The Scientific Method ♫ A Way to Solve a Problem ♫

1. The Scientific Method♫A Way to Solve a Problem♫

2. Know how to use mathematical analysis, scientific inquiry, and engineering design, as appropriate, to pose questions, seek answers, and develop solutions. • Use the scientific method to solve a problem. • Develop a hypothesis. • Identify the control, independent variable, and dependent variable in an experiment. • Organize and interpret data and recognize patterns or trends. • Understand the difference between an observation and an inference. • Develop a conclusion based on the data obtained during the experiment.

3. Vocabulary • Conclusion: summary of results at the end of an experiment • Constants: factors that are kept the same during an experiment • Control: the experiment performed without the variable for comparison • Data: information recorded during an experiment • Dependent Variable: (Responding Variable) the factor that changes and you can not control during an experiment (how you measure your results)

4. Vocabulary • Hypothesis: an educated guess to answer a problem • Independent Variable: (Manipulated Variable) the factor that you control and change during an experiment • Inference: making a prediction based on observations and data • Observation: anything obtained using your senses • Scientific Method: a systematic (step by step) approach to problem solving • Variable: factor you are testing in an experiment

5. ScientificMethod problem solving • Systematic approach to ___________ _______________ • It is the steps someone takes to identify a question, develop a hypothesis, design and carry out steps or procedures to test the hypothesis, and document observations and findings to share with someone else. The Scientific Method (Lyrical Life Science) audio clip

6. 1. Problem (Question) • Stated as a clear question • What you want to find out

7. 2. Research • Gather information about the problem • Use books, internet, past experiences and experts in the field

8. 3. Formulate a Hypothesis • An educated guess to answer the problem • Based on research • Use the correct format starting with “I hypothesize”

9. 4. Design an Experiment • Step by step procedure to test the hypothesis • Needs a control group for comparison and an experimental group to be tested

10. 5. Record Data • Write down all observations and measurements taken throughout the experiment

11. 6. Analyze Data • Organize data into charts and graphs • Look for patterns and trends

12. 7. State a Conclusion • Summarize the results • Repeat the experiment for __________________ results accurate

13. Scientists share their experiments and findings with others. • Because they share their experiments and findings, scientists can learn from each other and often use someone else’s experiences to help them with what they are studying or doing.

14. Hypothesis hypothesize • Start with “I _______________” • ______________ the problem • Answer the _____________ • Explain ______ you believe this is the answer • I hypothesize if (restate the question) then (your educated guess), because (why this could be the answer). Restate problem why

15. Practice Writing a Hypothesis I hypothesize if plants are given fertilizer then they will grow taller because fertilizer contains nutrients. • What will happen if plants are given fertilizer? _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________ 2.What will happen if a plant does not receive sunlight? _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________ I hypothesize if plants do not receive sunlight then they will die because sunlight gives the plant energy needed.

16. Practice Writing a Hypothesis I hypothesize if I put a glass over a lit candle then the flame will go out because fire needs oxygen. 3.What will happen if I put a glass over a lit candle? _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________ • What will happen if you only eat fast fried food? _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________ I hypothesize if you only eat fast fried food then you will gain weight because fried food has a lot of calories.

17. 1. Independent Variable manipulated • Also called the __________________ variable • Factor being _________________ • Can only have ______ per experiment, otherwise you do not know which factor caused your results • Factor that you ________________ tested one control

18. 2. Dependent Variable responding • Also called the __________________ variable • Depends on the independent variable (factor you measure to determine the affect of the independent variable) • Factor that you _______ control can’t

19. Variables

20. Control variable comparison • Experiment run without the ____________ • Needed for _____________________

21. Constants or Controls same • Factors held the __________ during the experiment • Example: If you were to see the affects of sunlight on plants (diagram above), each plant would: • Be the _________ type • Receive the same amount of ______________ • Have the same type of _____________ • Receive the same amount of ______________ • Be kept at the same temperature same fertilizer soil water

23. Facts, Theories, and Laws truth • Fact - basic _____________ • Theory - most logical explanation based on _____________________ of many experiments, they can change as new information is obtained • Law - based on experimental ___________ that has been repeatedly tested and accepted as true, can change observations data

24. Group B without the juice Special Juice Productivity – number of stapled papers The juice did not work it actually slowed the workers.

