The Scientific method

The Scientific Method

What is the scientific method?

• A method that scientists use to answer questions about the world.

• There are steps that they take in the scientific method.

​Step 1:

Make an Observation

​

The first step of the scientific process involves making observations.

For example:

What do you see, hear, taste, smell, feel? What did you notice about the rocks? Can you tell me about the block tower that you made? What do you notice about the plants?

.

​

​Step 2: Ask A Question

​The question is something specific that you want to learn.

Form questions from your problem. Think about what you want to find out.
Your questions have to be measurable.

​

Multiple Choice

Why is the sky blue?

• Good

• Bad

Multiple Choice

Which one is a good scientific question?

• Who is the inventor of an insulator?

• Which materials is the best insulator?

Multiple Choice

Which one is a good scientific question?

• How do different types of liquids affect the freezing rate?

• Is this liquid freezing?

Multiple Choice

Would giving a plant cola instead of water make it grow faster?

• Good

• Bad

Multiple Choice

Does talking to a plant help it grow?

• Good

• Bad

Multiple Choice

Which would the majority choose, Coke or Pepsi?

• Good

• Bad

​Some text here about the topic of discussion.

​Step 3: Research your problem

​

​Learn everything you can about the problem.

You can't solve a problem without gaining knowledge about the problem through books , google etc.​

​Step 4: Hypothesis

​

​Making a prediction to answer the question.

It is based upon​ the information you collected about the problem.

It is never a wild guess!​

It is never stated in the form of a question.​

.​

Multiple Choice

A hypothesis is

• The same as the problem

• A wild guess

• A possible solutiong to the problem based on hunch

• A possible solution based on data collected about the problem

Multiple Choice

A hypothesis is stated in the form of a question

• True

• False

​Step 5: Test the Hypothesis/ experiment

​

​A hypothesis must be tested in order to prove if it is the correct answer or not.

A hypothesis is proven by conducting an experiment.

In order to conduct an experiment you must identify the independent and dependent variables and the controls.​

What are the different Types of Variables?

​Independent Variable

​An independent variable is what you are changing in the experiment .

​Dependent Variable

​Anything in an experiment that could be changed but is kept the same

​Control variables

Types of Variables

Some text here about the topic of discussion

​The results of the experiment. what is beign measured

​Some text here about the topic of discussion.

​Step 6: Collect and Analyze Data

​

​Data must be collected during the experiment. This data will be used to determine if you hypothesis is correct or not.

There are 2 types of data

• Quantitative - Data you measure

  ​

• Qualitative - Data used to describe something​

  ​

​what are Types of data

During an experiment, you measure how much each variable changes. At the end, we have a lot of data that needs to be put in a format that makes it easy for people to understand. For this, scientists use data tables, charts and graphs.

​

​Analysing data

​Step 7: Conclusion
Determine if your hypothesis is correct

​What do you do if your hypothesis is wrong?​

​Based on the data collected in the experiment you will decide if your hypothesis (possible answer to the problem) is correct or not.

​What to do if your hypothesis is wrong.

​

• ​Go back and do some more research.

• Form a new hypothesis

• Conduct a new experiment

• Record and analyze data

• Form a new conclusion.​

Multiple Choice

Which of the following should be done if the experiment proves that the hypothesis is wrong.

• Form a new hypothesis based on the experiment that was conducted

• Change the old hypothesis to make it fit the results

• Give up. There's no use trying

• Go back and do more research, form a new hypothesis and conduct a new experiment

Reorder

Put the steps of the scientific method in order.

• Ask a question

• Research

• Make a hypothesis

• Experiment

• Conclusion

1

2

3

4

5

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Multiple Choice

If you conduct an experiment where you place 5 of the same red candies in different types of soda, all in the same amount of liquid and same type cups, what is the independent variable?  

• Kind of soda

• Type of cup

• Amount of soda

• Color of candy

Multiple Choice

A student is planning an experiment to find out how the height from which he drops a ball affects how high the ball bounces. The dependent variable is the _____.

• Diameter of the ball

• Force acting on the ball

• Height that the ball bounces

• Height from which the ball is dropped

Multiple Choice

Which is the best definition for an independent variable?

• The variables that you need to keep the same for each test. 

• The  variable that you are measuring

• The variable that you are changing or comparing.

• The answer to your testable question

Multiple Choice

Ms. S set up an experiment to see how the mass of a ball affects the distance it rolls off a ramp. What is the dependent variable?

• Distance traveled by the ball

• Height of the ramp

• Mass of the ball

• Where the experiment took place.

Multiple Choice

You want to figure out if Miracle Gro really works. You have 2 tomato plants and decide to test using them. You put them in the same type of pot, same amount of dirt, same type of plant, same soil and give them the same amount of water and sunlight. The only exception between the two is that Plant A gets Miracle Gro added to its water while Plant B has no Miracle Gro. At the end of 4 weeks you will measure both plants for height and mass. What is the independent variable?

• dirt

• miracle gro

• tomato plants

• plant height and mass

Multiple Choice

You want to figure out if Miracle Gro really works. You have 2 tomato plants and decide to test using them. You put them in the same type of pot, same amount of dirt, same type of plant, same soil and give them the same amount of water and sunlight. The only exception between the two is that Plant A gets Miracle Gro added to its water while Plant B has no Miracle Gro. At the end of 4 weeks you will measure both plants for height and mass. What is the dependent variable?

• plant height and mass

• miracle gro

• sunlight

• water

Multiple Choice

You want to figure out if Miracle Gro really works. You have 2 tomato plants and decide to test using them. You put them in the same type of pot, same amount of dirt, same type of plant, same soil and give them the same amount of water and sunlight. The only exception between the two is that Plant A gets Miracle Gro added to its water while Plant B has no Miracle Gro. At the end of 4 weeks you will measure both plants for height and mass. What is the control group?

• plant A

• plant B

• miracle gro

• water

Multiple Choice

You want to figure out if Miracle Gro really works. You have 2 tomato plants and decide to test using them. You put them in the same type of pot, same amount of dirt, same type of plant, same soil and give them the same amount of water and sunlight. The only exception between the two is that Plant A gets Miracle Gro added to its water while Plant B has no Miracle Gro. At the end of 4 weeks you will measure both plants for height and mass. Which of these is NOT a constant in this experiment?

• dirt

• water

• sunlight

• miracle gro

Multiple Choice

You want to figure out what type of laundry detergent works best. You use three different white t-shirts and stain them with the same grape juice stain. You wash one with TIDE brand (which is your normal washing detergent), one in GAIN brand detergent and one with SUN brand detergent. What is the independent variable?

• laundry detergent

• washing machine

• white t-shirt

• grape juice

Multiple Choice

Sarah wants to find out if temperature has an effect on the growth of bread mold. She grew mold in nine petri dishes containing the same amount and type of nutrients. Three were kept 0C, three were kept at 90C and three were kept at 27C (room temperature). The containers were examine and the growth of the bread mold was recorded each Friday for five weeks. What is the independent variable?

• mold

• temperature

• petri dishes

• bread