Understanding the world around us through the Scientific Method

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Understanding the world around us through
theScientific Method
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Scientific Method Notes

• Goals of science
• To investigate, understand, and explain the
  natural world
• To predict future events using explanations

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Scientific Method Notes

• Scientific Method
• Observation use of the five senses to gather
  information (data)
• quantitative characteristic that involves
  numbers (counting or measuring)
• b. qualitative characteristic that is
  descriptive (does not involve numbers)

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Scientific Method Notes

• 2. hypothesis
• possible explanation for a set of observations
  possible answer to a scientific question

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Scientific Method Notes

• 3. experiment test of a hypothesis
• control experimental factor that stays the same
  in all tests
• b. variable experimental factor that changes
  between tests
• Change only one variable at a time!

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Scientific Method Notes

• 4. results written record of observations and
  measurements (data) from an experiment
• Example notes, graphs, tables and charts

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Scientific Method Notes

• 5. Conclusion uses results to show that the
  hypothesis was supported (correct) or rejected
  (incorrect)
• A good scientist would repeat his/her experiment
  several times and then publish the results so
  other scientists can repeat it as well!

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1. Observation

• Maggots appear on meat
• that is left uncovered.

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2. Hypothesis

• Flies produce maggots.

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3. Experiment

• Get several bowls of meat, cover half of them so
  flies cannot get in, and leave the other half
  opened to the flies.

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a. Control?

• The opened bowl
• Everything should be the same
• Location, temperature, type of bowl, type of
  meat, size of meat, time, etc.

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a. Variable?

• The cover (lid)

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4. Results

• Only the uncovered bowls had maggots.

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Results can be shown on graphs
10 AM
5
4
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4 PM
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Data Table
Graph
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4. Results

• Data Table is a good
• way to show results.

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5. Conclusion

• Meat does not produce maggots. The uncovered
  bowls produced an average of 43 maggots while the
  covered bowls produced No maggots.

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Scientific Method Notes

• Theory hypothesis that is supported by evidence
  from many experiments
• Allows scientists to make predictions about
  future events
• NOT a fact it may be revised or replaced

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Experiments need Procedures

• Bad Example
• Put the brown and green Lego together

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Experiments need Procedures

• Good Example
• Take 1 4x2 brown lego and 1 1x4 green lego
• Put the last 2 bumps of the green 1x4 on the last
  row of bumps on the 4x2 so that the pieces are
  perpendicular