Define science in your own words

Science the study of the physical world by observations for the purpose of understanding the world

Through the study of science, we begin to understand the physical world

What image comes to mind when you think of a scientist?

go about finding the answers to their questions? How do scientists go about finding the answers to their questions?

Scientific Method the organized way in which scientists find the answers to questions/ problems/

What are the steps of the scientific method?

Scientific Method 1. Identify A Problem 2. Search for information 3. State A Hypothesis 4. Conduct An Controlled Experiment 5. Gather and Record Data 6. State A Conclusion 7. State New Questions

What is a hypothesis?

Formulate A Hypothesis - a possible or tentative answer to a scientific question. a temporary explanation for an observation an educated guess

Conduct A Controlled Experiment - Scientific Method Conduct A Controlled Experiment - What is the function of an experiment? The experiment tests the validity of the hypothesis; (invent a test which will tell us if our hypothesis is valid or not)

Controlled Experiments Run 2 experiments set up in the same way. Intro a variable to one experiment. Can be any factor – light, water, etc.

The second experiment will not receive the variable.

part of the experiment without the variable Control part of the experiment without the variable

Acupuncture

e.g. for relieving back pain? Does Acupuncture work? e.g. for relieving back pain?

1,100 patients randomly assigned to receive either: acupuncture sham (fake) acupuncture (needles inserted, but not deep enough; not inserted in acupuncture points; not moved) conventional therapy - Experimental group - control - control

Results Conventional therapy 27% improved Acupuncture 47% improved Sham acupuncture 44% improved

Do large doses of vitamin C speed up the healing of surgical wounds?

What would you measure?

How is the “control” part of an experiment different from the other part of an experiment?

part of the experiment without the variable Control part of the experiment without the variable

Why is the control important? The control gives you something to compare with the variable part of your experiment!

The control is the basis of comparison in a scientific experiment

By comparing the results of the variable with the results of the control of the experiment, we see the effect (if any) of the variable

HW # 7 Design an experiment that would determine the effect of caffeine on human strength

HW # 2 Design an experiment that would determine the effect of caffeine on human strength Problem Q. How does caffeine affect human strength? Hypothesis Caffeine increases human strength.

Independent variable Dependent variable I (the scientist) change this to see what happens (the cause) the “variable” in an experiment Dependent variable what happens (as a result of the change in the independent variable (the effect); what is measured!!!

How do we set up a graph for the independent and dependent variable?

Problem: What is the effect of exercise on the amount of sweat produced? What is the independent variable? exercise What is the dependent variable? What will we measure? How will we set up a graph? amount of sweat produced Amount of Sweat ? (Dependent variable) Exercise ? (Independent variable)

Problem: What is the effect of exercise on the amount of sweat produced? How will we set up a data table to show the results? ? Exercise Amount of Sweat ?

Scientific Method 1. Identify A Problem ask a question about something we want to know about Search for information regarding topic journals, databases, observations 3. State A Hypothesis suggest an answer (an educated guess) to the question

Can a hypothesis be proven?

A hypothesis can NEVER be proven! A hypothesis can be disproven by a single experiment! Anything in science is falsifiable!

A hypothesis is accepted of all of its predicted effects are observed & the same results are found again.

4. Observing & Measuring Use tools to aid observation and to make measurements. Make tables to record data.

5. Gather & Record Data Gather info and organize it into tables, charts, & graphs. State results of experiment.

6. State Conclusion Report whether or not your hypothesis is supported or disproven

7. State New Questions Your results will always give rise to new questions and problems. Be sure to state them!

8. Report Data A lab report for you, a publication or lecture for others. This step allows others to repeat your experiment.