Thurs 9/3
List the steps of the
scientific method.
(as many as you
can!)
Name
Class/Period
Write the following
on your warm up
The Nature of Science
The Scientific Method
A series of steps followed to solve
problems, including collecting
data, formulating a hypothesis,
testing the hypothesis, and
Steps of the Scientific Method
1. Make Observations – any information
gathered using your senses
2. Ask Questions (it must be a testable
question)
3. Form a Hypothesis
Hypothesis: a theory or explanation that is
based on observations and that can be tested.
educated guess used to answer a question
or problem
4. Test the Hypothesis – conduct
Scientific method cont.
5. Analyze results/data– determine
whether your results support or refute (disprove) your hypothesis.
Often involves forming and analyzing
tables and graphs.
6. Draw Conclusions- Accept or Reject
your hypothesis!
If data doesn’t support : revise or
reject hypothesis
Testing your
hypothesis: Experimentation
Parts of a Controlled Experiment
1. Independent VariablesIndependent Variables: the variable the
scientist manipulates (changes)
Dependent Variables: the variable which
is both affected and measured during the experiment.
it ‘depends’ on the independent
variable.
Controlled variables: the variable which
Independent variable: the one thing the
scientist changes
There should only be ONE independent
variable per experiment.
Example: the TYPE of liquid used to water the
Dependent variable: the change caused by
the independent variable.
Controlled Variables: everything you want to
remain constant or unchanging.
Examples: The pot size, the type of plant,
What was the
Independent Variable?
mass of the steel balls
What was the dependent variable
The rate which they fell
What were the controlled variables?
The material of the balls, the height that
they were dropped.
Think back to
Variable PRACTICE #1
A group of people of all different ages were given the same jigsaw puzzle to solve. The time it took
each of them to complete the puzzle was recorded.
Variable PRACTICE #1
A group of people of all different ages were given the same jigsaw puzzle to solve. The time it took
each of them to complete the puzzle was recorded.
Variable PRACTICE #1
A group of people of all different ages were given the same jigsaw puzzle to solve. The time it took
each of them to complete the puzzle was recorded.
PRACTICE #2
It is January and Haley, Sarah and Becky are tired of having cold feet while waiting for the school bus to come in the morning.
They decide to design an experiment to test the effectiveness of wool, cotton
and nylon as insulators.
They fill identical bottles with 200 ml of water at 100 ° C and place inside each sock. They take the temperature of the water after 20 minutes.
PRACTICE #2
They decide to design an experiment to test the effectiveness of wool, cotton
and nylon as insulators.
They fill identical bottles with 200 ml of water at 100 ° C and place inside each sock. They take the temperature of the water after 20 minutes.
PRACTICE #2
They decide to design an experiment to test the effectiveness of wool, cotton
and nylon as insulators.
They fill identical bottles with 200 ml of water at 100 ° C and place inside each sock. They take the temperature of the water after 20 minutes.
PRACTICE #2
They decide to design an experiment to test the effectiveness of wool, cotton
and nylon as insulators.
They fill identical bottles with 200 ml of water at 100 °C and place inside each sock. They take the temperature of the water after 20 minutes.
Hypotheses, Theories, and Laws
A theory is a well-tested, highly studied
explanation for a phenomenon.
Evidence supports it, but it can’t be
proven.
A Law is a summary of many
experimental results and observations. A law tells how things work.
Like Galileo’s Law of Constant
What is the difference between
a law and a theory?
A LAW
describes
a phenomenon,
whereas a THEORY attempts to
explain
it.
Galileo’s Law simply describes a fact.
The two balls will always fall at the
same rate- that’s what we observe!
A theory would attempt to explain
What’s the difference between a
theory and a hypothesis?
A hypothesis is an educated guess to
explain a phenomenon that must be tested.
A theory is the result of repeatedly
Observing
Quantitative: data or information that is
numerical
mass, volume, weight, length, etc. Qualitative: data or information that is
not numerical
color, shape, phase, etc.
Research: the process of collecting
information from your own experiences, knowledgeable sources, and data from exploratory experiments.
System: specific portion of matter that
