Whoosh!! Scientific Method                 Notes Whoosh!!

Observation Smelling Tasting Hearing Feeling Seeing Curious observation begins with using the five senses: Smelling Tasting Hearing Feeling Seeing Observation Examples: Dirk Nowitzki observes that he isn’t making his free throws in practice.

1st Step: Identify the Problem Your problem can’t be answered with a yes or no answer! Example Problem: Why isn’t Nowitzki making his free throws?

2nd Step: Research Example Research: Dirk Nowitzki consults his friend Tyson Chandler about his free throwing technique. Collecting information from knowledgeable sources like: Books Magazines Internet Experts

3rd Step: Hypothesis Educated guess about the solution to a problem based on knowledge and research. Has to be written in the ‘If…then…’ format. Example Hypothesis: If Nowitzki aims to the back of the rim, then he will make more free throws.

4th Step: Experiment The process of testing your hypothesis. Experiment Includes: 1. Materials List 2. Step-by-step procedures 3. Data chart and observations The things that have an effect on the experiment are called variables. There are 3 kinds of variables: 1. Independent variable 2. Dependent variable 3. Constants

Example Experiment cont.: Independent Variable: What you are testing/changing! Ex: where he aims Dependent Variable: results/ what you measure afterwards! Ex: Number of free throw shots made Constants: What stays the same! Ex: Same time in the morning, same ball, same basket, and same court used every time.

Example Experiment: 1. Materials list: basketball hoop, basketball, etc 2. Step-by-step Procedure: Over a 6 day period Nowitzki performed the following experiment: 1. Days 1, 2 & 3: 7:00am Nowitzki shot 90 baskets the regular way. 2. Days 4,5, & 6: 7:00am Nowitzki shot 90 baskets aiming for the back of the rim.

Example Experiment cont.: 3. Record data and observations: Basket Practice Experiment Results Attempted Baskets Made Baskets % accuracy Regular shot 90 45 50% Aimed shot 80 88%

5th Step: Data Analysis To analyze means to look for patterns. Make a graph with your data collected or write an analysis. Example Analysis: The percent of free throws made by Nowitzki increased by 38% by aiming towards the back of the basket.

6th Step: Conclusion Summary of the results: Restate your hypothesis, provide Evidence (data), and back it up with Scientific Reasoning. Example Conclusion: Dirk Nowitzki was having difficulty making free throws. He designed a way to test his accuracy if he aimed at the back of the rim while taking the shot, instead of looking at the backboard or front of the rim. After testing it, Nowitzki did make more free throws while aiming to the back of the rim. According to my data, he increased his percentage of free throws made from 50% - 88%. Scientifically, gravity will pull down on a basketball thrown into the air and if it hits the basket at a certain angle it will bounce into the basket. Since he aimed further back, it was more likely that his shot would successfully reach the basket.

CUT INTO STRIPS FIRST, then reorder correctly and glue down!!! Tonight’s HW 8L CUT INTO STRIPS FIRST, then reorder correctly and glue down!!!

Scientific Method Project Due Thursday, 25 Sept., in class “computer” work days: Thurs. 9/18, Wed. 9/24 MAJOR grade Step 1 is due tomorrow!!