Introduction to Science for Earth Science Students Measurement The Scientific Method Graphing

Lab Equipment Graduated Cylinder Used to measure volume Proper way to read Place graduated cylinder on a flat, level surface. Read the liquid at eye level. Don’t look from the top and don’t look from the bottom. Read the bottom of the meniscus (curve) Unit = milliliters (ml)

Beaker Uses Container Approximate volume. (This is not the most accurate way to measure volume.)

Flask Uses Container Mixing things Not an accurate piece of equipment to measure volume

Balance Used to measure mass Unit = grams When using, you must “zero” it.

Ruler Used to measure length We will use either centimeters (cm) or millimeters (mm) There are 10 mm in every cm

The Scientific Method

What is the scientific method? A step by step method used to solve problems. Steps: State the Problem Gather research about the problem State a hypothesis Test the hypothesis by doing an experiment Observe and measure data. Analyze data Draw a conclusion 8. Repeat

State the Problem This is what you want to find out about. Usually written as a question. Ex. - What effect does caffeine consumed after 2 pm have on the ability to go to sleep by 9pm on a school night?

Gather research about the problem Find out if other scientists have done similar experiments and what their results show. You can….. Read a newspaper/magazine article What a TV program or documentary Ask an expert “Google” it.

State a hypothesis This is a possible explanation to the problem. Must be able to be tested!!! Written in an “If… , then… “ format. IF I consume caffeine after 2 pm, THEN I will not be able to fall asleep before 9 pm on a school night?

Test the hypothesis by doing an experiment An experiment is used to test your hypothesis. Your experiment needs to be created so that it will either verify or disprove the hypothesis. Hypothesis -If I consume caffeine after 2 p.m., then I will not be able to fall asleep before 9 pm on a school night. Your experiment needs to have: A day in which you do not consume caffeine after 2 pm. A day in which you do consume caffeine after 2 pm. A day in which you do not consume caffeine at all.

Experiments and Variables A variable is something that you can change. There are two types of variables. Independent variables Dependent variables

Independent Variables Things “I” change in an experiment. Plotted on the x-axis of a graph. Listed in the LEFT hand column of a data table. It is the “if” part of a hypothesis. (If you turn on music, then I will dance.) The cause ( I am dancing because I can hear music.)

Dependent Variable The outcome; what you measured or the result. Plotted on the y-axis Listed in the RIGHT hand column of the data table. The “then” part of a hypothesis. (If you turn on music, then I will dance.) The effect. ( I am dancing because I can hear music.)

Important Things about your Experiment Good experiments have 2 groups: Control Group: This group stays the same or is unchanged. This group does not get the “special treatment”. Used for comparison Experimental Group: This group is allowed to change. Only one variable is changed at a time!!!

Observe and Measure Data There are two types of data: Quantitative: “Quantity”; Uses numbers Qualitative: “Quality; Uses descriptions For our example, you would need to record the following: Amount of caffeine consumed on that day. The specific time of day in which caffeine was consumed. Source of caffeine you consumed. Time you went to bed and the time you fell asleep.

Time of Latest Caffeine Consumption Analyze Data Place your data in a chart Use a graph to determine the trends/patterns by the data. Time of Latest Caffeine Consumption Time you fell asleep 6:00 am 8:15 pm 11:30 am 9:15 pm 5:00 pm 1:00 am

Graphs There are 3 types of graphs: Line = shows trends Bar = shows comparisons Circle/Pie = shows percentages or parts of a whole

Draw a conclusion State whether or not your hypothesis is supported based on the analysis of the data collected during the experiment. Written as a complete sentence!!! Example - On the days that I do not consume caffeine after 2 pm, I am able to fall asleep before 9:00 pm.

Repeat Repeat the experiment the same exact way you did it the first time. You should get the same results. Others should be able to do exactly what you did and get the same results.

Remember….. Purple = Problem Rabbits = Research Have = Hypothesis Eating = Experiment Disorders = Data And = Analyze Can’t = Conclusion Read = Repeat