What is Science Science is broken into two
What is Science? Science is broken into two main branches: Social Physical Chemistry Natural Earth & Space Life Sciences Biology
SCIENTIFIC METHOD Natural Physical Chemistry Earth & Space Life Sciences Biology
Scientific Method WHAT IS IT? • A set of steps used to solve problems or understand an event that is observed.
• Observation • Form a Problem or Question • Create a Hypothesis • Design an Experiment and Test your Hypothesis • Develop Conclusion Based on your Data
STEPS 1. Make an Observation A direct method of gathering information in an orderly way.
Observation: My car will not start
2. Form a PROBLEM or ask a QUESTION.
Question: Why will my car not start?
Combining prior knowledge and information with the observations you have made can help you to start forming logical conclusions- this is called making INFERENCES • I know a car needs gas to run • I know my gas gauge is currently broken • I know it has been a while since I put gas in the car
3. Make a PREDICTION by forming a HYPOTHESIS. A hypothesis is an educated guess. It looks like this… "If _____[I do this] _____, then _____[this]_____ will happen. "
Hypothesis: If I add gas to the car will start.
4. Design and perform an EXPERIMENT.
A. Collect all of the MATERIALS. B. Write a PROCEDURE that can be duplicated. C. Analyze the RESULTS (math and writing).
Step 1: Buy gas Step 2: Add gas to the gas tank Step 3: Try to start the car
5. Form a CONCLUSION using your analysis. Based on your conclusion, ask new questions or REDESIGN experiment.
Conclusion: I added gas and the car still did not start. Next Step! Rewrite hypothesis and redesign experiment! I knew it was the battery…
CHARACTERISTICS OF WELL DESIGNED EXPERIMENT A. Controlled experiment=ONLY one dependent variable • INDEPENDENT VARIABLE: what you are in control of, what you manipulate • DEPENDENT VARIABLE: what you are measuring, what you are testing B. Repeated trials C. Numbered steps, written like a recipe
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