What is the scientific method?

■It is a simple method scientists use to conduct an investigation.

■It is a way to ask & answer scientific questions by asking questions & conducting experiments.

Problem

■Clearly stated in QUESTION FORM – Why? – How? – What?

■How do Jumping Jacks affect heart rate?

Information■Exercise raises the heart rate in the short

term ■Exercise causes the body to need more

energy, more glucose must be broken down and processed into usable energy for cells

■More intense exercise causes the need for more oxygen, more quickly. To keep up the heart pumps blood faster, resulting in a higher heart rate.

Information■What factors affect the problem

■Observations- things that you can see, hear, smell, taste, or feel – Ex. Workouts include jumping jacks

■Inferences- conclusion based on your observations – Ex. Jumping jacks are a good form of exercise

Hypothesis

Experiment

■Tests your hypothesis. ■ Independent Variable- what the experimenter

changes ■Dependent Variable- what you measure (the

response to the change) ■Constants- things that stay the SAME ■Control group- group used for comparison ■Experimental Group- group that the IV is

applied to

Experimental Procedure1. Measure your resting heart rate and record

the number of beats per minute. 2. Group 1 will complete one minute of

jumping jacks. Group 2 will sit in their seats for one minute.

3. Both groups will immediately measure their heart rate and record the number of beats per minute.

4. Each group will calculate their change in heart rate.

Calculate your change in heart rate

■ (Heart rate after 1 minute) – (Resting Heart Rate)

Experiment EXAMPLE■Independent Variable- no jumping jacks

vs. jumping jacks ■Dependent Variable- change heart rate ■Constants- same person, same method

of taking heart rate, same amount of time ■Control group- not completing jumping

jacks ■Experimental Group- completing jumping

jacks

Data

■Numerical Observations ■ Arranged in tables and graphs

Group Heart Rate

(beats per minute)

No Jumping Jacks 100

Jumping Jacks 60

DataHeart Rate (beats

per minute)

0

50

100

Jumping JacksNo Jumping Jacks

Heart Rate (beats per minute)

V. Conclusion

■Analyze the data – Do you accept or reject your hypothesis?

■Evaluate the research

What next??

■If you reject your hypothesis (not supported), you modify your hypothesis and complete the experiment again!

■If you accept your hypothesis (supported), you REPEAT the experiment several times to gather more data

The Bald Baby Experiment

Also known as:

Prove Marks Mother in Law Wrong (A class excercise)

■My Mother in-law swears we should have shaved our newborn baby bald for his hair to thicken. She’s not the only one who believes in this practice.

■What is her general hypothesis? ■Where do you fall? ■How would you create an experiment to

prove your belief?

REMEMBER THESE STEPS!

■PEOPLE Problem ■IN Information ■HERSHEY Hypothesis ■EAT Experiment ■DARK Data ■CHOCOLATE Conclusions