The Scientific Method How we solve problems

What is the Scientific Method?  A way to solve a problem using specific steps

The Beginning  Scientists (which include anyone trying to solve a problem) develop a question, gather some information and then form an hypothesis

And then….  Next, scientists will create and conduct an experiment to test their hypothesis  Scientists use experiments to search for cause and effect relationships in nature, i.e. changes to one item causes something else to vary in a predictable way These changes are called variables

Variables  Independent-the one that is changed by the scientist A good experiment will have only one independent variable  Dependent-responds to the change made to the independent variable These are the variables you observe  Control-remains constant and must be observed as carefully as the dependent variable

Examples of Variables QuestionIndependent Variable (What is changed) Dependent Variable (What is observed) Control (What stays the same) How much water flows through a faucet at different openings? Water faucet opening (closed, half open, fully open) Amount of water flowing measured in liters per minute The Faucet and water pressure Does heating a cup of water allow it to dissolve more sugar? Temperature of the water measured in degrees Centigrade Amount of sugar that dissolves completely measured in grams Stirring and the type of sugar Does an electric motor turn faster if you increase the voltage? Voltage of the electricity measured in volts Speed of rotation measured in revolutions per minute (RPMs) Same motor for every test The motor should be doing the same work for each test

Now What?  While conducting the experiment you must observe and record what is happening in a neat and orderly way

And Finally….  Finally it comes time to either accept or reject your hypothesis  Sometimes scientists will repeat an experiment to verify his/her results

The steps of the Scientific Method are:  Question/problem  Research/ information  Hypothesis  Procedure/ Experiment  Data  Observations  Conclusion