Scientific Method

Scientific Method By: Brianna Shields September 20, 2004

DO NOW • 1. The mass of a block is 14g, it’s volume is 56 cm^3. What is it’s density? Label with proper units! • 2. A block has a density of 44 g/cm^3. If it is broken into 4 equal pieces, what is the density of each individual piece? • 3. A block has a density of 0.89 g/cm^3. Will it sink or float when placed in water? EXPLAIN how you know that.

GOAL • To list the steps of the scientific method • To formulate a hypothesis and a conclusion • To examine an experiment and identify the variables, constants and control

The experiment • We will learn how to carry out an experiment using the scientific method • Materials: 3 pots, dirt, water, seeds

Steps “Queen Harriet Eats Dead Cats” 1. Question 2. Hypothesis 3. Experiment 4. Data 5. Conclusion Scientific Method

1. What you want to know or research Ex: How much water is best for plant growth? Scientific Method

2. Hypothesis A prediction about what you think will happen If (something is done), then (this will occur) Ex: If a plant is given a large amount of water, then it will grow the tallest Scientific Method

3. Experiment Independent Variable- the item you are changing or testing (one at a time) Ex: Water Dependent Variable- what is affected, the measured result Ex: plant growth Scientific Method

3. Experiment Parts Procedure- what steps will you follow? Ex: 3 pots- dirt in each bury 4 seeds in each add different amounts of water each day measure the plant height Scientific Method

3. Experiment Parts Control- has no independent variable- ensures any results are due to only the I.V. Ex: One pot gets no water Scientific Method

3. Experiment Parts Constants- each set-up should be treated exactly the same, except for the IV Same sunlight Same pot size Same seed number Same type of dirt Same amount of dirt Scientific Method

4. Data Set- up a table to organize the info. You need Ex: (copy ex. Off side board) Scientific Method

5. Conclusion A. What were your results? What did you find? B. Was your hypothesis correct? Explain. C. Any possible errors? Ex: Plant 3 got the most water and grew the tallest. Scientific Method

DO NOW • 1. The mass of a foam block is 18g, it’s volume is 54 cm^3. What is it’s density? • 2. Will the foam block sink or float in water? Explain why • 3. Draw a picture of a cup of water with a foam block in it. Make sure you sketch the block in it’s exact location.

Practice: Hypotheses • Questions: • What type of household cleaner kills the most bacteria? • Why do some sugar crystals grow larger than others? • Frogs at the bottom of the Chadakoin river have been dying off although frogs at the top are perfectly healthy

Practice: Hypotheses • What type of household cleaner kills the most bacteria? • If comet cleaner is used, then most of the bacteria will be killed

Practice: Hypotheses • Why do some sugar crystals grow larger than others? • If more sugar is added, then larger crystals will grow

Practice: Hypotheses • Frogs at the bottom of the Chadakoin river have been dying off although frogs at the top are perfectly healthy • If the water at the bottom is heavily polluted, then the frogs will die off.

Indep and Dep Variables • If comet cleaner is used, then most of the bacteria will be killed • If more sugar is added, then larger crystals will grow • If the water at the bottom is heavily polluted, then the frogs will die off.

Indep and Dep Variables • If comet cleaner is used, then most of the bacteria will be killed • IV = type of cleaner • DV= amt of bacteria killed

Indep and Dep Variables • If more sugar is added, then larger crystals will grow • IV = amount of sugar • DV= size of crystals

Indep and Dep Variables • If the water at the bottom is heavily polluted, then the frogs will die off. • IV= amount of pollution • DV= frog survival

Identifying Constants • If we do an experiment to see whether the amount of sugar used affects the size of the crystal grown • What do we change? • Amount of sugar • What are some constants? • Amount of water, Water temperature, Time to grow, Type of container

Identifying Constants • If we do an experiment to see whether certain cleaning products are better at killing bacteria • What do we change? • Type of cleaning product • What are some constants? • Amount of product used, Amount of starting bacteria, Tool used to apply product

Identifying Constants • If we do an experiment to see whether different amounts of pollution affect frog survival • What do we change? • Amount of pollution • What are some constants? • Water temperature, Type of pollution, Type of frogs used

Setting up a data table • Set up a data table to display information about an experiment on whether the amount of sugar used affects sugar crystal growth

Conclusions • Use the data table to write a conclusion • The more sugar that is used, the larger the mass of the resulting sugar crystals

Setting Up Experiments • Read over the “Reproduction and Development” Experiment. We will fill in the parts of the experiment together. • Look at “Living and Nonliving things”. Work on this experiment with a partner.

Lab Write-Ups • We will be doing many experiments in class. Use the handout to fill in a description of each part of a lab write-up. • You will keep this handout in the lab portion of your lab binder

Purpose • What is the purpose of the experiment? What is your hypothesis? What are your independent and dependent variables?

Materials • List all the materials you will be using

Procedure • List all of the steps that you will follow • Number each step

Data and Observations • Make a table to display the data you are collecting or the observations you are making

Conclusions • What are the results? • What did you find? • Was your hypothesis correct? Why or why not? • What are some possible errors?

Scientific Method