Sciences with TI-Nspire TM Technology Module F Lesson 1: Elementary concepts

TI-Nspire TM Technology In this lesson you will: Learn about the basics of inquiry-based learning; Find out what happens to helium filled balloons, when they go up into the air; Explore the Vernier DataQuest application; Examine Boyle’s Law. 2 | Lesson F.1

Scientific method The scientific method is a method of procedure that has characterized natural science since the 17 th century. It consists in a systematic observation, measurement and experiment, and the formulation, testing and modification of hypotheses. Scientific researchers propose hypotheses as explanations of phenomena, and design experimental studies to test these hypotheses. Robert Boyle ( ) 3 | Lesson F.1

Scientific method A linearized, pragmatic scheme is sometimes offered as a guideline for proceeding: 1.Define the question; 2.Gather information and resources (observe); 3.Form hypothesis; 4.Perform an experiment and collect data; 5.Analyze data; 6.Interpret data and draw conclusions that serve as a starting point for new hypothesis; 7.Publish results; 8.Retest (frequently done by other scientists). 4 | Lesson F.1

Inquiry based science This scheme is very important in inquiry-based learning, that has been of great influence in science education, where it is known as inquiry-based science. The National Science Education Standards call for students to conduct inquiry, and to know about inquiry. When students do inquiries based on this scheme, they use the same ideas as scientists do when they are conducting research. Students become 'mini- scientists.' 5 | Lesson F.1

Independent and dependent variables In the design of experiments, students have to deal with independent and dependent variables. The independent variable's values are controlled or selected by the experimenter to determine its relationship to an observed phenomenon (the dependent variable). In the experiment, an attempt is made to find evidence that the values of the independent variable determine the values of the dependent variable. 6 | Lesson F.1

Independent and dependent variables While experimenting the student will collect data and store these data in a table with two columns: the first column contains the values of the independent variable, the second column contains the values of the dependent variable. 7 | Lesson F.1 Independent Variable Dependent Variable

Example Imagine you wonder what happens with a helium filled balloon that you let fly into the air. How far would it go? 8 | Lesson F.1

Vernier Pressure Sensor To answer this question you have to investigate the relationship between the volume and the pressure of the gas in the balloon. To simulate this situation in science-class we can do an experiment by using a syringe, filled with air, that is connected to the Vernier Gas Pressure Sensor. 9 | Lesson F.1

Independent and dependent variables The independent variable in this experiment is the volume of the gas, the dependent variable is the pressure of the gas. While changing the volume of the syringe, the pressure will change. 10 | Lesson F.1 Volume (ml) Pressure (kPa)

Conclusion Because the value of the constant in the calculated column is about 2000, the mathematical relationship between the volume and the pressure for this experiment is given by: This relationship is known as Boyle’s law. It states that at constant temperature for a fixed mass, the absolute pressure and the volume of a gas are inversely proportional. The law can also be stated in a slightly different manner, that the product of absolute pressure and volume is always constant at constant temperature. 11 | Lesson F.1

Conclusion To conclude we can answer the starting question: Although the temperature will vary when climbing up into the atmosphere, we can expect that the pressure in the balloon will lower, so the volume will become bigger and bigger, and most of the balloons will pop. 12 | Lesson F.1

Dynamic links Thanks to the dynamic links between the applications of TI-Nspire, you can use the collected data in other applications. If you want to draw the best function, together with the data points, you can add a Data&Statistics page to the document. You can select the independent variable for the x-axis and the dependent variable for the y-axis. The graph appears on the screen. You can also add a function to compare the data points with the found relationship between the variables. 13 | Lesson F.1

Report To make a report of the experiment, TI-Nspire TM Technology can be a great help. Students can save data in a TI-Nspire TM document, Use the Notes Application to write down conclusions or Make a PublishView TM document to combine text, images and tables in one document. 14 | Lesson F.1

In this lesson you learned:  What is meant by the scientific method;  That students are stimulated to do inquiry based science;  That TI-Nspire TM Technology can be a great help in inquiry based learning;  How the Vernier DataQuest application can be used to do an experiment in an easy way;  How you can analyze data by using the Vernier DataQuest application;  That TI-Nspire TM Technology offers different ways of making a report of a science experiment. 15 | Lesson F.1

Congratulations! You have just finished lesson F.1! 16 | Lesson F.1