steps of the scientific method
DESCRIPTION
Steps of the Scientific Method. The Scientific Method involves a series of steps that are used to investigate a natural event. Scientific Method. Problem/Question Observation/Research Hypothesis Experiment Data Conclusion. Problem/Question. What are we trying to solve or find out?. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
The Scientific Method involves a series of steps that are used to
investigate a natural event.
Problem/QuestionObservation/Research
HypothesisExperiment
DataConclusion
What are we trying to solve or find out?
Will wing length affect the decent of a paper helicopter.
Answer
What do we notice about our materials?
Is the paper light or heavy?
From your experience, do you think long wings or short wings would make a faster decent?
The hypothesis is a
testable educated guess about the relationship
between the independent and dependent variables
After doing research we can guess that wing length (will not/will) affect
decent.
The independent is a factor that’s changed by the experimenter.
The variable we changed is the wing length
The dependent variable is the factor that changes as a result of a change in the independent variable.
The responding variable would be
Time of descent.
The constants in an experiment are all the factors that the experimenter keeps
the same.
They might include: Type of paper, helicopter template,
length of helicopter tail, etc.
Describe the experiment and list materials.
Most experiments have 3 trials.
Most experiments require a control group.
Read the lab procedure & summarize it in your report. What are we doing?
What is the starting diameter for the helicopter wings?
How much do we cut off for each new experiment?
How many trials are we doing at each length?
◦Testing wing length vs time
◦6 inches
◦1 inch
◦3
Making the copter…
Cut & fold
Wrap paper around until you get a point
Come up with a table and graph
so you can record your data.
Wing Wing lengthlength
1 2 3 MeanMean
6in
5in
4in
3in
2in
1in
TrialsTrials
Number of seconds for each Descent
REMEMBER YOUR UNITS! (inches, seconds, etc)
Find average of the 3 trials!
Average= Trial 1 + Trial 2+ Trial 33
Lets start our experiment!
In your group, you will all have jobs. One of you will keep time
◦http://www.online-stopwatch.com/full-screen-stopwatch/
Another will record data Another will clip the helicopter wings Another can be a copter dropper
◦MUST have safety contract turned in JUST IN CASE you fall.
Graph
time
wingspan
Dependent variable
Independent variable
According to your data, what do you
find out?
Was the hypothesis right or wrong?