Transcript Scientific Method

Scientific Method
Definition


The Scientific method, is a method of
investigation involving observations to test
scientific hypothesis.
There are 5 steps to the scientific method:





State the problem
Make a hypothesis
Design an experiment to test your hypothesis
Observe and record data
State your conclusion
Examples


Lets go ahead and put the scientific method to
work.
Problem- (Your house plants are unhealthy
looking/dying). How can I make plants grow
better?

Hypothesis- (educated guess you make about
the problem). I believe that since plants are
green, they will grow better in green light.
Experimental Design


Procedure- (design how you want to test
your hypothesis). I will place one plant in
white natural light, and another plant in
green light for 2 weeks.
Variables- are things that have an effect on
your experiment. There are 4 main variables
to consider when testing your hypothesis.
Variables


Constant variables: Things that have to
stay the same for everything being tested
throughout the experiment. (Each plant must
have the same: amount of water, brand of
potting soil, size of pot etc.).
Control : is the thing you compare your
results to. Your control variable is the
variable that is not manipulated. (The
variable that is kept in its natural state). The
plant growing under natural white light is our
control.
Variables

Independent Variable: is the variable that is being
manipulated/changed. The color of light is the
independent variable is this experiment.

Dependent Variable: is the variable that will be
affected by the independent variable. The plants
(plant growth) are the dependent variable.

*Think about the independent variable as the cause,
and the dependent variable as the effect. The color
of light (cause), will determine how well the plant
grows (effect).
Observations


There are two types of
observations you can make
while performing an
experiment: qualitative
observations and
quantitative observations.
Qualitative observations
deal with your senses. For
example, how something
looks, smells, taste, feels
etc. The leaves are
yellowish, and rough/dry to
the touch.

Quantitative
observations deal with
number amounts. After 2
weeks days the plant in
green light lost a total of 12
leaves, while the control
plant grew ½ inch and
gained 3 new leaves.
Conclusion!


After you have recorded and graphed you
results, you must conclude whether you
hypothesis was correct or incorrect.
Conclusion: According to my observations,
my hypothesis was incorrect. Plants do not
grow better in green light.