Understanding the world around us through the Scientific Method

Scientific Method Notes Goals of science: To investigate, understand, and explain the natural world To predict future events using explanations

Scientific Method Notes Observation: use of the five senses to gather information (data) quantitative: characteristic that involves numbers (counting or measuring) b. qualitative: characteristic that is descriptive (does not involve numbers)

Scientific Method Notes 2. hypothesis: possible explanation for a set of observations; possible answer to a scientific question

Scientific Method Notes 3. experiment: test of a hypothesis control: experimental factor that stays the same in all tests b. variable: experimental factor that changes between tests Change only one variable at a time!

Scientific Method Notes 4. results: written record of observations and measurements (data) from an experiment Example: notes, graphs, tables and charts

Scientific Method Notes 5. Conclusion: uses results to show that the hypothesis was supported (correct) or rejected (incorrect) A good scientist would repeat his/her experiment several times and then publish the results so other scientists can repeat it as well!

1. Observation: Maggots appear on meat that is left uncovered.

2. Hypothesis: Flies produce maggots.

3. Experiment Get several bowls of meat, cover half of them so flies cannot get in, and leave the other half opened to the flies.

a. Control? The opened bowl Everything should be the same: Location, temperature, type of bowl, type of meat, size of meat, time, etc.

a. Variable? The cover (lid)

4. Results: Only the uncovered bowls had maggots.

Results can be shown on graphs Water Released and Absorbed by Tree Time Absorbed by Roots (g/h) Released by Leaves 8 AM 12 PM 2 PM 6 PM 8 PM 2 10 14 6 1 12 16 3 Water released by leaves Relative Rates (g/h) 20 15 5 10 AM 4 PM 10 AM 5 4 17 4 PM 9 Data Table Graph

4. Results: Data Table is a good way to show results.

5. Conclusion: Meat does not produce maggots. The uncovered bowls produced an average of 43 maggots while the covered bowls produced 0 maggots.

Scientific Method Notes Theory: hypothesis that is supported by evidence from many experiments Allows scientists to make predictions about future events NOT a fact – it may be revised or replaced

Experiments need Procedures Write detailed procedures: Bad Example: Put the brown and green Lego together

Experiments need Procedures Good Example: Take 1: 4x2 brown lego and 1: 1x4 green lego Put the last 2 bumps of the green 1x4 on the last row of bumps on the 4x2 so that the pieces are perpendicular