Transcript Science in Action A. Scientific Methods

Table of Contents
Chapter 1: The Nature of Science
Section 1-2 Science in Action
Ch 1-2 Science in Action
A. Scientific Methods
1. Step-by-step procedures of scientific problem
solving are called scientific methods.
2. Solving any problem
scientifically involves
several steps.
3. The steps used can
vary from situation
to situation and
aren’t always done
in the same order.
Ch 1-2 Science in Action
A. Scientific Methods
.
Ch 1-2 Science in Action
B. Recognize the Problem
1. The first step in using a scientific approach to
solving a problem is recognizing a problem.
2. A scientific problem is a question that can be
answered using scientific methods.
3. To solve a problem, scientists must do
research using various sources of
information.
Ch 1-2 Science in Action
C. Observe
1. In order to be able to answer the question,
a scientist needs to plan and carry out an
experiment.
2. First, he or she must make and record
careful observations about the subject.
Ch 1-2 Science in Action
C. Observe
3. Observations can be bits of information you
gather with your senses.
4. Most scientific
observations are made
with your eyes and ears.
5. You also can observe with
your senses of touch, taste,
and smell.
Ch 1-2 Science in Action
D. Infer
1. Observations often lead to inferences.
2. An inference is a conclusion based on
what you observe.
Ch 1-2 Science in Action
E. Form a Hypothesis
1. After a problem is identified, a scientist
might make a hypothesis.
2. A hypothesis (hi PAH thuh sus) is a
statement that can be tested.
3. Hypotheses are based on observations,
research, and prior knowledge of a problem.
4. Sometimes more than one hypothesis can
be developed.
Ch 1-2 Science in Action
E. Form a Hypothesis
5. Hypotheses differ from two other scientific
statements—scientific theories and scientific
laws.
Ch 1-2 Science in Action
F. Test Your Hypothesis
1. An experimental investigation is a series
of carefully planned steps used to test a
hypothesis.
2. In any experiment, it’s important to carefully
consider what resources you will use and
how to conserve them.
3. It’s also important to keep everything the
same except for the item or variable you are
testing so that you’ll know which variable
caused the results.
Ch 1-2 Science in Action
F. Test Your Hypothesis
4. A variable that you change in an
experiment is called
the independent
variable.
5. For example, in an
experiment, similarsized fig plants
received the same
amount of sunlight.
Ch 1-2 Science in Action
F. Test Your Hypothesis
6. They were planted in similar containers
with the same type
and amount of soil.
7. The hypothesis to
test is that fig
plants grow best
when watered only
once a week.
Ch 1-2 Science in Action
F. Test Your Hypothesis
8. The independent variable is the number of
times he waters each plant in a week.
9. The growth of the plants is the dependent
variable.
10. A dependant variable is a variable, or
outcome, that depends on what happens in
the experiment when the independent
variable is used.
Ch 1-2 Science in Action
G. Plan the Experiment
1. In order to test only one variable at a time,
scientists often use constants.
2. Constants are factors in an experiment that
stay the same.
Ch 1-2 Science in Action
G. Plan the Experiment
3. Some experimental investigations also have
a control. A control is a standard used for
comparison.
4. If a scientist wished to study the chemical
makeup of a soil sample. A control soil—
one of known chemistry— could be
analyzed first.
5. That way, data from the sample of interest
could be directly compared to data from the
control soil.
Ch 1-2 Science in Action
H. Do the Experiment
1. In the fig plant experiment, plant A would
only be watered once, at the beginning of
the experiment.
2. A second fig plant, plant B, would get
watered everyday.
3. The third fig plant, plant C, would get
watered once each week. The experiment
would last one month.
Ch 1-2 Science in Action
H. Do the Experiment
4. Tables can be used for recording observations.
5. These will list each plant and the number
of times it was to be watered.
Plant
A
B
C
Date
Plant
Leaf
Watered Height Color
9/3/2014
10.5
Green
Number of
Leaves
Dropped
0
Ch 1-2 Science in Action
H. Do the Experiment
6. Observations, which would include the height
of each plant, the color of its leaves, and the
number of leaves it dropped, if any, should be
recorded.
Plant
A
B
C
Date
Plant
Leaf
Watered Height Color
9/3/2014
10.5
Green
Number of
Leaves
Dropped
0
Ch 1-2 Science in Action
I. Analyze Your Data
1. Data are collected during any scientific study.
2. Some data are numeric values such as
the length of an object or the temperature
of a liquid.
3. Other data you collect may include
observations that use adjectives and phrases
such as faster, smaller, not as well as, and
greener.
4. An experimenter must record and study the
data collected before he or she can draw
conclusions about an experiment.
Ch 1-2 Science in Action
I. Analyze Your Data
5. By the end of the month in the fig experiment,
the leaves still left on the plant that was watered
only once were brown and shriveled. It had lost
most of its leaves.
6. The plant that was
watered everyday had
a few leaves left on its
branches, but these
leaves didn’t look too
healthy.
Ch 1-2 Science in Action
I. Analyze Your Data
7. The plant that was watered once each
week had grown the tallest.
8. Many healthy
green-andwhite leaves
extended from
its branches.
Ch 1-2 Science in Action
J. Draw Conclusions and Communicate
1. A conclusion is a statement based on what
is observed.
2. It can be concluded in the fig experiment that
not watering a plant enough causes the leaves
to dry out and die.
3. Watering a plant too much also causes the
leaves to die.
4. Watering the plant once a week seems to be the
best schedule, of those tested, for a fig plant.
Ch 1-2 Science in Action
J. Draw Conclusions and Communicate
5. The hypothesis was supported.
6. But in order to make sure his conclusions
were valid, he should repeat his experiment.
7. An important step
in the scientific
process is to
communicate the
results of an
investigation.
Ch 1-2 Science in Action
K. Laboratory Safety
• In your science class, you will perform many
types of investigations.
• However,
performing
scientific
investigations
involves more
than just
following
specific steps.
Ch 1-2 Science in Action
K. Laboratory Safety
• You also must learn how to
keep yourself and those
around you safe by obeying
the safety symbol warnings.
Ch 1-2 Science in Action
L. Good Safety Habits
1. Find and follow all safety symbols before
you begin and investigation.
2. Always wear an apron and goggles to protect
yourself from chemicals, flames, and pointed
objects.
3. Keep goggles on until activity,, cleanup, and
hand washing are complete.
Ch 1-2 Science in Action
L. Good Safety Habits
4. Always slant test tubes away from yourself
and others.
5. Never eat, drink, or put on make up in the lab.
6. Report all accidents to your teacher.
7. Always wash your hands after working in the
lab.
Section Check
Question 1
List the steps in the scientific method.
Section Check
Question 2
What is an independent variable in an
experiment?
Section Check
Question 3
Compare and contrast an observation and an
inference.
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