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The Scientific Method SNC2P

Learn how to define scientific questions, form hypotheses, design experiments, and analyze variables in the scientific method process. Understand the importance of controlled variables and experimental error.

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The Scientific Method SNC2P

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  1. The ScientificMethod SNC2P

  2. Step1 • Define theQuestion

  3. Scientific Questions A scientific question is any question that can be answered using the scientific method (by experiment orobservation).

  4. Scientific Questions A scientific question is any question that can be answered using the scientific method (by experiment orobservation). “What is the meaning of life” is not a scientific question.

  5. Scientific Questions A scientific question is any question that can be answered using the scientific method (by experiment orobservation). “Is there life on Mars?” is a scientific question. It can beansweredby experiment orobservation.

  6. “Is there life onMars?” To design an experiment, however, we would need to come up witha more specificquestion. We would need tothink about how we would test forlife.

  7. “Is there methane onMars?” For example, methane is an unstable gas that is produced by biological processes. Significant levels of methane in the Martian atmosphere would be evidence that there may belife.

  8. Step2 • Gather Information andResources (Has anyone else worked on the question before? What did theydiscover?)

  9. Step3 • Form aHypothesis A hypothesis is aprediction.

  10. Step3 A hypothesis is not justa guess. It is based on the informationgathered.

  11. Step4 • Perform Experiment and CollectData

  12. Variables A variable is anything in an experiment that may bechanged.

  13. Variables • Most experiments change onlytwo: • the manipulated variable • (also called the independentvariable) • is the variable changed by theexperimenter.

  14. Variables • Most experiments change onlytwo: • the respondingvariable • (also called the dependent variable) • is the variable measured by theexperimenter.

  15. Variables:Example For theQuestion, “How does changing the length of a pendulum affect the time it takes toswing?” The manipulated variable isthe . The responding variable isthe .

  16. Variables:Example For theQuestion, “How does changing the length of a pendulum affect the time it takes toswing?” The manipulated variable is thelength. The responding variable isthe .

  17. Variables:Example For theQuestion, “How does changing the length of a pendulum affect the time it takes toswing?” The manipulated variable is the length. The responding variable is thetime.

  18. Variables All other variables that are kept the same are called controlled variables.

  19. Variables All other variables that are kept the same are called controlled variables. In the pendulum experiment, what would you have tocontrol?

  20. Variables All other variables that are kept the same are called controlled variables. In the pendulum experiment, what would you have tocontrol? the angle from which the pendulum is dropped, the mass of the pendulum,etc.

  21. ExperimentalError Because you can never control everything completely (what if there’s a wobble in the pendulum?), you should perform multiple trials and average theresults. This reduces the effect of experimentalerror (error beyond the experimenter’scontrol).

  22. PaperHelicopters Today’s Questionis, “How does the length of the rotor blades affect the flight time of your paperhelicopter?” The manipulated variable isthe . The responding variable isthe .

  23. PaperHelicopters Today’s Questionis, “How does the length of the rotor blades affect the flight time of your paperhelicopter?” The manipulated variable is the bladelength. The responding variable isthe .

  24. PaperHelicopters Today’s Questionis, “How does the length of the rotor blades affect the flight time of your paperhelicopter?” The manipulated variable is the blade length. The responding variable is the flighttime.

  25. PaperHelicopters Today’s Questionis, “How does the length of the rotor blades affect the flight time of your paperhelicopter?” What variables would you have tocontrol?

  26. PaperHelicopters Today’s Questionis, “How does the length of the rotor blades affect the flight time of your paperhelicopter?” What variables would you have tocontrol? design, drop height,etc.

  27. Step5 • AnalyzeData (often usinggraphs)

  28. Step6 • DrawConclusions (Your conclusion should answer the Question.)

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