.

7. Hypothesis or Not?
Growing a plant under a red light bulb will increase the rate at which it grows.
Answer: Yes, this is a hypothesis. It could be tested with an experiment and has a clear independent variable (light color) and dependent variable (growth rate).

8. Hypothesis or Not?
Raising the temperature of water will increase the speed in which Kool-Aid dissolves.
Answer: Yes, this is a hypothesis. It is testable and has a clear independent variable (temperature of water) and dependent variable (rate at which Kool-Aid dissolves).

9. If a person plays the lottery, they will become rich.
Hypothesis or Not?
If a person plays the lottery, they will become rich.
Answer: No, this is not a hypothesis. This is a prediction, not a testable statement.

10. Children who don’t watch TV are smarter than children who do watch TV.
Hypothesis or Not?
Children who don’t watch TV are smarter than children who do watch TV.
Answer: No, this is not a hypothesis. It is too general, and therefore, could not be tested. “Smartness” is too general, as well as “children who watch TV”. If it was revised to be more specific, i.e.: “Children who watch more than 10 hours a week of TV will score less on the state achievement test than children who watch less than 10 hours a week of TV”, then it could be tested.

11. Hypothesis or Not?
If a person does cardio exercise three or more times per week, they will have a greater lung capacity than a person who does cardio exercise less than three times per week.
Answer: Yes, this is a testable hypothesis. It has a clear independent variable (amount of cardio exercise/week) and dependent variable (lung capacity).

12. German Shepherds are friendlier than Great Danes.
Hypothesis or Not?
German Shepherds are friendlier than Great Danes.
Answer: No, not a hypothesis. A “friendly” dog is subjective and not able to be measured.

13. A plant that is grown with fertilizer will grow taller
Hypothesis or Not?
A plant that is grown with fertilizer will grow taller
than a plant grown
without fertilizer.
Answer: Yes, this is a testable hypothesis. It has a clear independent variable (use of fertilizer) and dependent variable (plant height).

14. Hypothesis or Not?
Store brand batteries are able to run a battery-operated device, such as a portable fan, for the same amount of time as national brand batteries.
Answer: Yes, this is a testable hypothesis. It has a clear independent variable (brand/type of battery) and dependent variable (run time in a portable fan).

15. If you use Swifter Max solution, then your floors will
Hypothesis or Not?
If you use Swifter Max solution, then your floors will
look like new.
Answer: No, not a hypothesis. The statement is not testable. There is no way to measure “floor looks like new”.

16. Hoodia is a natural supplement that will help people look fabulous.
Hypothesis or Not?
Hoodia is a natural supplement that will help people look fabulous.
Answer: No, not a hypothesis. “Looking fabulous” is not measurable. If this was rewritten, i.e.: “If a person takes Hoodia twice a day, they will lose 1-2 pounds per week”, then it could be a hypothesis because it could be measured and tested.

17. Hypothesis or Not?
A plant grown with salt added to its soil will be shorter than a plant grown with no salt added to its soil.
Answer: Yes, this is a testable hypothesis. It has a clear independent variable (salt or no salt in soil) and dependent variable (plant height).

18. Based on this activity, what is a hypothesis?
Hypothesis—What is it?
Based on this activity, what is a hypothesis?
Answer: A TESTABLE statement with a clear independent and dependent variable.