Scientific Method

1. Scientific Method • Statement of the Problem • Hypothesis • Operational Definitions • Controls • Materials • Procedures • Observations • Conclusion SHOC M POC

2. Song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZaCy5Z87FA&feature=player_embedded

3. Ask about objects, organisms, and events in the natural world. Well-Defined Questions Can be answered through investigations that involve experiments, observations, or surveys. Are answered by collecting and analyzing evidence that is measurable. Relate to scientific ideas rather than personal preference or moral values. Do not relate to the supernatural or to non-measurable phenomena.

4. How does a paper airplane fly? Not well-defined. Is it a WELL-DEFINED QUESTION??

5. Does the shape of the wing affect how far a paper airplane will fly? Well-defined! Is it a WELL-DEFINED QUESTION??

6. Is rock music better than hip-hop music? Not well-defined. Is it a WELL-DEFINED QUESTION??

7. Does rock music make more money than hip-hop music? Well-defined! Is it a WELL-DEFINED QUESTION??

8. Which M&M tastes better: red or yellow? Not well-defined. Is it a WELL-DEFINED QUESTION??

9. What temperature of water will dissolve M&Ms faster? Well-defined! Is it a WELL-DEFINED QUESTION??

10. GENERATING IDEAS FOR AN INVESTIGATION What is the effect of A on B ? COLUMN ACOLUMN B temperature seed germination soil type plant growth light respiratory rate moisture melting rate angle of inclined plane conductivity pH corrosion color burrowing of worms wind temperature change rainfall amount of stain mass of object erosion an insulator root growth antiseptics viscosity of oil water pollution repelling insects fertilizers rate of speed stain remover ripening of fruit

11. II. HYPOTHESIS A hypothesis is an educated guess about how things work. Experimental Design:M&M Investigation Most of the time a hypothesis is written : "If _____[I do this], then _____[this]_____ will happen.“ For example: “IF a plant receives fertilizer, THEN it will grow bigger than a plant that did not receive fertilizer. Your hypothesis should be something that you can actually test. The word HYPOTHESES is plural for hypothesis.

12. I. Statement of the Problem: Will objects fall at a rate proportional to their mass? Hypothesis: Objects with greater mass will fall at a faster rate. OR Hypothesis: Objects with less mass will fall at a faster rate. OR Hypothesis: Mass will have no effect on the rate at which the objects fall.

13. HYPOTHESIS Now write your own hypothesis based on the question: “Do some M&M colors dissolve faster in water than others?” Remember: - your hypothesis can be an “if”/”then” statement - your hypothesis must be testable

14. Examples of Possible Hypotheses • IF the M&M has a darker color, THEN it will dissolve faster. • IF the M&M has a lighter color, THEN it will dissolve faster.

15. III. Operational Definition An operational definition is a working definition. Indicates: how the concept is measured or manipulated in this particular investigation. What exactly does this term mean in this investigation?

16. World Wide Web

17. Wealthy

18. Operational Definition Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37dLMgWPAtM&feature=player_detailpage#t=4s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6E2_Bqncdo4

19. Rules 1. No talking. 2. Do not ask any questions. 3. Do not get out of your seat. 4. Breaking any of the above rules will disqualify both you and your partner.

20. VARIABLES • Scientists use an experiment to search for cause and effect. • Changes to one item cause something else to change in a predictable way. • These changing quantities are called VARIABLES. • 3 kinds of variables: -Independent -Dependent -Controlled. May also have a control.

21. INDEPENDENT VARIABLE • Independent variable-changed or manipulated • Fair test(contest)- ONE independent variable • Observe changes Example: Does the amount of fertilizer affect plant growth? Independent variable? Amount of fertilizer. Why? Amount of fertilizer is changed.

22. DEPENDENT VARIABLE • Dependent variable- measured in the experiment. • Dependent variable responds to change made to independent. Example: Does the amount of fertilizer affect plant growth? Dependent? Plant Growth Why? Plant growth will respond to change in independent variable

23. CONTROLLED VARIABLE (CONSTANTS) • All variables except Independent must be kept the same! • Variables that are not changed are called controlledvariables. (constants) Example: Does the amount of fertilizer affect plant growth? Controlled variables: type of plant pot size amount of water amount of sunlight

24. Variables video and song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2606GQmDqY&feature=player_detailpage http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hxbz656Euyw&feature=player_detailpage#t=135s Song

25. Control • Treated the same EXCEPT it’s • NOT exposed to manipulated variable • Not present in every investigation! • Used to compare changes in dependent variable to. • Example: • Does the amount of fertilizer affect plant growth? • Control? • No fertilizer • Why? • Fertilizer was manipulated variable

