Scientific Method Interactive Notebook Notes Using the Scientific
Scientific Method Interactive Notebook Notes
Using the Scientific Method Science begins with an “observation” : Nitrogen is an essential nutrient that all living organisms, including plants, need to make amino acids which in turn makes proteins. Often gardeners and farmers can be seen using nitrogen fertilizer on their plants.
Step 1: Observation leads to a QUESTION: Does nitrogen fertilizer affect plant height? QUESTION leads to a possible prediction: Nitrogen fertilizer increases plant height
LETS TEST THIS!!! Does nitrogen fertilizer affect plant height? Step 2: Form a Hypothesis : Educated Guess or Answer to your question A hypothesis is ALWAYS written in an if, then statement If plants are given nitrogen fertilizer, then they will grow taller.
Identifying variables - Not a step but a MUST Independent Variable: Factors in an experiment that a scientist PURPOSELY Changes (manipulated) Factors in an experiment that a scientist WANTS Dependent Variable: TO MEASURE and is changed by the independent variable. Controlled Variables: Factors that scientists purposely keep the SAME AKA: Constants
Does nitrogen fertilizer affect plant height? Independent Variable: Whether or not the plants receive the nitrogen fertilizer. Dependent Variable: Plant Height Type of plants, amount of water/fertilizer, amount Controlled Variables: of weeks tested, amount of sun received
Step 3: Set up Experimental group vs. Control Group Experimental Group Control Group that receives the variable being tested. This group is then compared to CONTROL GROUP. Group that DOES NOT receive the variable being tested. This group is then compared to EXPERIMENTAL GROUP.
Does nitrogen fertilizer affect plant height? Experimental group vs. Control Group Experimental Group Control Group The group of plants that RECEIVE the nitrogen fertilizer. The group of plants that DO NOT RECEIVE the nitrogen fertilizer.
Step 4: Recording/Analyzing Results and Data: Here are the plants after 3 weeks. each plant’s height using a ruler, data in the table, and then create graph. Next, analyze your results, you find? Measure record the a bar what did
Recording Data Group Experimental Group With Nitrogen Fertilizer Control Group Without Nitrogen Fertilizer Plant Number Plant Height (cm) Plant 1 3. 2 Plant 2 4. 3 Plant 3 5. 5 Plant 4 4. 8 Plant 5 3. 0 Plant 1 2. 4 Plant 2 1. 6 Plant 3 2. 7 Plant 4 1. 4 Plant 5 1. 8
Record Data
Analyzing Data Put your data in words. Ten Plants were used in this experiment. The 5 tallest plants all came from the experimental group (received nitrogen fertilizer ). The 5 shortest plants all came from the control group (did not receive nitrogen fertilizer ).
Step 5: Conclusions Summarize your results. Indicate whether or not your data supported or rejected your hypothesis. Did your experiment have any errors or complications? What were they ? Suggest any changes in the experimental procedure(or design) and/or possibilities for further study.
Example Conclusion The results of the experiment supported the hypothesis that if plants given nitrogen fertilizer then they would grow taller than those not given it. The experiment went smoothly with no errors or problems. In the future I would like to test various amounts of fertilizer to find out what amount makes plants grow at their maximum capacity.
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