THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD Just Do It! 1. If you have a chunk of gold with a density of 4.0 g/ml and you break it in half, what is the density of each half? 2. When you measure length, what units should you label your answer in? 3. What piece of equipment would you use to measure the mass of an object?

GOAL To know the seven steps of the scientific method and to be able to use those steps

Scientific Method 1. Question- What are you wondering about? 2. Hypothesis- Prediction about what the results will be 3. Experiment- What steps will you follow 4. Data/Observations- Tables/graphs, what you saw 5. Conclusion-What were the results / what did you learn 6. Repeat- Make sure results are reproducible 7. Report-Write up a report about what you found, detailed enough so others can repeat your experiment

Writing a Hypothesis Q1: Joe would like to know whether running affects his heart rate H1: If you run faster, then your heart rate will go up Use : An “If……, then…… “ Statement

HYPOTHESIS Q2: Brooke wondered how many people can tell the difference between Pepsi and Coke H2: If 200 people taste Pepsi and Coke, then 100 of them will be able to tell the difference My hypothesis makes a prediction about the number of people that can tell the difference between Pepsi and Coke

With a partner, write a hypothesis for each question Q3: Alley wonders why the local deer population is decreasing Q4: The city of Wilmington is wondering why the fish in their creek are dying off Q5: Rachel likes to grow sugar crystals and wonders how she can grow bigger ones

EXPERIMENT In science you are right until proven wrong.

EXPERIMENT I an Experiment there are always at least two groups, an experimental group and a control group.

EXPERIMENT The experimental group has a variable that you change The two groups are identical in every way except for the one variable that was changed The things that stay the same are called constants

Two Types of Variables Independent Variable- The cause, the variable you are controlling (IV)- only one per experiment Dependent Variable- The result or effect due to the independent variable (DV)

Identifying IV and DV H1: If more water is added to a plant, then it will grow taller IV= amount of water DV= amount of growth

IV and DV H2: If more fertilizer is added to an aquatic ecosystem, then more algae will grow IV= fertilizer (you are controlling the amount of this) DV= algae growth (this is being effected by the fertilizer)

With a partner, identify the IV and the DV H3: If the rabbit population is low, then the wolf population will begin to decrease. H4: If there are high levels of pollution in the water, then more the fish will die off H5: If you are out in the sun for a long time, then the more damage your skin will receive

With a partner, identify the IV and the DV H1: If the rabbit population is low, then the wolf population will begin to decrease. IV= rabbit populationDV= wolf population H2: If there are high levels of pollution in the water, then more the fish will die off IV= pollution levelDV= fish H3: If you are in the sun for a long time, then the more damage your skin will receive IV= time in sunDV= skin damage

Scientific Method Video

So Why is the Scientific Method Important?