A way to investigate something.

We often do experiments in life but they’re usually uncontrolled, like trying a few new,

random ingredients in the soup.

It is best to be systematic, changing ingredients one by one, then recording

successes in a recipe.

The Scientific Method

14

12

3 eggs?

cup

1 12 4cup 2 eggs

How did the Wright Brothers prove to the world that sustainable and controlled flight was actually

possible?

How would you go about doing the experiment?

Step 1: Question?

Let’s get a flying machine into the world’s first controlled flight.

Nobody yet knows how to fly, so everyone is skeptical that it is

actually possible.

Step 2: Research

First, we need to define exactly what we’re going to do. We will try to do a “controlled flight”, so the machine must:

• Take off by its own power

• Have the ability to roll (tilt the plane), pitch (go up and down), and yaw (aim left or right)

• Last at least 10 seconds in the air, and

• Land safely, on ground that’s level with the launch site

Step 2: Research

We know what we’re going to do. Let’s find out whatinformation already is out there about these strange

“flying machines”!

We’ll go down to the US Patent Office to see if someone has already patented a “flying machine”…

Looks like nobody has. We’ll read that latest scientific journals, magazines, and books about automobiles and boats to see if anything comes up there…

Nothing proving that flying has been done yet. )It would be great if we had the internet, ‘cause then we could look up ANYTHING about flying machines…)

Step 2: Research

We found a bit of information on carengines, which might help us with the engine

of our flying machine.

Before we get started, we should hypothesizeabout what might happen with our machine.

Hypothesis: We think the machine will sustain flight for 10 seconds and will

land safely in our field where we steer it.

Step 3: Form an Hypothesis

Now we have to gather the materials to build the craft, and then build it carefully

according to a plan so we don’t make our experiment invalid!

If someone else tried to make the flying machine with our set of instructions and

couldn’t, they would never believe that we did it ourselves!

Step 4: Experiment

It’s time to run the experiment, so get out the pads and pencils to

record this historic event!

I believe I can fly!

Step 4: Experiment

Err… back to the lab…

*nail**nail*

Wind tunnel test

New & Improved!

*change*

*change*

Step 4: Experiment

Round 2:

Step 4: Experiment

Ah ha! The success came with wider ailerons and more engine horsepower! That will have to go in our data.

So under these conditions, if someone decides to make their own flying machine, they can use our plans to repeat the

experiment.

Dec. 17, 1903

Dec. 14, 1903

Flight time Flight distance

1. 4 s 55 ft.

2. 7 s 88 ft.

Flight time Flight distance

1. 12 s 120 ft.

2. 19 s 190 ft.

3. 20 s 200 ft.

4. 59 s 852 ft.

Step 5: Data

Step 6: Conclusions Sustainable, controlled flight over 10 seconds is possible under certain conditions.

Greater horsepower helps the flying machine stay in the air longer and larger ailerons provide more control.

Let others know the conclusions of your experiment.

Knowledge spreads like this.

To recapitulate, the process of using the scientific method: