Mr. Olvesen’s 7th Grade Science Please do the following: Take out pen/pencil & notebook, sit quietly and await instructions

The Scientific Method What is science? What is the method scientists use to answer scientific questions?

The Scientific Method What is science? Way of learning about the natural world A way to answer questions & solve problems A process used to investigate what is happening around you; provides possible answers

If life existed on Mars, what do you think it would look like?

Life on Mars Open your text books to page 2

Trying to find out whether life ever existed on Mars is just one example of performing science Science is the process of: Observing Experimenting Thinking about the universe to create knowledge Every time you answer a question by observing the world or testing an idea you’re performing “science”.

What is the Method that Scientists follow to answer questions? Scientific Method

Scientific Method Identify a Question Gather Information Form a Hypothesis Test the Hypothesis Analyze the Results Draw a Conclusion If Hypothesis is proven it becomes a Theory

Scientists Ask a Question Does life or did life ever exist on mars? For example: You might ask which gasoline is the most efficient Is or was there ever life on Mars? Why doesn’t the light work? Why are all the fish dead? Answering one question may lead to many others

Gather Information You can find information by going to the library and reading books or magazines, by using the internet, or talking to other educated people about the question Evaluate your sources of information!!!! Goal is to get background information on what you are researching and use it to help you form your hypothesis

Form your Hypothesis A hypothesis is a possible answer to a question Must be testable If… then… statement. An educated guess

Example Hypothesis If sunlight effects the rate of plant growth, then the more exposure to the sun the higher the plants will grow. If bacteria grow in higher temperatures, then an increase in temperature will lead to an increase in bacterial growth. *** manipulated variable is the IF, responding variable is the THEN***

Test the Hypothesis Run an experiment You need to decide what your VARIABLES are! Scientists tried to recreate and produce globules of minerals that looked like the shapes in the Martian meteorite

What are Variables? Factors that can change in an experiment 3 Types of Variables Independent (Manipulated) Variable Dependent (Responding) Variable Controlled Variable

Independent Variable The variable that can be changed during an experiment The variable that the scientists chooses to change The variable that may cause a change in the dependent variable

Dependent Variable The factor that is being measured in an experiment The variable that may change because of the independent

Controlled Variable Variable that stays the same during an experiment Variable that is “controlled” by the scientist Variable that is not allowed to change

Analyzing Results As experiments and tests are preformed scientists collect information, or data, that must be analyzed How can some data be organized? Include: Measurements Look for patterns and relations found in data and on graphs Microscope photographs Chemical studies Formation of graphs to see patterns in data Etc.

Draw a Conclusion Scientists attempt to answer the original question State whether or not the hypothesis was supported (it is never “right” or “wrong”) Scientists decide what the results of their tests and observations mean & pose further research questions Sometimes the original hypothesis is not supported by the data, other times it is. If it is not: scientists have to form a new hypothesis and restart the process If it is: …..

Theory If the hypothesis is proven it becomes a theory. In science a theory is an idea that has been tested and retested and can explain a large set of observations. Scientists report to scientific journals or provide presentations to other scientists

Repeated Trials To make sure results are valid The more trials conducted, the more likely the results are reliable To make sure a “fluke” is not considered the true result

Scientific Method Demo