The Scientific Method Mr. Soria Science

Objectives You will be able to explain and demonstrate the scientific method during investigations You will be able to recognize and differentiate between experimental, comparative and descriptive investigations. You will be able to plan and design scientific investigations

PAY ATTENTION!!!

Check for Understanding What are the Objectives?

Terms Ethics Cosmos Compare Describe Science Investigation Variable Control Constant Phenomena Observation Question Hypothesis Prediction Experiment Data Analysis Conclusion and Communication

Science It is the study of the Cosmos (everything) based on information gathered through investigation and experimentation. It is not religion or philosophy However learning about our World and all the things in it can be spiritual Science uses philosophy to debate the ethical use of science

The Method Orange Quiet Hippies Probably Eat Dark Almond Chocolate Observation Question Hypothesis Prediction Experiment Data Analysis Conclusion and Communication

Observation

Observation We observe our world using our senses sight, hearing, taste, touch, and smell. But we have other sense as well what are they? How do we observe things that are beyond the senses we have? Discuss TPS

Question or Problem Who What When Where WHY HOW

Question or Problem Why is this happening? How is this happening? What causes this to happen? How can we solve this? Why is this important to people? Where does this happen?

Question/Problem Your observations should lead you to questions about what you are observing. Some of the most fundamental questions is science focus on figuring out what is happening and what is the cause. Come up with 1 scientific question about anything your interested in. TPS

Hypothesis A hypothesis is an educated guess. What makes that different from a regular guess?

Hypothesis A regular guess is random and has no information to support it. A hypothesis has information to support it and is our best attempt at explaining phenomena that we have observed before we do an investigation. Give us a hypothesis for your observation TPS

Which is which? I think there used to be giant reptiles because we found weird bones deep in the ground that don’t match anything alive now. I think it will be cold March 17 2201 because no mas.

Prediction This is the earliest stage of designing an experiment. You predict the best way to test your hypothesis and what you think the conclusion will be.

Experiment This is how we test our hypothesis, there other ways to investigate but an experiment uses a given situation to test if a variable can affect something and how much of an affect is produced. It is specific, precise and can be repeated by other people in other places.

Experiment

Experiment You need an independent variable to manipulate and dependent variable to test You need to design your experiment to fairly test your hypothesis. We design our experiments to prove us WRONG. Why? TPS Your conclusion is whatever the evidence says!! Do we repeat? Why? How many times?

DATA!!

Data DAY TUH is information that is collected from a scientific investigation it includes measured properties (quantitative) think cuanto It can also include descriptive data like colors, preference, and other methods of classification (qualitative) think cualidades. Qualitative is data that describes a trait or characteristic Quantitative data gives us the amount of something.

I SAID PAY ATTENTION!!!

Analysis When we analyze data we are looking for patterns. Patterns suggest a relationship between the things being tested Patterns DO NOT mean cause and effect we do more experiments to determine that. Give me an example of two things that are related but don’t cause each other.

Conclusion and Communication After we have analyzed our data we draw a conclusion about what we have learned and equally important what questions still need to be answered. We share this information not only to share what we learned but also to challenge others to help prove or disprove our results and conclusion.

Sharing Information Makes Science Stronger

Check for Understanding What are the important parts of an experiment? What are the two types of Data how are they different? What is being predicted in the prediction step of the scientific method What are the ways we observe things? Hypothesis is different from a regular guess in what way?

Measurement and Conversion Quantitative data measure properties in science by amount. Length or distance is measured in meters (m, km, cm) Mass is the amount of matter in an object and is measured in grams (g, kg, mg) Volume is the amount of space something takes up and is measured in liters (l, ml, kl)

Measurement Cont. Speed is the distance an object travels in a given amount of time measured in meters per second (mps), kilometers per hour (kph), or miles per hour (mph). Density is the amount of matter that can fit in a space and is measured in grams per centimeter squared or grams per milliliter squared (g/cm2) or (g/ml2)

Other Units Energy is measured in Joules (21J) Force is measured in Newtons (46N) Distance within a solar system is measured in astronomical units (AU) Distance between stars and galaxies is measured in light years. Temperature is measured in degrees Fahrenheit, Celsius, or Kelvin Time is measured in seconds, minutes, hours, days, months, years etc.

Conversion

What do we do

How we do it

Conversion Chart

Graphs After we have done our research and investigation we have to present our conclusion in a way that people can understand One of the best ways to communicate results is a visual presentation of the DATA.

Pie Chart

Pie Chart A pie chart represents proportions of categories based the number 100. These numbers are given as percentages of a whole the entire pie equals 100% so if we add all the slices they should equal 100%. Pie charts are good for showing the proportion of a category

For Example If we survey the entire school to see what is the favorite pet between dogs cats fish and birds we have a total of 4 categories. If we survey 100 people and we get the same number of answers per category then each slice will be 25% because 25 X 4 = 100

Bar Graph A Bar Graph represents the amounts of different categories compared to each other. These can be represented vertically or horizontally

Examples

Line Graph Line Graphs represent the relationship between two variables. As one changes so does the other (if there is a relationship) There is an independent and dependent variable. The Dependent variable changes as the Independent variable is changed

Experimental Investigations Determine how a variable affects a group Include all parts of an experiment Include the following parts of scientific inquiry Observations Scientific Question Hypothesis Procedure Variables: Independent and Dependent Control and experimental group Data, Graphs, Analysis Conclusion Example: Test the effect of a fertilizer on a species of plant using a control group that does not receive any fertilizer.

Comparative Investigations Compare the effect of a variable on two or more groups Includes all the parts of an experiment except the control group Include the following parts of scientific inquiry Observations Scientific Question Hypothesis Procedure Variables: Independent and Dependent Data, Graphs, Analysis Conclusion Example: Which leaf A or B has a greater rate of transpiration?

Descriptive Investigations Involve describing and/or quantifying parts of a natural system. Has a research question, procedures, and conclusion. Used when little is known about the topic. No hypothesis or prediction Key words: Observe, describe, list, identify. Example – observing cells under a microscope and diagramming what is seen.