1. A Scientific Method How Science is Done

2. Science is a method for answering theoretical questions.

3. Science is a method for answering theoretical questions. deals with discovering facts and relationships between observable phenomena in nature.

4. Science is a method for answering theoretical questions. deals with discovering facts and relationships between observable phenomena in nature. deals with establishing theories that organize and make sense of these facts and relationships.

5. Technology is different than Science Science answers theoretical questions but technology solves practical problems.

6. Technology is different than Science Science answers theoretical questions but technology solves practical problems. Science uses technology to answer these theoretical questions.

7. Technology is different than Science Science answers theoretical questions but technology solves practical problems. Science uses technology to answer these theoretical questions. Technology can be improved or invented through the discoveries made in science. Some technology has even been invented to help do science.

8. Scientific Facts Facts are close agreements between many competent observers about a series of observations made.

9. Scientific Facts Facts are close agreements between many competent observers about a series of observations made. It is a fact that the Earth revolves around the Sun.

10. Scientific Facts Facts are close agreements between many competent observers about a series of observations made. It is a fact that the Earth revolves around the Sun. It is a fact that heavy objects and light objects fall at the same rate in the absence of air resistance.

11. Scientific Facts MUST BE CHANGED AS NEW OBSERVATIONS ARE MADE !!!

12. Scientific Hypothesis An explanation which has yet to be verified by a scientific experiment or observation.

13. Scientific Hypothesis An educated guess which has yet to be verified by a scientific experiment or observation. Can be found to be correct, incorrect or inconclusive.

14. Scientific Hypothesis An educated guess which has yet to be verified by a scientific experiment or observation. Can be found to be correct, incorrect or inconclusive. There must be a test for proving a scientific hypothesis …….

15. Scientific Hypothesis An educated guess which has yet to be verified by a scientific experiment or observation. Can be found to be correct, incorrect or inconclusive. There must be a test for proving a scientific hypothesis wrong.

16. Is this a good scientific hypothesis ? USC is the best college football team to ever play.

17. Is this a good scientific hypothesis ? USC is the best college football team to ever play. NO !!!!!!! There is no test for wrongness, it is just an opinion.

18. Is this a good scientific hypothesis ? USC is the best college football team to ever play. NO !!!!!!! There is no test for wrongness, it is just an opinion. If it had said that a majority of people think this, then this could be proven wrong. Thus it would be a good scientific hypothesis.

19. Laws & Theories When a hypothesis has been tested over and over again and found to be correct it can become a law. A theory is a synthesis or collection of a vast amount of information which includes well-tested and verified hypotheses.

20. Laws & Theories When a hypothesis has been tested over and over again and found to be correct it can become a law. Explains WHAT will happen. A theory is a synthesis or collection of a vast amount of information which includes well-tested and verified hypotheses. Explains WHY something happens.

21. Laws & Theories When a hypothesis has been tested over and over again and found to be correct it can become a law. Explains WHAT will happen. The strength of gravity depends on the mass of the object and its diameter is a law of gravity A theory is synthesis or collection of a vast amount of information which includes well-tested and verified hypotheses. Explains WHY something happens. Objects with mass warp space causing the effect we see as gravity is a theory of gravity

22. Just like a scientific fact; laws, theories and hypotheses must be changed when the evidence shows them to be wrong !!!!!

23. This is how science works. Scientists constantly test their ideas and change them when it is needed.

24. A Scientific Method Scientists use an organized set of steps to test and verify hypotheses. From these hypotheses they either form new theories or laws, or they modify existing theories or laws. While the next few slides give you an idea of what a scientific method might look like, there is no one recipe that is used. All scientific methods should include the following steps.

25. A Scientific Method 1) Recognize a problem.

26. A Scientific Method 1) Recognize a problem. This could come from your boss or teacher.

27. A Scientific Method 1) Recognize a problem. This could come from your boss or teacher. This could come from general observations.

28. A Scientific Method 1) Recognize a problem. This could come from your boss or teacher. This could come from general observations. This could come from your natural curiosity.

29. A Scientific Method 1) Recognize a problem. This could come from your boss or teacher. This could come from general observations. This could come from your natural curiosity. Either way it is important to have a defined problem to work on.

30. A Scientific Method 1) Recognize a problem. 2) Form a hypothesis.

31. A Scientific Method 1) Recognize a problem. 2) Form a hypothesis. An educated guess based on prior knowledge or after doing research on the problem.

