Scientific inquiry: a method STEP 1 STATE THE PROBLEM STEP 2 RESEARCH AND GATHER INFORMATION

FORM A HYPOTHESIS & TEST IT. T STEP 3 & 4 FORM A HYPOTHESIS & TEST IT. T A hypothesis is a possible explanation for a problem. Prediction Statement energy drink and plant (2:17)

STEP 5, 6 and vARIABLES ANALYZE THE DATA—Record observations into easy-to-read tables and graphs. Include all results, even unexpected ones. (NO BIAS) CONCLUSIONS- affirm or reject hypothesis and determine what to investigate next. VARIABLES (2:54) A variable is a quantity that can have more than a single value.

EXPERIMENT List variables— factors that might cause plants to grow bigger.

Which brand of fertilizer helps plants to grow the biggest? EXPERIMENT Which brand of fertilizer helps plants to grow the biggest? The brand of fertilizer A)is an independent B) Is a dependent variable?

SO THE FERTILIZER BRAND IS… What is the independent variable? What is the dependent variable? The variable you change to see how it will affect… Scientist is able to choose the independent variable. This changes according to the changes in the other variable. The scientist is not able to choose the dependent variable because it DEPENDS on …

SO THE FERTILIZER BRAND IS… the independent variable WHILE the dependent variable is the growth of the plant. (You don’t control growth-IT DEPENDS ON…)

Constants A constant is a factor that does not change when other variables change. Constants remain the same throughout the experiment. Examples—amount of sunlight, amount of water, room temperature, type of soil, plant type.

Control A control is the standard by which the test results can be compared. One plant has no fertilizer. This plant is the control.

Results of inquiry SCIENTIFIC THEORY A scientific theory does not develop from just one hypothesis, but from many hypotheses that are connected by a common idea AND explains observations or events Example: Kinetic Molecular Theory

Results of inquiry SCIENTIFIC LAW A rule that describes a repeatable pattern in nature, it doesn’t explain why or how the pattern happens, it only states that it will happen. Example: Law of Conservation of Energy

SO WHAT? Often, the purpose of a scientific investigation is to: develop new materials, New technology, discover new objects, find answers to questions.

Are science and technology the same? Science is acquiring knowledge. Technology is the application of science to help people. Sweet 80’s Picture

Evaluating Information It is important when given information that you identify facts and opinions and THINK critically about the information. Critical thinking is comparing what you already know with the information that you are given to decide whether you agree with it.