Designing Experiments

That bird has again left a mess on the window. Sheldon wants to clean it up, but ALL paper towels say they are the "best". Which one to choose?​

​What is a good experimen?

​Sheldon's Dilemna

​

What is a "good" experiment?

Your idea MUST be testable!​

Somehow, you must be able to look to side by side test your two ideas. Sheldon was confuse by the paper towels. What does "best" mean? Most absorbant? Strongest? Holds most water? Cheapest?

For an experiment to work, it must be SPECIFIC!​

Some text here about the topic of discussion

Multiple Choice

Are cats better than dogs? 

• testable 
• nontestable

Multiple Select

Which of these is a testable question? (Might be more than 1)

• Dr. Pepper is better than Pepsi

• You get more nutrients from a granola bar than Pop Tarts.

• Red cars get more speeding tickets than blue cars.

• Kobi Bryant was the best basketball player ever.

​Ok, lets be specific.

​The paper towel that holds the most water in the best.

​

​

That leads us to our HYPOTHESIS!

It is an IF - THEN statement.

IF this happens, then THIS happens!!!!​

​

Some text here about the topic of discussion

Multiple Choice

A possible explanation to a problem that has not yet been tested. 

• data
• theory
• hypothesis
• fact

Multiple Choice

Possible explanation for an observation that can be tested.

• Hypothesis

• Scientific Law

• Scientific theory

• Critical Thinking

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct hypothesis for "What effect does studying have on your test grade?"

• IF I study for hours, THEN my test grade will be better.

• IF I have a good test grade, THEN I will study.

• Good grades are from studying.

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct hypothesis for "How will exercising affect your health?"

• IF you have better health, THEN you will exercise.

• IF you exercise, THEN you will have better health.

• Exercising means you're healthy.

Multiple Choice

An experiment generally tests how one _________ is affected by another.

• Variable

• test

• scientist

• option

Multiple Choice

What is a factor that is measured for change in an experiment?

• control
• constant
• independent variable
• dependent variable

Multiple Choice

What is the factor that an experimenter changes on purpose?

• Dependent Variable
• Independent Variable
• Constant
• Control

Multiple Choice

Professor Cheerios wants to see if students who eat breakfast get better scores on tests.

What is it that Professor Cheerios is changing??

• The students test scores

• Whether students eat breakfast.

• What time of day the students take tests

• Where students are awake for his class.

Multiple Choice

Professor Cheerios wants to see if students who eat breakfast get better scores on tests.

What is it that Professor Cheerios is measuring??

• The students test scores

• Whether students eat breakfast.

• What time of day the students take tests

• Where students are awake for his class.

Observations

• There are two types of observations:

• Qualitative Observations: These are made by ‌acquiring information using your senses or with special equipment.

• Quantitative Observations: ‌is acquiring and recording numerical data.

​The Scientific Method:

• ​Has been used since ancient times.

• ​First mentioned in writing by Sir Francis Bacon (great name) around 1600.

• ​Developed so that every scientist could produce results that were repeatable by others questioning their validity.

​TEST THE HYPOTHESIS

• ​Look at the results of your experiment.

• ​Did the results PROVE your hypothesis correct?

• ​If yes.....move on to draw conclusions.

• ​If no.....make a different hypothesis and re-test.

​DRAW CONCLUSIONS / REPORT

• ​The hypothesis was correct because ........

• ​Should include data/reasons from the experiment that prove your hypothesis correct.

• ​Scientists then report out their findings!

• ​Their findings then undergo whats called PEER REVIEW!!!

​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_tovjfQtxk

Multiple Choice

A summary of the experiment that includes whether hypothesis was supported or not.

• Hypothesis

• Results

• Conclusion

• Independent Variable

Multiple Choice

What is an if....then statement that predicts the outcome of an experiment or how the Independent variable effects the dependent variable?

• Conclusion
• Materials
• Hypothesis
• Problem

Multiple Choice

Maya designed an experiment to answer the following question: How does the amount of water given to a lima

bean seed affect how tall it grows?

In this experiment, what variable should Maya CHANGE?

• the amount of water

• the kind of plant

• the type of soil

• the amount of sunlight it gets

Multiple Select

Maya designed an experiment to answer the following question: How does the amount of water given to a lima

bean seed affect how tall it grows?

Multiple answer!!!! Which things does Maya need to keep the same in her experiment?

• the amount of water each plant gets

• the amount of soil

• the type of plant

• the amount of sunlight each plant gets

Multiple Choice

Anthony designed an experiment to answer the following question: How does the temperature of water affect the time it takes for a sugar cube to dissolve?

Which factor should Anthony CHANGE in his experiment with the sugar cubes?

• the amount of water he uses

• the size of the sugar cubes

• the temperature of the water

Multiple Select

Anthony designed an experiment to answer the following question: How does the temperature of water affect the time it takes for a sugar cube to dissolve?

Multiple answers!!! Which things should Anthony keep the same in his experiment?

• the amount of water

• the size of the sugar cubes

• the temperature of the water

Multiple Choice

What "I" am testing in an experiment; what is being changed by the experimenter

• independent variable

• dependent variable

• constants

• control

Multiple Choice

The DATA collected in an experiment

• dependent variable

• independent variable

• problem

• conclusion