Scientific Process

Instructions Get a basket of supplies Obtain a cup of each of the 5 solutions, be sure to label your cups Use the marker to label the 5 cups A)Solution A B)Solution B C)Solution C D)Solution D E)Detergent

Place each solution (A-D) in a different petri dish. –Be sure to label each petri dish first Write down observations about each solution –What color are they? –Do they look different from one another? –When you poured out the solutions, did they perform differently? –Other…….

Take some food coloring and place a drop at 12 o’clock and one drop at 6 o’clock in one of the solutions Record your observations. –You may want to draw a picture Now place a drop of detergent in the center of the petri dish and observe Record your observations

Repeat the previous steps (food coloring and detergent) until you have finished testing all of the “mystery solutions” When you are done with your observations dump all the solutions down the drain and clean up the rest of your supplies –Cups & droppers in garbage –Petri dishes rinsed out and left on paper towels in your basket to dry –Markers and food coloring in correct basket in front of room

Now let’s talk science……

Steps in the scientific process Observation Problem statement Research Hypothesis Experimentation Data collection Acceptance or rejection of hypothesisAcceptance or rejection of hypothesis

Observation Define observation: How observant are you? A student noticed that more sugar would dissolve in hot coffee than in cold coffee

Problem statement Always in the form of a question –If………then………. Example: If the temperature of a liquid is increased, then more sugar will dissolve in it.

Research Gaining knowledge about the problem statement You cannot design an appropriate experiment without knowledge about the subject Topics of research

Hypothesis Educated guess Statement which proposes a solution to the problem question Complete sentence Hypothesis:

Null hypothesis Hypothesis which states that there is no statistically significant difference between expected and actual results

Experiment Test of the hypothesis –Observational –Controlled One independent variable Dependent variable All other variable controlled (held constant) –Ensures validity

Experiment Design a simple controlled experiment to test the hypothesis. –List all variables (controlled, independent, and dependent) –List all materials –Step by step procedure (should be repeatable by someone else)

Data collection Dependent variable Select an appropriate measurement technique Record data accurately Graphs and tables

Accept or reject hypothesis State whether hypothesis is supported or not supported by your data Complete sentences, refer to hypothesis No and Yes are NOT appropriate statements Publish Repeatable experiments are valid experiments

Practice Design a experiment to test the effects of “Miracle Gro” on seed germination