For which of the following questions could a testable hypothesis be developed?

• A. Does increasing the amount of sunlight affect the growth rate of tomato plants?
• B. What is the meaning of life?
• C. Should people always tell the truth?
• D. Is beauty truly in the eye of the beholder?

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand what a testable hypothesis is. A testable hypothesis is a statement that can be supported or refuted through experimentation or observation. It must be measurable and based on scientific principles.
2. Step 2: Analyze each question to determine if it can be tested scientifically. For example, 'Does increasing the amount of sunlight affect the growth rate of tomato plants?' can be tested by designing an experiment where tomato plants are exposed to varying amounts of sunlight and their growth rates are measured.
3. Step 3: Evaluate the other questions. 'What is the meaning of life?' is philosophical and subjective, making it untestable scientifically. Similarly, 'Should people always tell the truth?' is an ethical question, not measurable or testable. 'Is beauty truly in the eye of the beholder?' is subjective and based on personal perception, making it untestable scientifically.
4. Step 4: Conclude that the only question that can be developed into a testable hypothesis is 'Does increasing the amount of sunlight affect the growth rate of tomato plants?' because it involves measurable variables (sunlight and growth rate) and can be tested through experimentation.
5. Step 5: Reflect on the importance of testable hypotheses in scientific inquiry. They allow scientists to explore cause-and-effect relationships and contribute to the development of evidence-based conclusions.