1. THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD “Knowledge comes from asking the right questions.”

2. STATE THE PROBLEM Write a Question that asks what you want to know. EXAMPLE When a golf ball, a tennis ball, a baseball and a ping- pong ball are dropped from the same height, which ball will bounce highest?

3. COLLECT INFORMATION Information may come from previous experience or from research. EXAMPLES Experience: Golf balls are heavier than ping- pong balls. Experience: Golf balls are heavier than ping- pong balls. Experience: Baseballs are harder than tennis balls. Experience: Baseballs are harder than tennis balls. Research: Which of the balls are designed to bounce? Research: Which of the balls are designed to bounce? Research: Which ball contains the most rubber? Research: Which ball contains the most rubber?

4. FORM A HYPOTHESIS Make an educated guess about what the answer to the problem will be. The hypothesis should be based on the information collected as well as observations. EXAMPLE Based on research the ping-pong ball will likely bounce the highest because it is the lightest of the four balls and it is designed to bounce.

5. TEST THE HYPOTHESIS Design and Perform an experiment to test your hypothesis. EXAMPLEMaterials 1 – tennis ball 1 – tennis ball 1 – golf ball 1 – golf ball 1 – baseball 1 – baseball 1 – ping-pong ball 1 – ping-pong ball 1 – meter stick 1 – meter stickProcedure-(Steps) Drop each ball from a height of 1 meter. Drop each ball from a height of 1 meter. Measure the height of each ball’s first bounce. (Measure from the bottom of the ball.) Measure the height of each ball’s first bounce. (Measure from the bottom of the ball.) Repeat steps 1 and 2 four times for each ball. Repeat steps 1 and 2 four times for each ball. Average the four trials for each ball. Average the four trials for each ball.

6. RECORD AND ANALYZE DATA The results of an experiment can be recorded in many different ways. Tables or charts are useful for recording data in an organized way. Graphs can be used to compare results. EXAMPLE Type of ball Avg. Height of bounce (cm) ping-pong75 tennis44 golf11 baseball5

7. WRITE A CONCLUSION Write a statement that compares the hypothesis to the data and answers the question stated in the problem. It will either prove or disprove the hypothesis. Results that do not support the hypothesis may lead to a new or revised experiment. EXAMPLE The data shows that when a golf ball, tennis ball, a baseball, and a ping-pong ball are dropped from the same height, the ping-pong ball bounces highest. This finding supports the hypothesis.

8. ***POINTS OF EMPHASIS*** Always write in a scientific manner. Don’t refer to yourself by using words like I, me, mine, etc. Always write in a scientific manner. Don’t refer to yourself by using words like I, me, mine, etc. All amounts and measurements should always be written in metric units. All amounts and measurements should always be written in metric units. Multiple trials increase the reliability of the results. Multiple trials increase the reliability of the results. If you make a mistake or error, you need to do the experiment again. If you make a mistake or error, you need to do the experiment again.

9. Questions You Need to Know!! 1. How do I know if my experimental question (Problem) is good? 2.What are variables? The answer to the question must be: The answer to the question must be: Testable Measurable Repeatable Characteristics in an experiment that change or could be changed. Characteristics in an experiment that change or could be changed.

10. 3. What is an independent variable? 4.What is a dependent variable? 5.What are constants? The factor that the scientist changes on purpose. The factor that the scientist changes on purpose. The factor that responds to a change in the independent variable. The factor that responds to a change in the independent variable. Characteristics in an experiment that are kept unchanged in all trials. Characteristics in an experiment that are kept unchanged in all trials.

11. 6. What is a control? 7.What are trials? A standard to which you compare your results. A standard to which you compare your results. The number of times an experiment is repeated for each level of the independent variable. The number of times an experiment is repeated for each level of the independent variable.

12. 8. What are quantitative results? 9. What are qualitative results? 10.How should I set up my bar graph or line graph? Results that can be measured in numbers. Results that can be measured in numbers. Results that are observations or descriptions. Results that are observations or descriptions. When labeling the x and y axis always label the x-axis (horizontal) with the independent variable, and label the y-axis (vertical) with the dependent variable. When labeling the x and y axis always label the x-axis (horizontal) with the independent variable, and label the y-axis (vertical) with the dependent variable.

13. 11. Which type of graph should I use? Bar Graph: Used to show how the independent variables stack up against each other. Bar Graph: Used to show how the independent variables stack up against each other. Line Graph: Used when you want to see how continuous changes to the independent variable affect the dependent variable. Line Graph: Used when you want to see how continuous changes to the independent variable affect the dependent variable. Pie Graph: Used to illustrate numbers as a percentage of a whole. Not usually used in scientific experiments. Pie Graph: Used to illustrate numbers as a percentage of a whole. Not usually used in scientific experiments.