25. Shower sprayed with water Coconut Juice Amount of Green Slime Coconut juice doesn’t clean green slime any better than water.

26. Subject A with original itching powder New Itching Powder Length of Itches Yes. 30 = 15 2 30 + 15 = 45 minutes

27. Flower Power Sponge Bob loves to garden and wants to grow lots of pink flowers for his pal Sandy. He bought a special Flower Power fertilizer to see if will help plants produce more flowers. He plants two plants of the same size in separate containers with the same amount of potting soil. He places one plant in a sunny window and waters it every day with fertilized water. He places the other plant on a shelf in a closet and waters it with plain water every other day. (1) What did Sponge Bob do wrong in this experiment? Explain. (2) What should Sponge Bob do to test the effectiveness of Flower Power fertilizer? Write an experiment. Include the following in your experimental design:a.) Problem: b.) Hypothesis (as an if then statement) Too many variables - Didn’t put both in the same location and didn’t water them both at the same times. Will Flower Power fertilizer cause plants to produce more flowers? I hypothesize if plants are given Flower Power fertilizer then they will produce more flowers because fertilizer contains nutrients for the plant.

28. Flower Power Sponge Bob loves to garden and wants to grow lots of pink flowers for his pal Sandy. He bought a special Flower Power fertilizer to see if will help plants produce more flowers. He plants two plants of the same size in separate containers with the same amount of potting soil. He places one plant in a sunny window and waters it every day with fertilized water. He places the other plant on a shelf in a closet and waters it with plain water every other day. c.) Procedure (at least 5 good steps) • Get two of the same type of plants. • Place both plants on the same windowsill. • Give Plant A 5 ml of water daily. • Give Plant B 5 ml of water with Flower Power fertilizer daily. • Record the number of flowers on each plant weekly.

29. Sponge Bob Clean Pants Sponge Bob noticed that his favorite pants were not as clean as they used to be. His friend Sandy told him that he should try using Clean-O detergent, a new laundry soap she found at Sail-Mart. Sponge Bob made sure to wash one pair of pants in plain water and another pair in water with the Clean-O detergent. After washing both pairs of pants a total of three times, the pants washed in Clean-O detergent did not appear to be any cleaner than the pants washed in plain water. (3) What was the problem Sponge Bob wanted to investigate? (4) What is the independent variable? (5) What is the dependent variable? (6) What should Sponge Bob’s conclusion be? Does Clean-O detergent clean clothes better than water? Clean-O Detergent How clean the pants are Clean-O detergent doesn’t clean any better than water.

30. Super Snails Gary is not the smartest snail in Bikini Bottom and believes he can improve his brain power by eating Super Snail Snacks. In order to test this hypothesis, he recruits Sponge Bob and several snail friends to help him with the experiment. The snails ate one snack with each meal every day for three weeks. Sponge Bob created a test and gave it to the snails before they started eating the snacks as well as after three weeks. Analyze the data in the chart and determine whether or not the Super Snail Snacks create smarter snails! (7) Based on the data provided, do the Super Snail Snacks work? Explain your answer. (8) What is the independent variable? (9) What is the dependent variable? No, because there wasn’t a big improvement for all. Super Snail Snacks Brain Power – Test Scores

