1. Introduction to Science for Earth Science Students
Measurement
The Scientific Method
Graphing

2. Lab Equipment Graduated Cylinder Used to measure volume
Proper way to read
Place graduated cylinder on a flat, level surface.
Read the liquid at eye level. Don’t look from the top and don’t look from the bottom.
Read the bottom of the meniscus (curve)
Unit = milliliters (ml)

3. Beaker
Uses
Container
Approximate volume. (This is not the most accurate way to measure volume.)

4. Flask Uses Container Mixing things
Not an accurate piece of equipment to measure volume

5. Balance Used to measure mass Unit = grams
When using, you must “zero” it.

6. Ruler Used to measure length
We will use either centimeters (cm) or millimeters (mm)
There are 10 mm in every cm

7. The Scientific Method

8. What is the scientific method?
A step by step method used to solve problems.
Steps:
State the Problem
Gather research about the problem
State a hypothesis
Test the hypothesis by doing an experiment
Observe and measure data.
Analyze data
Draw a conclusion
8. Repeat

9. State the Problem This is what you want to find out about.
Usually written as a question.
Ex. - What effect does caffeine consumed after 2 pm have on the ability to go to sleep by 9pm on a school night?

10. Gather research about the problem
Find out if other scientists have done similar experiments and what their results show.
You can…..
Read a newspaper/magazine article
What a TV program or documentary
Ask an expert
“Google” it.

11. State a hypothesis This is a possible explanation to the problem.
Must be able to be tested!!!
Written in an “If… , then… “ format.
IF I consume caffeine after 2 pm, THEN I will not be able to fall asleep before 9 pm on a school night?

12. Test the hypothesis by doing an experiment
An experiment is used to test your hypothesis.
Your experiment needs to be created so that it will either verify or disprove the hypothesis.
Hypothesis -If I consume caffeine after 2 p.m., then I will not be able to fall asleep before 9 pm on a school night.
Your experiment needs to have:
A day in which you do not consume caffeine after 2 pm.
A day in which you do consume caffeine after 2 pm.
A day in which you do not consume caffeine at all.

13. Experiments and Variables
A variable is something that you can change.
There are two types of variables.
Independent variables
Dependent variables

14. Independent Variables
Things “I” change in an experiment.
Plotted on the x-axis of a graph.
Listed in the LEFT hand column of a data table.
It is the “if” part of a hypothesis. (If you turn on music, then I will dance.)
The cause ( I am dancing because I can hear music.)

15. Dependent Variable The outcome; what you measured or the result.
Plotted on the y-axis
Listed in the RIGHT hand column of the data table.
The “then” part of a hypothesis. (If you turn on music, then I will dance.)
The effect. ( I am dancing because I can hear music.)

16. Important Things about your Experiment
Good experiments have 2 groups:
Control Group:
This group stays the same or is unchanged.
This group does not get the “special treatment”.
Used for comparison
Experimental Group:
This group is allowed to change.
Only one variable is changed at a time!!!

17. Observe and Measure Data
There are two types of data:
Quantitative: “Quantity”; Uses numbers
Qualitative: “Quality; Uses descriptions
For our example, you would need to record the following:
Amount of caffeine consumed on that day.
The specific time of day in which caffeine was consumed.
Source of caffeine you consumed.
Time you went to bed and the time you fell asleep.

18. Time of Latest Caffeine Consumption
Analyze Data
Place your data in a chart
Use a graph to determine the trends/patterns by the data.
Time of Latest Caffeine Consumption
Time you fell asleep
6:00 am
8:15 pm
11:30 am
9:15 pm
5:00 pm
1:00 am

19. Graphs There are 3 types of graphs: Line = shows trends
Bar = shows comparisons
Circle/Pie = shows percentages or parts of a whole

21. Draw a conclusion
State whether or not your hypothesis is supported based on the analysis of the data collected during the experiment.
Written as a complete sentence!!!
Example - On the days that I do not consume caffeine
after 2 pm, I am able to fall asleep before 9:00 pm.

22. Repeat
Repeat the experiment the same exact way you did it the first time. You should get the same results.
Others should be able to do exactly what you did and get the same results.

23. Remember….. Purple = Problem Rabbits = Research Have = Hypothesis
Eating = Experiment
Disorders = Data
And = Analyze
Can’t = Conclusion
Read = Repeat