1. Scientific Problem Solving
Chapter 0

2. Preview Questions Why is an experiment important?
Does experimentation occur in all branches of science?
What is scientific inquiry?

3. 0-1: Scientific Inquiry Objectives:
Identify steps used during scientific inquiry
Explain what results should be gained through scientific inquiry
Define critical thinking
0-1: Scientific Inquiry

4. Understanding Science
Science: the investigation and exploration of natural events and the new information that results from these investigations
Everyone does this to some extent in their everyday life!

5. Branches of Science Physical science Physics & chemistry
Study of matter and energy
What would be some questions one might ask?

6. Branches of Science Earth science
Processes that occur on and within Earth
Also includes space science
What would be some questions one might ask?

7. Branches of Science Life science
Study of organisms and their processes
What would be some questions one might ask?

8. What is Scientific Inquiry?
Scientific investigations are usually to find out more about the natural world
Scientific inquiry is a set of skills and tools to answer questions or to test ideas
These skills can be used in any order
See page NOS 6

9. What is Scientific Inquiry?
Ask Questions
Observations often lead to questions—WHY? HOW?
Observations are the result of using one or more of your senses to gather information and taking note of what occurs
An inference is a logical explanation of an observation drawn from prior knowledge or experience—NOT directly observed

10. What is Scientific Inquiry?
Hypothesize and Predict
A hypothesis is a possible explanation for an observation that can be tested by scientific investigation
The possible answer to a question
A prediction is a statement of what will happen next in a sequence of events
Based on previous knowledge and observation

11. What is Scientific Inquiry?
Test Hypothesis and Analyze Results
Researching to find prior knowledge
Designing an experiment to test your hypothesis
Then go over data gathered to analyze your information
See if your data supports your hypothesis
Remember that the scientific method is not linear; you may have to go back and revise parts of your inquiry!

12. What is Scientific Inquiry?
Draw Conclusions
A conclusion is a summary of the information gained from testing your hypothesis
Results should be tested and retested many times before you can be certain!

13. What is Scientific Inquiry?
Communicate Results
I will argue that this is the most important step: let others know what you learned!
Other scientists will evaluate your work and test it
There are MANY ways to communicate information

14. What is Scientific Inquiry?
Unsupported or Supported Hypotheses
If the hypothesis is not supported, does that mean the experiment was a failure? Why or why not?
Think back to the goal of science

15. Scientific Theory
When hypotheses are supported through many tests and time, they can be considered a scientific theory
Explanation of observations or events
Based on knowledge gained from many observations and events
Often connects many hypotheses together
Despite being called a “theory”, it is the closest thing to “fact” that we have

16. Scientific Law
A scientific law is a rule that describes a repeatable pattern in nature
States what will happen, but does not explain it
What is the difference between laws and theories?

17. Results of Scientific Inquiry
WHY DO WE SCIENCE?
Develop new materials and technology
Technology: The practical use of scientific knowledge
Make new discoveries
Answer questions

18. Evaluating Scientific Information
What is “scientifically proven”?
Is there ever misinformation given out to the public?
How do we know what is right and what isn’t?
We need to use our critical thinking skills
Comparing what you already know with the information you are given

19. Evaluating Scientific Information
The fun part of science is that facts are facts, regardless of someone’s opinion
Look at the bottom of page NOS 10

20. Evaluating Scientific Information
Can science answer all questions?
Science cannot answer questions that deal with beliefs, values, personal opinions, and feelings
What are some examples of questions science CAN answer?
What are some examples of questions science CANNOT answer?

21. Review Key Concepts Vocab
What are some steps used during scientific inquiry?
What are the results of scientific inquiry?
What is critical thinking?
Science
Observation
Inference
Hypothesis
Prediction
Scientific theory
Scientific law
Technology
Critical thinking

22. 0-2: Measurement and Scientific Tools
Objectives:
Explain why scientists created the International System of Units (SI)
Explain why scientific notation is a useful tool for scientists
Demonstrate how tools, such as graduated cylinders and triple-beam balances, assist physical scientists
0-2: Measurement and Scientific Tools

23. Description and Explanation
Descriptions are spoken or written summaries of observations
Explanations are interpretations of observations
Know the difference!

24. The International System of Units
1960: Scientists decided they needed to use a worldwide standard for measurements in order to achieve better global accuracy
This system is called the International System of Units (SI)

25. The International System of Units
Base units are what basic measurements can be found with
Derived units (such as g/mL, m3) are based on the base units
Prefixes help larger and smaller measurements be easier to read by acting as factors of 10
See chart on NOS 13—KNOW THIS CHART

26. Measurement and Uncertainty
What is the difference between precision and accuracy?

27. Measurement and Uncertainty
What is the difference between precision and accuracy?
Precision is how similar repeated measurements are to each other
Accuracy is how close a measurement is to an accepted value
See pg. NOS 14

28. Measurement and Uncertainty
All tools have some room for error
Some tools can give more precise and accurate measurements than others
Why do you think a graduated cylinder is more accurate than a beaker?
We can estimate slightly beyond what is known

29. Measurement and Uncertainty
Scientific Notation
Sometimes we work with REALLY big or REALLY small numbers
Scientific notation makes numbers easier to read
Also helps reduce errors when counting zeroes

