Unit 1- Scientific Method

Panther Creek High School

The Basics
 Follow directions.
 Discuss only lab while in lab!
 Ask questions if unsure.
 Inform teacher of spills/cuts immediately.
 Wear goggles.
 Handle glassware and sharp objects carefully.
 Electricity + Water = BAD
 Fire + Paper/Hair/Clothing = BAD
 Thoroughly CLEAN all glassware & lab bench.
 Place everything back in baskets.
 Wash hands (to remove chemicals, bacteria).
 A systematic approach
Scientific Method for learning about the
world!
1) Make Observations – Identify a problem.
2) Form a Hypothesis
– Make a testable prediction.
3) Perform Experiments – Test your prediction.
4) Record & Analyze Data
- Organize data in graphs/tables
5) Draw Conclusions
- Create a Theory to Explain Data

6) Repeat Experiment - To ensure accuracy

7) Publish Results - Share with other scientists.
 Variables in the Experiment
 Hypothesis:
 Ex. If a plant is given more fertilizer,
then the plant will grow taller.

 Independent Variable (Manipulated Variable) In a controlled

 What you change. experiment, you
should change only
 Ex. amount of fertilizer
ONE variable!

 Dependent Variable (Responding Variable)

 What you measure during the experiment.
 Ex. height of plant

 Constants: What you want to keep the same (hold constant).

 Ex. amount of water, amount of sunlight, type of soil
 Designing the Experiment
 Hypothesis:
 If a plant is given more fertilizer, then the plant will grow
taller.
Water & 0 grams of fertilizer
 Control Group:  Used as a baseline for comparison.
 Experimental Groups:

Group 1: Group 2: Group 3:

Water & Water & Water &

5 grams of 10 grams of 15 grams of
fertilizer fertilizer fertilizer
 Think DRY MIX!

 Dependent Variable
 Responds
 Y-axis

 Manipulate
 Independent Variable
 X-axis
 Interpreting the Results
0.5

Plant 0.4
Height
(meters) 0.3
[dependent
variable] 0.2

0.1

0 5 10 15
Amount of Fertilizer (grams)
[independent variable]

Was the hypothesis correct? (The more fertilizer, the taller the plant.)
No… there is an optimal amount of fertilizer.
 Types of Data
 Quantitative: numerical data
 Ex. counts, measurements

 Metric System (SI units):

 What unit would you use
for each?
 Time: seconds
 Temperature: Celsius
 Length: meters
 Mass: grams
 Volume: liters, cm3
Types of Data (cont’d)
 Qualitative: observational data
 Ex. descriptions (color, shape), behaviors
Hypotheses, Laws, Theories
 Hypothesis: testable prediction for a specific experiment.
 If I drop 2 objects with different weights, then the heavier object will
hit the ground first.

 Scientific Law: a fact of nature

 Describes what happens, but does not explain why something
happens.
 Law of Gravity - All objects (regardless of their weight) fall at the same
rate.
 The sun will rise every morning and set every evening.

 Theory: an explanation based on many experiments.

 Theory of Gravity – Why are objects with mass attracted to each
other?
 Why does the sun appear to rise and set?
 Earth’s rotation