The Scientific Method

• Music Video:

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPaGOHwv7mQ

The Scientific Method1. Identify the problem- observe and ask questions.

2. Research and form a hypothesis

3. Test your hypothesis- experimentation

4. Collect and record DATA

5. Conclusion- Analyze your data. Was your hypothesis correct?

1. Observe and ask Quesitons

• All scientists make observations that lead to different questions, without these questions we can’t experiment and without experimentation we wouldn’t have ANYTHING!

What is an observation?

• Lets make some observations about what Mr. Einstein is holding…

Observations vs. Inferences

• Observation- direct way of gathering information in an organized way.– Ex.

• Inference- taking observations and making a logical conclusion– Ex.

Lets do some practice!

• Make a list of observations in your notebook as you watch this scene from Emperor’s New Groove

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhWZIyJB-4U

•

Lets draw some inferences from our observations…

Observation Inference  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do NowUse the following picture and list 3 observations and 1 inference.

Do Now• Identify the following pieces of lab equipment.

1 2 3

4 5 6

Objectives

• SWBAT identify the steps of the scientific method.

• SWBAT create a hypothesis.

• SWBAT practice measuring and using scientific equipment.

2. Determine what is already known and form a hypothesis

• How might we determine what is known?– 1)– 2)– 3)

2. Forming a Hypothesis

• Hypothesis - a testable explanation of a situation.

• Hypothesis that are supported through experiments and data are then accepted in the scientific community.

• Usually written in an “if… then” statement.– Example:

• If salt is added to water that is being heated then the water will boil at a faster rate.

Identify the hypothesis

• A study is being done on the increase in cases of skin cancer. It has been said that skin cancer shows a direct correlation with exposure to UV light. If skin cancer is related to ultraviolet light, then people with a high exposure to UV light will have a higher frequency of skin cancer.

• Is this hypothesis a testable hypothesis?

Do NowTwo groups were testing how a new cosmetic

reacts on the skin and to see if they get a rash. One is was given the cosmetic with added aloe and the other had the original cosmetic.

1.Write a hypothesis for this experiment.

2.List 3 controls/constants that were kept the same between group A and group B.

Objectives

• 1. SWBAT define and identify the independent variable, dependent variable, experimental group, and control group in different experiments.

• 2. SWBAT compare and contrast qualitative and quantitative data.

• 3. SWBAT complete a worksheet on the scientific method.

3. Design a Controlled Experiment

i. Controls-

ex.

ii. Variable-

ex.

iii. Data-

Collect and gather data

• Quantitative Data- measurements of time, temperature, length, or other factors.

• Qualitative Data- descriptions of what our senses detect.

Gather both qualitative and quantitative data about the picture below.

3. Controlled Experiments (cont.)

Independent variable: variable that changes

Dependent variable: results from or depends on changes to the independent variable

Experimental Group: group that is being changed.

Control Group: group you keep the same (all variables constant)

Identify the components of the experiment

• A group of college students were given a short course in speed-reading. The instructor was curious if a reward would influence how fast students could take a reading test at the end of the course.  Half the students were offered $5 for obtaining a certain time on the test, the other half were not offered money.  

• Independent Variable:• Dependent Variable:• Experimental Group:• Control Group:

Do Now

• Identify : control group, experimental group, independent variable, dependent variable, constants

• Yankee Candle designers want to increase the time their candles burn for. They made a new candle with increased paraffin wax. They set up an experiment to compare the new candle vs. the old candle.

4 .Interpret Results

• A. Analyze data– Bar graph– Line graph– Pie chart

• B. Maybe need to refine and redo experiment

Analyze Data to from a Conclusion

• We have to do something with our data!

• What can we conclude from this graph?

5. Conclusion

• A.

– i.

Homework!!

• For homework you have a worksheet on experiments. This will be due the next class.