Scientific Method Review

Scientific Method Review

by Mr. Erickson

​What are the steps of the Scientific Method?

1. 1.Observation: My toaster doesn't work.

2. 2.Question: Is something wrong with my electrical outlet?

3. 3.Hypothesis: If something is wrong with the outlet, my blender also won't work when plugged into it.

4. 4.Experiment: I plug my blender into the outlet.

5. 5.Result: My blender works!

6. 6.Conclusion: My electrical outlet works, but my toaster still won't toast my bread.

7. 7.Refine the hypothesis: My toaster is broken.

   1. From this point, the process would be repeated with a refined hypothesis.

Multiple Choice

Which of these statements is a hypothesis?

• My toaster doesn't work.

• If something is wrong with the outlet, my blender also won't work when plugged into it.

• I plug my blender into the outlet.

• My electrical outlet works, but my toaster still won't toast my bread.

​Independent & Dependent Variables

​​The INDEPENDENT variable is the CAUSE, and the DEPENDENT variable is the EFFECT.

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(Independent variable) causes a change in (Dependent Variable) and it isn't possible that (Dependent Variable) could cause a change in (Independent Variable).

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​For example: If I tip back too far on my chair, then I will fall over.

​The red part is the INDEPENDENT VARIABLE

​The blue part is the DEPENDENT VARIABLE

Multiple Choice

Which part of this hypothesis is the INDEPEDENT variable? 

"If something is wrong with the outlet, my blender also won't work when plugged into it."

• "If something is wrong with the outlet..."

• "... [M]y blender also won't work when plugged into it."

Multiple Choice

Which part of this hypothesis is the DEPEDENT variable? 

"If something is wrong with the outlet, my blender also won't work when plugged into it."

• "If something is wrong with the outlet..."

• "... [M]y blender also won't work when plugged into it."

​Remember this?

​Jake and Collin are participating in the school’s egg drop contest where they are to build a device to protect an egg when dropped from a specific height. Last year, the egg was dropped off of the roof of the school which is 15 meters high. This year, however, the egg drop isn’t from the roof of the school, but from the sky ride at the local amusement park, which is 30 meters above the ground. Collin thinks they should use the same design they used last year because they won the contest last year. Jake thinks they should use a NEW design because of the height difference.

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​It's up to you to come up with a hypothesis and experiment to help them decide.

Poll

Which of these would be the BEST hypothesis for Jake & Collin's scenario?

• Does increasing the height cause an increase/decrease in impact or speed?

• How does height affect the egg container design?

• How does height affect potential energy?

• How does the height or the potential energy affect the egg drop experiment?

Poll

Which of the following BEST describe the BEST variables and constants for the experiment you designed?

(IV=Independent Variable, DV=Dependent Variable, C's=Constants)

• IV: Drop Height (m)

  DV: Bounce Height (m)

  C's: Drop Height & object used.

• IV: Gravity

  DV: Speed of ball (m/s)

  C's: Height & object used.

• IV: Drop Height (m)

  DV: Device Design

  C's: Egg size & weather.

• IV: Drop Height (m)

  DV: Splash Radius (m)

  C's: Object used & amount of water in pool.