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Scientific Inquiry

Scientific Inquiry. To inquire means to question or to ask how or why. The main job of a scientist is to inquire , then answer the question or solve the problem. Is there life on Mars?. How can we cure AIDS?. I wonder what happens when a base and an acid are mixed together?.

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Scientific Inquiry

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  1. Scientific Inquiry To inquire means to question or to ask how or why.

  2. The main job of a scientist is to inquire, then answer the question orsolve the problem. Is there life on Mars? How can we cure AIDS? I wonder what happens when a base and an acid are mixed together?

  3. Here are 8 common Problem Solving Techniques used by scientists: 1. Guess and Check What is the value of x ? Check: 4x – 7 = 130 4x – 7 = 130 4(32) – 7 = 130 128 – 7 = 130 Guess: x = 32 121 ≠ 130 x is not 32. Try again!

  4. Acid #1 + Base Y = salt and water Acid #2 + Base Y = salt and water Acid #3 + Base Y = salt and water Acid #4 + Base Y = ? 2. Look for Patterns

  5. 3. Ask an Expert 4.Research the Topic

  6. 5. Make a drawing or model

  7. 6. Construct a table or graph Ball Height . Golf 33” Baseball 16” Ping pong 27” Styrofoam 2” Rubber 45” Basketball 35”

  8. 7. Eliminate possibilities8. Solve a similar, simpler problem If choices A, B, and C do not make sense, then choice D must be the answer.

  9. Science Inquiry Skills The following list of verbs includes skillsa scientist uses to inquire and to solve problems. You need to know what each verb means and be able to perform that skill.

  10. 1)Observe Observe: to gather information using your 5 senses 5 senses: sight, hearing, taste, smell, touch (feeling) Use adjectives to describe what you have observed

  11. Examples:The sky is blue and white. (you see the sky)The candy is pink , sticky, and sweet.(you see, feel, taste, the candy) There are 7 round objects in my pocket.(you feel and count the objects)

  12. Sample Adjectives Sense Adjectives Sight colors: red, blue, clear, cloudy quantity: five, none patterns like stripes, polka dots, letters shapes: round, rectangular, square, irregular, triangular size: 12 cm long, 3.2 meters high, 15 cm in diameter

  13. Taste sweet, sour, bitter, salty, fruity, meaty, spicy, earthySmell sweet, sour, bitter, salty, fruity, meaty, spicy, earthy Hearing soft, loud, piercing, low-pitched, scratchy, booming, “crash,” “squeal”Touch texture: rough, smooth, bumpy temperature: cold, warm, tepid dry, wet, sticky

  14. Scientists do not use these words when making observations!good, bad, delicious, nasty, tall, short, fat, skinny, thin, pretty, ugly, smartThey are too vague and state an opinion, not an observation.

  15. 2) Classify • Classify means to group or organize according to similar characteristics or traits 1) Observe all the objects. 2) Choose one trait you observed. 3) Classify the objects into 2 groups: one group of objects has the trait, and the other group does not.

  16. Examples: Classify by one trait.

  17. 3) Compare and Contrast • To point out all the similarities and differences between 2 objects 1) Carefully observe the 2 objects. 2) List all the common traits. 3) Describe all the ways the objects are different

  18. Example: Compare the shapes 1 cm 6 cm 2 cm 2 cm 5 cm 4 cm Same Different

  19. 4) Measure ∙ to find an object’s mass, volume, speed, temperature, or distance Scientists do not use words like big, heavy, hot, a lot, fast Scientists quantify measurements with a number and a metricunit

  20. Examples: IncorrectCorrect It’s cold in here.The temperature is 17º C. The heaviest cheetahThe 178 kg cheetah ran ran faster.15 km per hour faster. Marc drank a lot of soda. Marc drank 217 mL of soda. She is tall!Her height is 231 cm!

  21. Metric Units of Measurement Measurement Metric Unit mass gram volume liter distance meter temperature ° Celsius _____________________________________ king hector died by drinking chocolate milk

  22. Predictions and Inferences • A prediction tells what might happen next. (future) • It is based on prior knowledge and observations.

  23. An inference is an attempt to explain something that has already happened. (past) • It is also based on prior knowledge and observations.

  24. Ex: Observation: Katie saw chocolate milk on the floor by the fridge. Inference #1: Maybe Katie’s younger brother spilled the chocolate milk when he tried to pour a glass by himself. Inference #2: Maybe the cat rubbed up against a glass of chocolate milk that was on the counter and spilled some. Prediction #1: Katie will run into the living room and tell her mother that her brother made another mess in the kitchen. Prediction #2: Katie will get a mop and clean up the chocolate milk.

  25. The Scientific Method When solving problems, all scientists follow the same set of steps called The Scientific Method: 1) Identify the problem. (ask a question) 2) Research the problem.

  26. 3) Form ahypothesis,an educated guess based on research and observations, to answer the problem. 4) Test your hypothesis with an experiment. Collect and record data. 5) Accept or reject your hypothesis. Was it correct or incorrect? 6) Draw conclusions based on your data.

  27. Conducting Experiments What happens to a green base when mixed with a pink acid?

  28. Variables A variable is something that brings about a change during an experiment. There are 2 types: Here are some important concepts to keep in mind when conducting an experiment:

  29. 1. Independent Variable:the variable that you control Ex:The amount of sunlight a plant gets each day. You can move the plant so it gets more or less sunlight.

  30. 2. Dependent Variable: the change that occurs because of the independent variable unhealthy, dying plant tall, healthy plant Ex:The plant with less sunlight will not grow well. The lack of growth is the dependent variable caused by the independent variable, the amount of sunlight the plant gets.

  31. Constant :something that is kept the same throughout the experiment Ex: The 2 plants are given the same amount of water at the same time each day. Constants and Controls

  32. Control :a standard used for comparison in an experiment; it is not affected by the independent variable; it is the part of the experiment that remains “regular” Ex: One plant of the same type is left in the sun under normal conditions. No independent variable affects it. Its growth is monitored.

  33. All observations made during the experiment must be written down. They may be recorded as tables, charts, graphs, or diagrams. Data and Observations

  34. Parts of a Lab Report Title: centered and underlined Problem: question that asks what you are trying to find out Hypothesis: your tentative answer to the problem (educated guess) Materials: any items needed to perform the experiment

  35. Procedure: step by step instructions that you follow to test your hypothesis Data Tables: tables of all data collected during the experiment Conclusion: a statement declaring whether your hypothesis was correct or not; answers to given questions

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