Science Inquiry Project

1. Jacob Pastorik Period 3 Science Inquiry Project

2. Background • I first started thinking about shark attacks, and then what might factor into an unprovoked attack. I thought that temperature might have something to do with it, so I started from there.

3. Hypothesis • In my experiment, I was comparing the temperature of a certain body of water, and the occurrences of shark attacks in that certain temperature range. I predicted that the higher the temperature, the more likely that a shark attack will occur.

4. Data

5. Graph

6. Graph#2

7. Conclusion • The data as well as the graph support the fact that Shark attacks are more likely in warmer water, since the number of shark attacks are more frequent in the 30-39C degree water than it is in the 10-19C and 20-29C degree water.

8. Extension • There is a lot to build on this project. If I had more time, I would explore other factors that could contribute to shark attacks, such as the species of the shark, or the certain season the attack occurred. Although this project answers one question, it still leaves several others unanswered about shark attacks.

9. Resources • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fatal,_unprovoked_shark_attacks_in_the_United_States--shark attack list • http://www.tropicalweather.net/Florida_water_temps.htm --Florida beach water temperatures • http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/dsdt/cwtg/spac.html -- California beach water temperatureshttp://www.tropicalweather.net/Hawaii_water_temps.htm -- Hawaii beach water temperatures