30. Measurement and Uncertainty
Practice!
Convert the following to scientific notation:
Convert the following from scientific notation:
3×108
5×10−4
6.7×105
9.8×10−9

31. Measurement and Uncertainty
Percent Error
There is no such thing as the “perfect experiment”; the goal is to reduce the error as much as possible
Percent error tells us how close to the expected results you are
Practice on pg. NOS 15

32. Scientific Tools
What are some common tools used by scientists?

33. Review Key Concepts Vocab
Why did scientists create the International System of Units (SI)?
Why is scientific notation a useful tool for scientists?
How can tools, such as graduated cylinders and triple-beam balances, assist physical scientists?
Description
Explanation
International System of Units (SI)
Scientific notation
Percent error

34. 0-3: Case Study Objectives:
Explain why evaluation and testing are important in the design process
Describe how scientific inquiry is used in a real-life scientific investigation
0-3: Case Study

35. The Minneapolis Bridge Failure
August 1, 2007: A bridge for Interstate 35W in Minneapolis, MN collapsed suddenly over the Mississippi River during rush hour
Scientists and the public wanted to know why this bridge collapsed

36. The Minneapolis Bridge Failure

37. Controlled Experiments
Investigators were called upon to determine what caused this collapse
They needed to use scientific inquiry to determine the problem
They developed controlled experiments
Tests how a single factor affects another

38. Controlled Experiments
Identifying Variables and Constraints
The first step is to find all of the variables, or factors that can have more than one value that can affect the outcome
The independent variable is the factor you want to test—only ONE at a time!
Changed by the scientists performing the experiment
The dependent variable is the factor you are observing or measuring during the experiment
Seeing if it responds to the change
Constants do not change in the experiment

39. Controlled Experiments
Experimental Groups
An experimental group is used to study how an independent variable affects a dependent variable
The control group contains the same factors as the experimental group, but the independent variable does not change

40. Simple Beam Bridges
There are different types of bridges that can be used to cross spans
Simple beam bridges have one horizontal beam across two supports
Simple and cheap, but will sag in the middle over long distances

41. Truss Bridges Supported only at ends
Assembly of interconnected triangular “trusses” to build strength
Beams and supports come together at gusset plates
The I-35W bridge is an example of this

42. Bridge Failure Observations
After victims were freed, the bridge was labeled where each part was found
Pieces were moved to a park and placed in their relative assembled positions to determine where breaks occurred
A video showing the collapse allowed scientists to determine where the collapse began

43. Asking Questions
What are some questions scientists might ask about why it failed?

44. Asking Questions
What are some questions scientists might ask about why it failed?
Was the original design faulty?
Were there problems with maintenance and repair?
Was there too much weight on the bridge?
Could it be more than one factor?

45. Asking Questions Gathering information and data
Qualitative data uses words to describe
Quantitative data uses numbers to describe
Investigators began gathering both kinds of data on the bridge
Bridge was built in 1967

46. Asking Questions Gathering information and data
1977—engineers noticed that salt used for deicing was weakening reinforcement rods
Added a thicker layer of concrete, adding about 13.4% more “dead load” (weight from the structure itself; temporary loads such as cars are “live loads”)
1998—further upgrades to boost safety increased the dead load by another 6.1%

47. Asking Questions An Early Hypothesis
During the collapse, there were some renovations occurring on the bridge
Four piles of sand, four piles of gravel, a 11,000 L water tanker, a cement tanker, a concrete mixer, and various other supplies were present, increasing the load by 20% (plus the usual traffic)
Hypothesis: the bridge failed because it was overloaded

48. Asking Questions Computer Modeling
We don’t have a second bridge to test on (and wouldn’t want to if we did), so how do we test this?
Computer modeling allows us to simulate and analyze the situation
Determined that the bridge was not overloaded

49. Asking Questions Revising the Hypothesis
Proving the original hypothesis wrong, scientists went back to observations
In 1999 and 2003, evaluations, including pictures, were taken on the bridge
The eleventh gusset plate was revealed to have been bowing, indicating a problem with the gusset plate that the inspectors and engineers missed

50. Asking Questions Revising the Hypothesis
The investigators found that some gusset plates were fractured, while others were intact
Gusset plates are meant to be the strongest points—none should fail
Some plates failed very early in the collapse
Formed a new hypothesis that the bridge collapsed because the gusset plates failed

51. Asking Questions Testing the Hypothesis
Investigators knew the load limits
Calculated the load at the time of collapse and divided it by the load to determine the demand-to-capacity ratio to determine the structure’s safety

52. Asking Questions Analyzing Results
Found that the demand-to-capacity ratio was particularly high on the eleventh gusset plate
The plate was about half of the thickness it needed to be

53. Asking Questions Drawing Conclusions
Over the years, modifications added more weight to the bridge
Traffic and construction added more load
If the gusset plate was designed properly, it would have held the load
Could not find any detailed gusset plate specifications in bridge plans
Therefore, could not conclude why the gusset plate was wrong, only that it could not hold up the bridge

54. Asking Questions
Results were published by the Federal Highway Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board
This provides scientists and engineers with information to help in future bridge designs
Communication!

55. Review Key Concepts Vocab
Why are evaluation and testing important in the design process?
How is scientific inquiry used in a real-life scientific investigation?
Variable
Constant
Independent variable
Dependent variable
Experimental group
Control group
Qualitative data
Quantitative data