The Scientific Method: Catapult Comparison

The Scientific Method:

The Catapult Comparison

By Jen Wegis

What is the Scientific Method?

Definition:

​The scientific method is a series of steps that is used throughout the scientific community to test a scientific hypothesis in a way that can be reproduced and provide consistent data analysis.

The Scientific Method

things or steps of the same kind that come one after another

​

​​series

a group of people who share something in common

​​community

​

made a copy of the original item or result

​​reproduced

looking at data in order to find answers or get new information

​​data analysis

​

Vocabulary

Multiple Choice

The Netflix show "Stranger Things" can be watched every week. Each episode continues the story. This is an example of...

• community

• data analysis

• reproduced

• series

Multiple Choice

Scientists in Scotland cloned a sheep. They took the DNA from a sheep named "Dolly" and created an exact copy of her. The scientists _____ Dolly.

• community

• data analysis

• reproduced

• series

Multiple Choice

At Del Rey School, our mascot is a dolphin, our school colors are white and blue, and we have Flag Ceremonies once a month.

Since we all share these in common, this makes us a ______.

• community

• data analysis

• reproduced

• series

Multiple Choice

Yann LeCun works for Facebook. He keeps track of what "click" on.

Using this information, Lecun figures out what advertisements you would watch.

LeCun is using _______ .

• community

• data analysis

• reproduced

• series

Step 1

Observation

Most science experiments are based on a problem or question that doesn’t seem to have an answer. ​

​-Your observations will lead you to a question: what, when, who, which, why, where or how.

The Scientific Method

Step 2

Question or Problem

What would you like to know about it? Why do you want to know it? Create a good question.

Your experiment's data/results will be used to answer this question.​

The Scientific Method

The Scientific Method

Find out more about the subject of your question.

• text- this includes books, magazines, brochures, etc.

• people- family members, teachers, etc.

• experts- professionals in the field, scientists, etc.

• internet​- be careful! Not all information on the internet is correct.

Research the Question

How do you create a good question?

The Scientific Method

• Word the question it so that it can be answered with experimentation.​

• Testable questions are about changing one thing to see what the effect is on another thing.

Example: What is the speed of a car going down the ramp?

Does changing the ramp affect the speed?

• Keep the question CLEAR and CONCISE!

Write the Question

How do you create a good question? Cont'd​

Step 3

Hypothesis

A hypothesis (plural hypotheses) is a precise, testable statement of what the researcher(s) predict will be the outcome of the study.

The Scientific Method