Transcript Chapter 1

The Scientific Method
HAVE YOU EVER
EXPERIENCED THESE….
6 Phases of a Project?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Enthusiasm
Disillusionment
Panic
Search for the Guilty
Punishment of the Innocent
Praise and Honors for the NonParticipants
If you have experienced the 6
Phases of a Project…
The Scientific Method
can come to
your rescue!!!!!!!!!
Learning Objectives
• TLW plan and implement investigative procedures
including asking questions, formulating testable
hypotheses, and selecting equipment and technology
• TLW collect data and make measurements with
precision
• TLW organize, analyze, evaluate, make inferences, and
predict trends data
• TLW communicate valid conclusion
• TLW analyze, review, and critique scientific
explanations, including hypotheses, and theories, as to
their strengths and weaknesses using scientific evidence
and information
• Chemistry TEKS 2.A., 2B, 2.C, 2.D, 2.E, 2.H, 2.I,3A.
• Principles of Technology TEKS 3.A., 3.B, 3.C
AGENDA
• What is Science?
• Brief Overview of the Types of Science
• The Scientific Method
– Demonstrations, Comparisons, & Experiments
– As Described Through Myth Busters & the
Lesson of the Fishing Lure
– The Paper and the Penny Experiment
• Products of the Scientific Method
• Review - Scientific Method Vocabulary,
Process, and Parts of Experiments
• Lab – Blowing Up a Balloon without Air
I. What is Science
A. A process to answer
questions
B. You use science everyday
C. It is an ever present
part of life
II. Types of Sciences
A. Physics
Study of forces and energy
B. Chemistry
Study of matter and its
changes
C. Biology
Study of living things
D. Earth Science
Study of the earth;
geology, meteorology,
astronomy, etc
MythBusters
• The MythBusters guys comment on the
scientific method
Link to
http://dsc.discovery.com/videos/mythbuste
rs-science-vs-scientific-method.html
III. The Scientific Method
A. Steps to follow to solve or
understand problems
B. The Steps
1. Problem – observe a problem
or something interesting
* Formulate a question –
– ask “how” or “why”
– must be specific
Ex. Why does the silver lure
catch more fish?
2. Research: find out as much
information;
Answer pre-lab questions
3. Form a hypothesis –
predict an answer to the
problem
*must be in, “IF…, then…”
format (Ex. If the silver lure
is used, then more fish will
be caught)
*Hypothesis must be testable
Observations, Questions and
Hypotheses
Observations
Ice floats at the
top of a glass of
water.
Blue jays and
cardinals eat
from a bird
feeder in your
yard, but robins
do not
Scientific
Questions
Why does ice
float in liquid
water?
What kind of
food do robins
eat?
Do robins eat
seeds?
Possible
Hypotheses
If ice is less
dense than
water, then it
floats
If Robins do not
eat seeds, then
they eat worms
Observations, Questions and
Hypotheses – You Try It
Observations
Paper
Penny
Scientific
Questions
Possible
Hypotheses
Ways of Discovery
• Demonstrations – simpler scientific method used to
show or confirm facts
– For example: determine the density of a block of
wood
• Comparisons – scientific method to evaluate
samples for likenesses and differences
– For example: determine which is more dense a
block of cypress, oak, or teak wood
• Experiments – more rigorous test. See next slide
4. Experiment - Test the
hypothesis
a. Experiments should be
conducted at least 3 times
for repeatable, better data
b. Parts to the experiment:
1) control – part of the
experiment that has no
variables (Ex. Use a lure
with no color to catch fish)
2) independent variable - the
factor that you can change
Ex. change the color of the
lure
- CHANGE ONE Variable at a time
3) dependent variable – what you can
measure
Ex. The number of fish caught
4) Ex. of experiment parts:
If oil is added to a door hinge,
then the door will not squeak.
control – not adding oil
independent variable – oil
dependent variable – the squeak
REMEMBER……
• Change only one independent
variable at a time
• Otherwise…. You won’t know which
one impacted the dependent variable
• (Ex. Changing the color of the lure
and the type of string)
Use the information in the table to answer the
questions:
1. What is the
independent variable?
Answer: gibberellin
2. What is the dependent
variable?
Answer:height/growth
3. Which group is the
control group?
Answer: Group1-no
gibberellin added
Micrograms of
Gibberellin in a
Water solution
Average
Height in
cm
1
0.00
20
2
0.05
40
3
0.10
60
4
0.25
70
5
0.50
75
6
1.00
80
7
2.00
80
Group
5. Data and analysis: Observe
and collect data from the
experiment.
•
Analyze the data and organize it
using tables, charts, graphs
Color of Lure
Number of Fish
Caught
No color
4
Green
6
Silver
10
6. Form a conclusion –
•
Determine an answer from data
analysis
Ex. - The silver lure caught the most
fish
• Maybe find a new problem
-- Which lure caught the biggest fish?
• Answer post-lab questions
• May include written and/or oral reports
THERE IS NEVER AN EXPERIMENT THAT FAILS
Problem
A predicted solution to a
problem that is testable c
Experiment/
Procedure
IV. Products of Scientific Method
A. Theory
1. A logical explanation of
events that happen in
nature
2. A theory has been tested
3. A theory is a possible
explanation
4. A theory is not 100%
B. A law
1. A theory that has been
tested many times and
is accepted as true
2. a summary of an
observed natural event
3. Not necessarily 100%,
accepted - but
never proven wrong
Review What We’ve Learned
• Independent Practice
– Science Word Search
– Planning Investigations Worksheet
Lab
• Together the class will review the steps to
the lab
• Discuss potential hazards, precautions,
and PPE
• Divide into Periodic Groups and work in
teams to complete experiment
• Complete lab guide
• Turn in completed lab guides by teams
• Discuss findings