Chapter 1 THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD AKA SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY

Chapter 1 THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD AKA SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY

The most incomprehensible thing about the world is that it is comprehensible. -Albert Einstein

What is Science? o Science is the total collection of knowledge gained by man’s observations of the universe. o Science tries to answer the questions How? and What? . (not why? )

What are the steps of the Scientific Method? o Posing a Question- developing a question related to your observations. The question should be testable. o Developing a Hypothesis- This is a possible explanation for your own observations or answer to a scientific question. (An if ……. then……. . statement) o Designing and Experiment- A scientific experiment tests one variable. This is referred to as a controlled experiment. All other variables are constant.

What are the steps of the Scientific Method? (con’t) Collecting and Interpreting Data is based on qualitative and quantitative observations. n Qualitative observations include a description of what you perceive occurred during the course of your experiment. n Quantitative observations are numbers in the form of raw data represented by tables and graphs. o Drawing conclusions from your data. Your conclusion uses your data to explain why you believe your hypothesis supported or unsupported based on your observations. o

What are experimental variables? o A variable is a thing that changes in an experiment. o Control- This is a group that is under natural conditions and not influenced by the independent variable. o Independent or Manipulating variable- This is the variable being changed in an experiment. o Dependent or Responding variable- This is the variable being used to measure and produce data on the Manipulating variable.

What is the difference between a scientific law and a scientific theory? Scientific Law A scientific law is a statement that describes what scientists expect to happen every time under certain conditions. (Example - Newton’s Laws. ) Scientific Theory A well tested explanation for a wide range of observation or experimental results.

Problem-Does the color of light effect the growth of plants? Hypothesis? Manipulating/ Independent variable? Experiment Responding/ dependent variable? RED 15. 6 cm Conclusions? BLUE GREEN 16. 1 cm 14. 6 cm ? 20. 3 cm Control?

Summarize o On the next page, write a paragraph summarizing your notes in 3 -5 sentences. o Create a flow chart illustrating the steps of the scientific method.

What Would Sponge. Bob Do? o Read each of his experiments he or his friends conduct. o Identify the variables in his experiments.