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The Scientific Method

The Scientific Method. What is the scientific method?. A process of gathering facts through observation and formulating scientific hypotheses. Step 1. State the problem Scientists have a question that they want answered. “Does a smartcar have more momentum with or without passengers?”.

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The Scientific Method

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  1. The Scientific Method

  2. What is the scientific method? • A process of gathering facts through observation and formulating scientific hypotheses.

  3. Step 1 • State the problem • Scientists have a question that they want answered. “Does a smartcar have more momentum with or without passengers?”

  4. Step 2 • Research the problem. • Find as much information about the problem as possible “ find out what affects momentum, how a smart car is made”

  5. Step 3 • Make a hypothesis. • A hypothesis is an educated guess. • Make a statement based on your prior knowledge or research as to what you think the answer to your question is. • “If a smartcar has more passengers, then it will have more momentum.”

  6. Step 4 • Procedure • Design the experiment. Write out a series of steps (directions) and get necessary materials. • Ex: smartcar, road, passengers, scale

  7. Step 5 • Complete the experiment, record your data

  8. Step 6 • Analyze your data • Create a graph of your data, repeat the experiment

  9. Step 7 • Conclusion • Accept, reject, or modify your hypothesis based on the analysis of your data. • When a hypothesis has survived extensive testing, it may become a theory • A theory is widely accepted by the scientific community and best explains observable facts.

  10. Parts of an Experiment • Independent variable(IV): variable that changes as a result of the person doing the experiment • graphed on the x axis • Examples: time (minutes, days)

  11. Dependent variable • Is the effect of the independent variable; changes as a result of the IV • graphed on y axis • Examples: temperature, distance

  12. Control group • Part of the experiment that does not effect the outcome of the experiment; not exposed to the independent variable • Ex: passengers vs. no passengers

  13. Constants • The items in an experiment that never change so that the results are not skewed; stays the same throughout • Ex: same car, same driver, same road

  14. Practice Question 1 Example: Suzie Q wants to know how different colors of light effect the growth of plants. She believes that plants can survive the best in white light. She buys 5 ferns of the same species, which are all approximately the same age and height. She places one in white light, one in blue light, one in green light, one in red light, and one in a closet. All of the ferns are planted in Miracle Grow and given 20 mL of water once a day for 2 weeks. After 2 weeks, Suzie observes the plants and makes measurements. • Independent variable? • Dependent Variable? • Control? • Constants?

  15. Practice #2 • Laura wanted to see if music had an effect on the growth of plants. She took 2 philodendron plants and placed one near a radio and the other one in another room without a radio. She made sure each plant was exposed to the same amount of sunlight each day, got the same amount of water, and were in the same kind of pot with the same type of soil. She recorded the growth at the same time each day for 2 weeks. • Independent variable? • Dependent variable? • Constants? • Control?

  16. References • Smartcar picture • http://static.ddmcdn.com/gif/smart-car-1.jpg

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