32. A Scientific Method 1) Recognize a problem. 2) Form a hypothesis. An educated guess based on prior knowledge or after doing research on the problem. Remember, there must be a way to prove the hypothesis wrong.

33. A Scientific Method 1) Recognize a problem. 2) Form a hypothesis. 3) Predict consequences of the hypothesis.

34. A Scientific Method 1) Recognize a problem. 2) Form a hypothesis. 3) Predict consequences of the hypothesis. If the hypothesis is true, what would I observe ?

35. A Scientific Method 1) Recognize a problem. 2) Form a hypothesis. 3) Predict consequences of the hypothesis. If the hypothesis is true, what would I observe ? Can I design an experiment to test these predictions ?

36. A Scientific Method 1) Recognize a problem. 2) Form a hypothesis. 3) Predict consequences of the hypothesis. 4) Perform an experiment to test predictions.

37. A Scientific Method 1) Recognize a problem. 2) Form a hypothesis. 3) Predict consequences of the hypothesis. 4) Perform an experiment to test predictions. Identify Variables & Design an Experiment

38. Identifying Variables & Designing Investigations

39. A Variable is anything that can change in an experiment. There are three types of variables that an experimenter must deal with when designing an experiment. Independent Variable Dependent Variable Control

40. 3 Kinds of Variables Independent Variable – something that is changed by the scientist Independent Variable – something that is changed by the scientist What is tested What is tested What is manipulated What is manipulated

41. 3 Kinds of Variables Dependent Variable – something that might be affected by the change in the independent variable Dependent Variable – something that might be affected by the change in the independent variable What is observed What is observed What is measured What is measured The data collected during the investigation The data collected during the investigation

42. 3 Kinds of Variables Controlled Variable – a variable that is not changed Controlled Variable – a variable that is not changed Also called constants Also called constants Allow for a “fair test” Allow for a “fair test”

43. For Example:

44. Students of different ages were given the same jigsaw puzzle to put together. They were timed to see how long it took to finish the puzzle.

45. Identify the variables in this investigation.

46. What was the independent variable? Ages of the students Ages of the students Different ages were tested by the scientist Different ages were tested by the scientist

47. What was the dependent variable? The time it took to put the puzzle together The time it took to put the puzzle together The time was observed and measured by the scientist The time was observed and measured by the scientist

48. What was a controlled variable? Same puzzle Same puzzle All of the participants were tested with the same puzzle. All of the participants were tested with the same puzzle. It would not have been a fair test if some had an easy 30 piece puzzle and some had a harder 500 piece puzzle. It would not have been a fair test if some had an easy 30 piece puzzle and some had a harder 500 piece puzzle.

49. Another example:

50. An investigation was done with an electromagnetic system made from a battery and wire wrapped around a nail. Different sizes of nails were used. The number of paper clips the electromagnet could pick up was measured.

51. What are the variables in this investigation?

52. Independent variable: Sizes of nails Sizes of nails These were changed by the scientist These were changed by the scientist

53. Dependent variable: Number of paper clips picked up Number of paper clips picked up The number of paper clips observed and counted (measured) The number of paper clips observed and counted (measured)

54. Controlled variables: Battery, wire, type of nail Battery, wire, type of nail None of these items were changed None of these items were changed

55. A Scientific Method 1) Recognize a problem. 2) Form a hypothesis. 3) Predict consequences of the hypothesis. 4) Perform an experiment to test predictions. Identify Variables & Design an Experiment Collect and organize data.

56. A Scientific Method 1) Recognize a problem. 2) Form a hypothesis. 3) Predict consequences of the hypothesis. 4) Perform an experiment to test predictions. Identify Variables & Design an Experiment Collect and organize data. Draw conclusions : Was the hypothesis correct, incorrect, or was the experiment inconclusive ?

57. A Scientific Method 1) Recognize a problem. 2) Form a hypothesis. 3) Predict consequences of the hypothesis. 4) Perform an experiment to test predictions. 5) Formulate the simplest general rule.

58. A Scientific Method 1) Recognize a problem. 2) Form a hypothesis. 3) Predict consequences of the hypothesis. 4) Perform an experiment to test predictions. 5) Formulate the simplest general rule. Should organize the hypothesis, the prediction, the experimental steps and the conclusion

59. A Scientific Method 1) Recognize a problem. 2) Form a hypothesis. 3) Predict consequences of the hypothesis. 4) Perform an experiment to test predictions. 5) Formulate the simplest general rule. Should organize the hypothesis, the prediction, the experimental steps and the conclusion Results should be published so your work can be reviewed by other scientists.