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Scientific Method

Delve into the scientific method with its steps - Observation, Hypothesis, Experiment, Conclusion, Retest. Learn how to gather data, form hypotheses, run experiments, and draw valid conclusions. Apply these concepts to real-world scenarios and enhance your problem-solving skills.

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Scientific Method

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  1. Scientific Method

  2. Steps in the Scientific Method 1. Observation 2. Hypothesis 3. Experiment -Data Collection 4. Conclusion • Retest

  3. 1. Observations Gather Information through your senses • Usually in the form of aQUESTION

  4. Observations • An exampleof an observation might be noticing that many salamanders near a pond have curved, not straight, tails

  5. OBSERVATION • Why do some salamanders have curved tails but most have straight tails?

  6. 2. Hypothesis • A suggested solution to the problem. (Educated guess) • Must be testable • Sometimes written as If…Then… statements • Predicts an outcome

  7. Hypothesis • An example of a hypothesis might be that the salamanders have curved tails due to a pollutant in the moist soil where they live.

  8. Practice thinking like a scientists • A scientist notices the population of Bald Eagles has declined. • He sets up a camera to watch the nest of a female Bald Eagle. • He notices that when the female sits on her eggs to incubate them, the eggs crack (killing the developing baby bald eagles)

  9. Think like a scientist to develop a hypothesis to explain this. • Brainstorm with your group.

  10. 3. Experiment • A procedure to test the hypothesis.

  11. Experiment Variable – factor in the experiment that is being tested

  12. 1. Control variables 2. Independent variables 3. dependent variables 3 Types of Variables

  13. Scientific Experiments Follow Rules • An experimenter changes one factor andobserves or measureswhat happens.

  14. The Control Variable • The experimenter makes a special effort to keep other factors constant so that they will not effect the outcome. • Those factors are called control variables.

  15. What is the Purpose of a Control? • Controls are NOT being tested • Controls are used for COMPARISON

  16. Other Variables • The factor that is changed is known as the independent variable. (What You Change) • The factor that is measured or observed is called the dependent variable. (What happens during the experiment)

  17. Experiment A good or “valid” experiment will only have ONE (independent) variable!

  18. Example of Controls & Variables • For example, suppose you want to figure out the fastest route to walk home from school. • You will try several different routes and time how long it takes you to get home by each one. • Since you are only interested in finding a route that is fastest for you, you will do the walking yourself.

  19. What are the Variables in Your Experiment? • Varying the route is the independent variable • The time it takes is the dependent variable • Keeping the same walker throughout makes the walker a control variable.

  20. One more thing… it is best to make several trials with each independent variable.

  21. Valid Experiments

  22. Data • Information • Collected during experiment • May be quantitative (numbers) or qualitative (characteristics)

  23. Data • Must be organized • Can be organized into charts, tables, or graphs

  24. Conclusion • The answer to the hypothesis based on the data obtained from the experiment

  25. Retest In order to verify the results, experiments must be retested.

  26. Review

  27. Solving a Problem 1)Identify a Problem 2) State Observations about the problem 3) Form a Hypothesis about the problem (if…then…) 4) Design an Experiment to test the hypothesis 5) Collect Data 6) Form a Conclusion 7) Retest

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