1. The Scientific Method

2. Why do we have the scientific method?
Gives us logical steps to follow to assist us in answering a question.

3. What are the steps? Develop a question Conduct background research
Form a hypothesis
Test with an experiment
Make observations and collect data
Analyze the results
Draw conclusions
Report results and test again

4. Parts of an experiment

5. Independent Variable Part of the experiment that the scientist changes
What is being tested
There is only one independent variable at a time.
What I change

6. Dependent Variable
Part of the experiment that changes because of the independent variable

7. Part of the experiment that does not receive the independent variable
Control
Part of the experiment that does not receive the independent variable

8. Constants
Part of the experiment that remain the same for every part of the experiment

9. Types of Data Quantitative Data that is numerical in nature
Qualitative
Data that is descriptive in nature

10. On a note card, describe your lab partner using 3 quantitative and 3 qualitative observations Also put the person’s name you are describing on the card.

11. An example experiment
A person wants to test whether music can help make plants grow. The person plants several seeds from the same batch into identical flower pots with identical potting soil, watering schedule and light supply. One flower pot is isolated from the sound supply, while the other pots are subjected to various types of music. After 1 month, the “healthiness” of each plant is measured.

12. Experiments Don’t Always Go According to Plan
Accidental Discoveries
Teflon
Mauve clothing dye

13. Theories and Laws
When a hypothesis withstands repeated testing, it may become a theory – a well-tested explanation of observations
Theories are explanations, not facts
They can be disproved, but can never be completely proven.
Law is a statement or mathematical expression that reliably describes a behavior in the natural world

14. The main difference
While a theory is an attempt to explain the cause of certain events in the natural world, a scientific law describes the events

15. Models
A model is a representation of an object, a system, a process, or an idea.
A model is used to help describe or communicate information about ideas or theories that are difficult to observe or explain otherwise.