What is Science? Science: Process that produces information about nature Steps: Observation & Experimentation Why: Apply the results to the real world

What is Science?

• Science: Process that produces information about nature

• Steps: Observation & Experimentation

• Why: Apply the results to the real world

• Why: Better understand our world

• Defined: Series of steps to collect information or solve problems

1) Observation

2) Hypothesis

3) Experimentation

4) Data Analysis

5) Conclusion

Scientific Method

Observation and Hypothesis• 1st step: Make an

observation– Example: I seem to

sleep better when I play relaxing music.

• 2nd step: Create a hypothesis– If…then statement– Example: If there is

relaxing music playing, then I will sleep longer.

3rd step: Design an ExperimentTwo parts to an experiment

1) Control group Receives no special

treatments Used as comparison

2) Experimental Group Same as control group,

except…the independent variable

Independent variable = one factor that differs from the control group

Dependent variable: Data measured

Here is a well designed setup

Control Group Experimental GroupCurtains closed

Soft bed

Usual exercise Healthy meals

Curtains closed

Soft bed


Music while sleeping

Average 6.2 hours sleep


Did the music cause the extra sleep?Yes. It was the only reason to explain the extra sleep.

No music while sleepingTest for 1 month Test for 1 month

Control Group Experimental GroupCurtains closed

Soft bed


Curtains closed

Soft bed





No music while sleepingTest for 1 month Test for 1 month

30 seconds to discuss with your neighbor.1)What’s the independent variable?2)What’s the dependent variable?

Presence of musicAmount of sleep

Here is a poorly designed setup

Control Group Experimental Group

Curtains open

Soft bed

Usual exerciseHealthy meals

Curtains closed

Soft bed

Healthy meals


Did the music cause the extra sleep?Unknown. Extra sleep could have been due to other variables.

Increased exercise

Test for 1 monthNo music while sleeping

Test for 1 month



A teacher wants to know if her new teaching method is more successful than traditional teaching methods. She compares test scores of her period 2 class (received the traditional teaching method) verses her period 4 class (received new teaching method). Each class has a random mix of honors students.

Name the control group _________________________________________________

Name the experimental group ____________________________________________

Name the independent variable __________________________________________

Name the dependent variable ____________________________________________

Period 2 students

Period 4 studentsTeaching method

Test scores

A high school soccer team on average scores 2.2 goals per game by practicing 4 days a week. The coach wants to see if practicing 5 days a week will help the team score more goals. The coach has the team practice 5 days per week and compares the goals scored per game.





Practicing 4 days per week

Practicing 5 days per weekLength of practice

Goals scored per game

The city of Los Angeles wants to know if there is a connection between physical fitness and air pollution. Fifty volunteers from the mayor’s office agree to be tested. First, they are asked to ride a stationary bike for 1 hour in a pollution-free air chamber. A week later, the 50 volunteers return and are again asked to ride a stationary bike for 1 hour in a chamber filled with air pollutants common to Los Angeles. Their heart rates are monitored throughout the 1 hour bike rides.





Volunteers who breathed common polluted air

Volunteers who breathed clean airQuality of air breathed

Heart rates

Farmer Bob wants to test a new fertilizer to help his crops grow better. He sections off two large areas of his field. In section A, he waters his crops as usual and uses his normal fertilizer. In section B, he waters his crops as usual and but adds the experimental fertilizer. After 1 growing season, he records the growth of the crops.





Section A

Section BType of fertilizer used

Growth of the crops

The United States military wants to see if soldiers with only 4 hours of sleep can operate at the same level as those who normally get 7 hours of sleep. One hundred solders are allowed to only sleep for 4 hours a night and another hundred are allowed to sleep for 7 hours a night. During the day, the soldiers are tested for marksmanship on the firing range.





Soldiers with 7 hours sleep

Soldiers with 4 hours sleepAmount of sleep given

Score on the firing range

..

.

4th Step: Data Analysis

• Collect data to either support/reject your hypothesis– No hypothesis is proven after 1 experiment

Withoutmusic

Withmusic

5th Step: Conclusion• Your findings could be

shared and repeated by others

• Theory develops over time– Theory = long standing

hypothesis

• Theories and hypotheses change based on new information

Kobe Kuiz1) Place the 5 steps of the scientific method in order from start to finish.

Data analysis, Observation, Conclusion, Experimentation, Hypothesis

2) In which stage of the scientific method are graphs usually created?

3) In which stage of the scientific method are the two variables identified?

4) Which variable is the difference between the control and experimental group?

5) Which group of an experiment is used for comparison and contains no changes?

6) How many independent variables should exist in a well designed experiment?

7) What is the data collected from the independent variable called?

8) Vocabulary: Science, Scientific method, Hypothesis, Control group, Experimental group, Independent variable, Dependent variable, Theory

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What is Science? Science: Process that produces information about nature Steps: Observation & Experimentation Why: Apply the results to the real world