Tools of Science - Scientific MethodDefinition

Observe

Hypothesis

Experiment

Data

Analysis

Conclusion

Theory

Loose guidelines in conducting an experiment

Don't always go in order and aren't always written out

Done through the 5 senses

A testable statement written in an “If...Then” format

NOT an guess, even an educated one

A controlled set of steps designed to lead to either the acceptance or rejection of the hypothesis

Information collected in an experiment

2 forms:

Quantitative- Numbers- answers “When, How much” Qualitative- Descriptions- answers “What, Where, Who”

Finding logical patterns among that data

Usually done through graphing/charting

Restates what occurred, postulates probable reasons based on data/research, questions further

Scientific law based on experimental evidence and only after repeated testing of a hypothesis gives alike results

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Tools of Science – Metric SystemDefinition

Units

Metric Prefixes

Standard system of measurement in science

Also known as SI system. Differs from what we use in the US

Meters-(m)- measures length/distance

Grams- (g)- weight/mass

Liters- (L)- measures volume (usually of liquids)

Celsius (C)- measures temperature

Seconds (s)- measures time

Measuring something very heavy in grams would give a massive number too big to comprehend. The reverse is true as well.

Because of this the metric system uses prefixes to express grams, meters, and liters in both very small and very big units

The prefixes are:

Kilo (K)- 1,000 deci (d)- 0.1

Hecto (H) - 100 centi (c)- 0.01

Deca (D)- 10 milli (m)- 0.001

Ex. A car would be 2,000,000 grams, or 2,000 kilograms, or 2 tonnes

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Tools of Science - GraphingPurpose

Bar Graph

Line graph

Pie graph

Scatter Plot

Parts of a good graph

A way to express data in a format that is easy to read and understand

Different graphs work best for different types of data

Best for data that is partially qualitative

Ex. Numbers of each color of M&M in a package

Best for data that is entirely quantitative AND related

Ex. Plant growth in cm over time in days

Best for data expressed as fractions or percents- usually partially qualitative as well

Ex. Percent of kids that did homework vs. watched TV last night

Best for data that is quantitative but not related

Ex. Husband's age vs. Wife's age

Title- needs to say EXACTLY what the graph shows

Labeled axes- what axis is showing and in what units

Appropriate scale- don't start at 0 if your data starts at 200 and ends at 202

Percent signs where necessary

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Tools of Science – Experimental DesignPurpose

Parts

The goal of all experiments is to be reproducible and well designed

Objective- what it is you are trying to discover in an experiment

Ex. To determine which fertilizer causes more rapid plant growth

Independent Variable (IV)- the thing I (the experimenter) change from experimental group to experimental group

Ideally, each experiment will only have one- this ensures the results were caused by this change and this change alone

Ex. The different types of fertilizer

Dependent Variable (DV)-the results of the experiment

The results depend on what I change between groups

Ex. How much each plant grows

Control- the experimental group which DOES NOT receive the independent variable

Used to show that the IV had any effect at all

Ex. A plant with plain soil- no fertilizer added

Constants- other variables in the experiment which remain the same between groups to ensure validity. Ex. Light, water, how much soil etc.

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Tools of Science - Scientific MethodDefinition

Observe

Hypothesis

Experiment

Data

Analysis

Conclusion

Theory

Guidelines in experimentation

Ø in order, Ø all written

5 senses

Testable statement in “If...Then” format

NOT an guess

Controlled steps → Accept/Reject Hypothesis

Info collected

2 forms:

Quantitative- #'s Qualitative- words

Logical patterns in data → Graphs/Charts

Restates, explain, postulate, question

Scientific law

Only if repeated tests → Like results

Correlation Ø Causation

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Tools of Science – Metric SystemDefinition

Units

Metric Prefixes

System of measurement in science

a.k.a SI system

Meters-(m)- length/distance

Grams- (g)- weight/mass

Liters- (L)- volume )

Celsius (C)- temperature

Seconds (s)- time

Big/small numbers are hard so use prefixes

Prefixes:

Kilo (K)- 1,000 deci (d)- 0.1

Hecto (H) - 100 centi (c)- 0.01

Deca (D)- 10 milli (m)- 0.001

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Tools of Science - GraphingPurpose

Bar Graph

Line graph

Pie graph

Scatter Plot

Parts of a good graph

Express data-easy to read/understand

Different graphs best for different data

Partially qualitative data

Entirely quantitative AND related

Fractions or percents-?partially qualitative?

Quantitative but not related

Title

Labeled axes/units

Appropriate scale

%'s if needed

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Tools of Science – Experimental DesignPurpose

Parts

When graphing

Reproducible & well designed

Objective- hopeful outcome

Independent Variable (IV)- changed from experimental group to group

Only 1/experiment- helps = causation

Dependent Variable (DV)-results

Control- group which DOES NOT receive IV

Shows if IV had any effect

Constants- All other variables- must stay steady

DRY MIX

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