26. What is the independent variable in your helicopter investigation? Wing length

28. M&M Investigation Statement of problem: “Do some M&M colors dissolve faster in water than others?” Hypothesis If the M&M is a lighter color then it will dissolve faster. Independent Color of M&M Dependent Rate of dissolving Constants Amount of water Container Brand of M&M’s Time

29. Cold Medicine Trials What is the effect of Cold Medicine on the common cold? Hypothesis If you take Cold Medicine A then it will cure the cold. Independent Given cold medicine Dependent Cold gets cured Control group Given placebo Experimental group Given cold medicine A

30. V. MATERIALS A materials list is important in organization and planning. Important! List all materials you will need in order to carry out the experiment.

31. MATERIALS List all of the materials that you would be used to make the Great Ice Melting Contest a fair contest. INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION # needed – size type of container composition brand description M&M Lab Example: Materials: 5 – 10 in. diameter white plastic HEB plates 1 – 16 oz. bag milk chocolate multi-colored M&Ms 1 L bottle of water 1 box of 12 colored pencils 1 quarter 1 – 3 ½ oz. clear plastic cup 1 permanent marker 5 stopwatch

32. Procedures

33. Tables are good ways to organize data as you collect it

34. Tables have several features in common:Titles- to tell reader the subject of the table or graphRows- Horizontal Columns- Vertical TITLE COLUMNS ROWS

35. What is a graph? • A visual representation of mathematical data • Chart or drawing showing relationships between changing things • Common graphs: bar, line, or parts of a circle to display data. • Graphs must include a title and labels on the x and y axis.

36. Why are graphs useful?

37. Circle Graph or Pie Graph • Charts (data in the form of a graph) that shows information in percentages. • Larger section of the circle=greater the percentage represented. • Whole circle= 100%, or the total amount.

38. Pictograph A pictograph could be used to represent the results of an experiment measuring the sun's altitude at noon over a three-month period. A pictograph is a chart that contains symbols representing data, such as quantities of an object.

39. Line Graph Help to see patterns or trends in data and changes that occur over time in related variables Line graphs show continuing data; how one thing is affected by another.

40. Example of a Bar Graph TITLE Y-Axis Dependent Variable X-Axis Independent Variable

41. DRY MIX • DRY MIX is an acronym to help you remember how variables are plotted on a graph. D = dependent variableR = responding variableY = graph information on the Y-axis(vertical, up and down)M = manipulated variable I  = independent variableX  = graph information on the X-axis(horizontal, side to side)

42. REACH A CONCLUSION Your Conclusion Should Be (Among Other Things): broad enough to fit all acceptable data; limited enough to meet special exceptions; consistent when tested by you (and others) again and again; seldom extended beyond the evidence; suitable to base a report on, if one is scheduled; and an answer to the problem, as you have finally defined it.

43. Research and Research Report This is research to help you understand the topic, express a problem, propose a hypothesis, and design one or more project experiments—experiments designed to test the hypothesis.

44. Research Report For example, you observe a black growth on bread slices and wonder how it got there. Because of this experience, you decide to learn more about mold growth. Your topic will be about fungal reproduction. (Fungal refers to plant-like organisms called fungi, which cannot make their own food, and reproduction is the making of a new offspring.)

45. References for Research Report and bibliography • Do use many references from printed sources • Books • Journals • Magazines • Newspapers • Electronic sources • Computer software and online services. • Gather information from professionals

46. Display Board

47. Warm Up • 1. Write 2 operational definitions for the following investigation: • Do M & M’s melt in your mouth not in your hands?`

48. List the 8 steps of the Scientific Method in order. Name the step of the Experimental Design under which the following statements would be found. • ___ Helicopters with longer wing length will descend slower than helicopters with shorter wing length. • ___ wing length – measured from the bottom of the angles dotted line in the outer edge of the wing to the top of the wing tip

49. Lab Time Science Experiments #1 T. Trimpe 2008 http://sciencespot.net/

50. Read the information below and then answer the questions. SpongeBob and Patrick love to go jellyfishing. They wondered if a new brand of jellyfish bait would help them catch more jellyfish. To test their idea, they bought a big container of bait for their next 3 trips to their top-secret fishing spot. SpongeBob fished without any bait, while Patrick used the new bait. Both of them kept track of how many jellyfish they caught in 30 minutes, which is shown in the chart. • Which person was the control? 2. What is the independent variable? 3. What is the dependent variable? 4. Based on the data, how would you rate the new bait?