Using The Scientific Method

What is the Scientific Method

• A series of steps that scientist use to answer questions and solve problems

Several Distinct Steps

• Ask a question

• Form a hypothesis

• Test the hypothesis

• Analyze the results

• Draw conclusion

• Communicate results

Order of Steps

• Some time the steps are done in a different order

• Sometimes steps are skipped or repeated

• It depends on what works best to answer the question

Technology

• The application of knowledge, tools, and materials to solve problems and accomplish task.– Examples: computers, light bulbs

Goals Science and Technology

• Science – to gain knowledge of the natural world

• Technology – to apply scientific understanding to solve

problems

Technology is sometimes called applied science

Group Activity

• Work in groups (Your Tables)

• Make a list of 10 observations about technology in the classroom

• Tell how each example of technology improves the classroom for teaching

Ask a Question?

• Helps you focus your investigation and identify what you want to find out.

• Ask a question after you have made lots of observations

Observations

• Any use of senses to gather information– Measurements

• Color• Temperature• Volume• Mass• Weight

Real World Question

• Dog House Science or Technology

Form a Hypothesis

• Hypothesis- A possible explanation or answer to your question

• Must be testable– Example: A doghouse made with lighter

colors will produce a cooler living environment.

Before Testing Hypothesis

• Make a prediction in the “If…..then…” format.

• Example: If heat is absorbed by dark colors and repelled by light colors then a doghouse made of light colors will be cooler.

Test the Hypothesis

• Test your prediction

• Conduct a controlled Experiment

Controlled Experiments

• Control Group • Experimental Group

•Both groups are the same except for one factor in the experimental group called the variable

•Sometime a controlled experiment is not possible

•Example researching stars

•How would you conduct star research?

Data

• Any pieces of information acquired through experimentation

Analyze the Results

• Done after you collect and record data– Calculations of Data– Organizing data in graphs and table

Number (in Millions) of Civilian/Noninstitutionalized Persons with

Diagnosed Diabetes, United States, 1980–2006

Draw Conclusion

• Explaining your results

• Tell if your hypothesis was supported or not

• Tell if project created new questions

Communicate Results

• Science Fair

• Journals

• Web Site

• New people might use your information and modify it.

Building Scientific Knowledge

• Theories-a unifying explanation for a broad range of Hypothesis.– A theory can explain an observation – Predict an observation possibly made in

future• Special Theory of Relativity • Evolution• Cell Theory • Atomic Theory

Building Scientific Knowledge

• Laws- a summary of many experimental results and observations– Tells how things work– Laws tell what happen not why it happens

Examples:

Boyle's law, Charles' Law , Law of Gravity