Using Scientific Thinking

Using Scientific Thinking Investigate buoyancy Use inductive and deductive reasoning

Using Scientific Thinking 1. Background Information: • http://dsc.discovery.com/tv-shows/mythbusters/videos/lets-talk-buoyancy.htm

Using Scientific Thinking • 2. Predict whether a piece of clay will float in water. • Record your prediction on your paper

Using Scientific Thinking • 3. Fill your measuring cup with 400 ml of water. • Shape your piece of clay into a wide cup and place the cup-shaped piece of clay in the water. • Record your observations on the back of your lab paper.

Using Scientific Thinking • 4. Remove the clay from the water, dry it with a paper towel, and then tightly roll it into a small ball. • Place the ball of clay in the water. • Record your observations on the back.

Using Scientific Thinking • 5. Pour the water out of your measuring cup. • Dry off the measuring cup and clay and place them back on the paper towel on your table. • Wash your hands with warm water and soap when you are finished with this activity.

Using Scientific Thinking • Think it over: • 1. What effect did rolling the clay into a ball have on its ability to float? Explain using complete sentences.

Using Scientific Thinking • Think it over: • 2. Use what you learned in this activity to explain why a steel anchor sinks but a steel ship floats.

Using Scientific Thinking • Think it over: • Did you use deductive or inductive reasoning to answer Question 2? Explain. • What is deductive and inductive reasoning? • Direction: Inductive reasoning moves from the specific to the general. Deductive reasoning moves from the general to the specific.

Deductive Reasoning: Deductive reasoning is based on laws or general principles. People using deductive reasoning apply a general principle to a specific example. • All oranges are fruits. All fruits grow on trees. Therefore, all oranges grow on trees. • Dinner is always at 6 pm. It is 6 pm. ______________________ • Triangles have 3 sides. This shape has 3 sides. ________________________

Inductive Reasoning: Inductive reasoning is based on observation. People using inductive reasoning find a pattern in a collection of specific observations and draw a general conclusion based on that pattern. • All the tigers observed in a particular region have yellow black stripes, therefore all the tigers native to this region have yellow stripes. • Kim, Ralene, Jim, and Rick finished first, second, third, and fourth in a motor bike race. If their numbers were 5, 17, 1, and 7 use the following clues to find out who had what number and in what order they finished. • 17 said she would have placed higher if her bike would not have stalled at the start. • Rick finished before 7 but after Ralene. • Jim wasn’t third. • 1’s father said he was very proud of her finish. • Kim finished after 5.

Which statements are deductive and which statements are inductive? • 1. Turtles have shells. They must use shells for protection. _______ • 2. A puddle has frozen. It must be below 0 degrees outside. _______ • 3. Because of gravity, everything that goes up must come down. _______ • 4. Many birds fly toward the equator in fall. Birds prefer warm weather. _______

Using Scientific Thinking