31. Krusty Krab’s Breath Mints Mr. Krabs created a secret ingredient for a breath mint that he thinks will “cure” the bad breath people get from eating crabby patties at the Krusty Krab. He asked 100 customers with a history of bad breath to try his new breath mint. He had 50 customers (Group A) eat a breath mint after they finished eating a crabby patty. The other 50 (Group B) also received a breath mint after they finished the sandwich, however it was just a regular breath mint and did not have the secret ingredient. Both groups were told that they were getting the breath mint that would cure their bad breath. Two hours after eating the crabby patties, thirty customers in Group A and ten customers in Group B reported having better breath than they normally had after eating crabby patties. (10) Which people are in the control Group? (11) What is the independent variable? (12) What is the dependent variable? Group B with the regular breath mint Secret Ingredient Breath Mint Smell of their breath

32. Krusty Krab’s Breath Mints Mr. Krabs created a secret ingredient for a breath mint that he thinks will “cure” the bad breath people get from eating crabby patties at the Krusty Krab. He asked 100 customers with a history of bad breath to try his new breath mint. He had 50 customers (Group A) eat a breath mint after they finished eating a crabby patty. The other 50 (Group B) also received a breath mint after they finished the sandwich, however it was just a regular breath mint and did not have the secret ingredient. Both groups were told that they were getting the breath mint that would cure their bad breath. Two hours after eating the crabby patties, thirty customers in Group A and ten customers in Group B reported having better breath than they normally had after eating crabby patties. (13) What should Mr. Krab’s conclusion be? (14) Why do you think 10 people in Group B reported fresher breath? The secret ingredient breath mint cures bad breath better than regular breath mints. They may have thought their breath was better when it may not have been because they thought they were also getting the secret ingredient mint.

33. Squidward’s Symphony Squidward loves playing his clarinet and believes it attracts more jellyfish than any other instrument he has played. In order to test his hypothesis, Squidward played a song on his clarinet for a total of 5 minutes and counted the number of jellyfish he saw in his front yard. He played the song for a total of 3 times on his clarinet and repeated the experiment using a flute and a guitar. He also recorded the number of jellyfish he observed when he was not playing an instrument. The results are shown in the chart. (15) What is the independent variable? (16) What is the dependent variable? (17) What should Squiward’s conclusion be? (18)Are the results reliable? Why or why not? Musical Instruments Number of Jellyfish Both the guitar and clarinet attract the most jellyfish. Avg. 3 12 7 12 Yes because the experiment was repeated a few times.

34. Super Bubbles Patrick and Sponge Bob love to blow bubbles! Patrick found some Super Bubble Soap at Sail-Mart. The ads claim that Super Bubble Soap will produce bubbles that are twice as big as bubbles made with regular bubble soap. Patrick and Sponge Bob made up two samples of bubble solution. One sample was made with 5 oz. Of Super Bubble Soap and 5 oz. Of water, while the other was made with the same amount of water and 5 oz. Of regular bubble soap. Patrick and Sponge Bob used their favorite bubble wands to blow 10 different bubbles and did their best to measure the diameter of each one. The results are shown in the chart. (19) What did the Super Bubble ads claim? (20) What is the independent variable? (21) What is the dependent variable? Super Bubble Soap will produce bubbles twice as big as regular bubble soap Super Bubble Soap Size of the Bubbles - Diameter of the Bubbles

35. (22) Look at the results in the chart. • Calculate the average diameter for each bubble solution. • Super Bubble= ___________cm • Regular Soap= ___________cm • b) What should their conclusion be? • (23)Are the results reliable? Why or why not? 11.5 x2 ____ 23.0 15.1 11.5 Super Bubble Soap produces bigger bubbles but not twice as big as regular soap. Yes because the experiment was repeated a multiple times.

36. 6th Grade Review Material • Volume • Amount of space an object takes up • Measured with a graduated cylinder or ruler • Units: liters, ml, or cm3 • Mass • Amount of matter in an object • Measured with a triple beam balance • Units: grams • Density • Amount of mass per volume • Used to identify an unknown substance • Units: g/ml or g/cm3 • Less dense objects float and more dense sink