1. Scientific Method Lecture Notes

2. 1. State the Problem/Question  Experiments begin by asking a scientific question  You carry out an experiment to answer the question.

3. 2. Hypothesis  A special kind of prediction that forecasts how one variable will affect a 2 nd Variable  Variable: Factors, conditions, and or relationships that can change or be changed in an event or system

4. (hypothesis continued)  Based on observation and previous knowledge  NEVER use the words : “I think” or “I believe” or “because….”

5. 3. Determine Materials  What will you need to test your hypothesis?

6. 4. Procedure:  The steps for the experiment  Always in numbered steps!!  Detail is crucial. (Someone should be able to repeat your experiment by only looking at the procedure)

7. Types of Variables  Every good experiment has only 1 experimental variable and many controlled variables.  Experimental/Tested Variable: the variable that you are testing  Control Variable: All variables that remain the same

8. Types of Observations  Quantitative observations: all observations involving numbers. Example: 20 g or 15m or 3.4 sec.  Qualitative observations: all observations involving descriptive words. Examples: The solution turned red.

9. 5. Data and Observation  Information you gather in the experiment  Usually presented in the following forms:  Data table  Labeled Diagram

10. 6. Conclusion  This section will begin with whether your hypothesis was correct of incorrect and explain why.  Explain any possible errors  Answers to lab questions belong with the conclusion

11. Lets see if you get it! The Story: Joe baked a cake for his mother’s birthday. When the cake was taken from the oven Joe noticed that the cake had not risen. Joe guessed that the oven had not heated to the right temperature. He set up this experiment to test his idea.

12. First, Joe put a thermometer in the oven. He then turned the oven dial to 350 degrees C. He noticed that he preheating light came on when the turned the oven on. He waited until the preheating light went out. The light’s going out indicated that the oven was up to temperature. Joe then read the thermometer within the oven. It read 350 degrees C. Joe concluded that that the oven was working correctly.

13. Why did Joe decide to do an experiment? 1. Question: What question did he make? 2. Hypothesis: What was Joe’s hypothesis? 3. Materials: What materials did he need to test his hypothesis? 4. Procedure: How did Joe do the experiment? 5. Results: What did Joe observe during his experiment? 6. Conclusion: Did Joe find that his hypothesis was correct or incorrect? What information backs this up?

14. 4. Procedure: How did Joe do the experiment? 5. Results: What did Joe observe during his experiment? 6. Conclusion: Did Joe find that his hypothesis was correct or incorrect? What information backs this up?