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The Scientific Method

The Scientific Method. The scientific method is a systematic approach to problem solving. A step-by-step way of tackling scientific problems or questions that all scientists follow. The scientific method is made up of the following parts: STATING THE PROBLEM GATHERING INFORMATION

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The Scientific Method

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  1. The Scientific Method

  2. The scientific method is a systematic approach to problem solving. A step-by-step way of tackling scientific problems or questions that all scientists follow. • The scientific method is made up of the following parts: • STATING THE PROBLEM • GATHERING INFORMATION • FORMING A HYPOTHESIS • PERFORMING EXPERIMENTS • RECORDING AND ANALYZING DATA • STATING A CONCLUSION • REPEATING THE EXPERIMENT

  3. Step 1 STATING THE PROBLEM What is the question that we are trying to answer? This question has to be specific and clear.

  4. Step 1 STATING THE PROBLEM Question: Does the amount of Alka-seltzer placed in the film canister affect the time it takes for the canister to explode?

  5. Step 2 GATHERING INFORMATION • This is a challenging step in the scientific method. • Here we look for background information by using: • the library • the Internet • interviewing experts • using our own life-experiences • Sometimes we need to spend many hours working on this step. Other times we don't.

  6. Step 2 GATHERING INFORMATION • By gathering information we found: • When Alka-seltzer mixes with water gas bubbles form • When gas bubbles are put in a closed container, pressure can build up in the container • Too much pressure can cause an explosion

  7. Step 3 FORMING A HYPOTHESIS The word hypothesis means “educated guess.” Here we are to make an educated guess on what we think will happen. It is important that our guess is an educated one. The hypothesis is based on the information found during step number 2 (Gathering Information).

  8. Step 3 FORMING A HYPOTHESIS Our Hypothesis: When we place different amounts of Alka-seltzer into the film canisters, the film canister with the most amount of Alka-seltzer will explode first. This will happen because the more Alka-seltzer that is placed in the canister, the quicker the pressure will build and cause an explosion.

  9. Step 4 PERFORMING EXPERIMENTS An experiment is a way to test whether our hypothesis was correct or incorrect. Experiments must be detailed and organized. An experiment must have a purpose (why are we performing the experiment), a list of materials and a detailed procedure. We test variables in experiments.

  10. Step 4 PERFORMING EXPERIMENTS • Purpose: • Determine whether the amount of Alka-seltzer added to the water in the canister affects the amount of time before it explodes. • Materials: • 3 Film Canisters • Water • Alka-seltzer tablets • Measuring spoon • Knife • Stop Watch

  11. Step 4 PERFORMING EXPERIMENTS • Variable: • The amount of Alka-seltzer added to the water in the film canister. • Procedure: • Fill 3 film canisters with 1 tablespoon of water each. • In 1 film canister place ¼ of an Alka-seltzer tablet into the water and immediately place the lid on. • Start the stop watch and record the amount of time it took for the film canister to explode. • Repeat steps 2-3 two more times, placing ½ an Alka-seltzer tablet, and a 1 whole Alka-seltzer tablet, into the water.

  12. Step 5 RECORDING AND ANALYZING DATA Sometimes we will get data (information) from our experiments in many different forms. Sometimes we will be measuring time in seconds, or minutes. Other times we will be looking for varying temperatures or colors. Sometimes we will be recording distance in feet or meters. Whatever the shape of our data, we must be very careful to record it in an organized manner. Once we obtain our data we need to analyze it, or study it and do our best to figure out what it means.

  13. Step 5 RECORDING AND ANALYZING DATA

  14. Step 6 STATING A CONCLUSION Was our hypothesis correct or incorrect? Why? This step allows us to look back at our hypothesis, and usually raises even more questions. Please remember that it is not a bad thing for our hypothesis to be incorrect, as long as we followed all the steps of the scientific method.

  15. Step 6 STATING A CONCLUSION We were correct in our hypothesis. When we placed different amounts of Alka-seltzer into the film canisters, the film canister with the most amount of Alka-seltzer exploded first. This happened because the more Alka-seltzer that was placed in the canister, the more quickly the pressure built and the sooner the explosion occurred.

  16. Step 7 REPEATING THE EXPERIMENT Most students do not repeat their experiments, but scientists at universities and research labs do. This is mainly to make sure that the data were accurate, and that there were no errors made during the first experiment.

  17. Review • The scientific method is a systematic approach to problem solving. A step-by-step way of tackling scientific problems or questions that all scientists follow. • The scientific method is made up of the following parts: • STATING THE PROBLEM • GATHERING INFORMATION • FORMING A HYPOTHESIS • PERFORMING EXPERIMENTS • RECORDING AND ANALYZING DATA • STATING A CONCLUSION • REPEATING THE EXPERIMENT References: Hopkins, J., et al. 1993. The Nature of Science. pp. 17-25 New Jersey: Prentice Hall.

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