160 likes | 274 Vues
Scientific Method. August 29 th , 2011 Mrs. Lawton 7 th Grade Science. What is the Scientific Method?. The scientific method is a that is used to find to questions about the world around us. Science is meant to help us understand our universe and improve our lives.
E N D
Scientific Method August 29th, 2011 Mrs. Lawton 7th Grade Science Mrs. Lawton 2011-12 Seventh Grade Science NWMS
What is the Scientific Method? • The scientific method is a that is used to find to questions about the world around us. • Science is meant to help us understand our universe and improve our lives. Mrs. Lawton 2011-12 Seventh Grade Science NWMS
What is the Scientific Method? The scientific method is a process that is used to find to questions about the world around us. Science is meant to help us understand our universe and improve our lives. Mrs. Lawton 2011-12 Seventh Grade Science NWMS
What is the Scientific Method? The scientific method is a process that is used to find answers to questions about the world around us. Science is meant to help us understand our universe and improve our lives. Mrs. Lawton 2011-12 Seventh Grade Science NWMS
1st: Identify The Problem • Ask a question – What do you want to know or explain? • Use observations you have made to write a question that addresses the problem or topic you want to investigate. Mrs. Lawton 2011-12 Seventh Grade Science NWMS
What is a Hypothesis? • A hypothesis is a _______, ______ guess based on observations and your knowledge of the topic Mrs. Lawton 2011-12 Seventh Grade Science NWMS
What is a Hypothesis? A hypothesis is a testable, _______ guess based on observations and your knowledge of the topic Mrs. Lawton 2011-12 Seventh Grade Science NWMS
What is a Hypothesis? A hypothesis is a testable, educated guess based on observations and your knowledge of the topic Mrs. Lawton 2011-12 Seventh Grade Science NWMS
2nd: Form a Hypothesis • What do you think will happen? • Predict the answer to your question, or predict the outcome of the experiment • A hypothesis must be testable • Usually written: • “If we do______” • “Then (this will happen)” • “Because ________” Mrs. Lawton 2011-12 Seventh Grade Science NWMS
Defining Variables • Independent variable causes a change in Dependent Variable and it is not possible that Dependent Variable could cause a change in Independent Variable. • Control Variables are the conditions in the experiment that need to stay the same so that only one variable is tested at a time
Variables Examples • Time Spent Studying causes a change in Test Score and it isn't possible that Test Score could cause a change in Time Spent Studying. • We see that "Time Spent Studying" must be the _________ variable and "Test Score" must be the ________ variable because the sentence doesn't make sense the other way around. • Control Variables might be “amount of sleep”, “amount of television”, “proper nutrition” which all might affect test scores
Variables Examples • Time Spent Studying causes a change in Test Score and it isn't possible that Test Score could cause a change in Time Spent Studying. • We see that "Time Spent Studying" must be the independent variable and "Test Score" must be the _________ variable because the sentence doesn't make sense the other way around. • Control Variables might be “amount of sleep”, “amount of television”, “proper nutrition” which all might affect test scores
Variables Examples • Time Spent Studying causes a change in Test Score and it isn't possible that Test Score could cause a change in Time Spent Studying. • We see that "Time Spent Studying" must be the independent variable and "Test Score" must be the dependent variable because the sentence doesn't make sense the other way around. • Control Variables might be “amount of sleep”, “amount of television”, “proper nutrition” which all might affect test scores
Practice forming a Hypothesis: • Example question: Will adding more milk to my diet increase the strength of my bones? • What do you expect would happen? • Use the “If, Then” formula to state what you expect. • Define your dependent and independent variables.
Practice forming a Hypothesis • Will adding more milk to my diet increase the strength of my bones? • Hypothesis: • If I drink more milk, then my bones will become stronger because bones need calcium to grow. • Independent variable: • Amount of milk • Dependent variable: • Strength of bones • Control variables: • Keep diet the same • Keep amount of exercise the same • Keep amount of sleep the same
Krusty was told that a certain itching powder was the newest best thing on the market, it even claims to cause 50% longer lasting itches. Interested in this product, he buys the itching powder and compares it to his usual product. One test subject (A) is sprinkled with the original itching powder, and another test subject (B) was sprinkled with the Experimental itching powder. Subject A reported having itches for 30 minutes. Subject B reported to have itches for 45 minutes. • Identify the: • Control Group • Independent Variable • Dependent Variable • Explain whether the data supports the advertisement’s claims about its product