Scientific Method, Hypothesis, and Data Representation in Science, Schemes and Mind Maps of Earth science

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Unit 1: Science Skills &

safety

Name: Block:

Science 9

Book 3: The scientific Method &

Graphing

PART A: SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY VOCAB

How do we use science in everyday life?

Key terms for the scientific method

Key Term Definition Example

Hypothesis

Variable

Independent Variable (manipulated variable)

Dependent Variable (responding variable)

Control (constant/controlled variable)

Scenario C.

Identify the:

1. Control group:
2. Independent (manipulated) variable:
3. Dependent (responding) variable:
4. What should Bart’s conclusion be?
5. How could Bart’s experiment be improved?

Scenario D.

Identify the:

6. Control group:
7. Independent (manipulated) variable:
8. Dependent (responding) variable:
9. Explain whether the data supports the advertisements claim about its product.

Identify the Independent and Dependent Variables with the MythBusters https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0jTMDtX4WY

Problem 1: Does adding dimples to a car increase its gas mileage?

What was the independent variable?

A. The dimple car B. The normal car C. Dimples or not

What is the dependent variable?

A. The number of dimples B. The gas mileage C. The speed

It was thought that the __________________ (the dependent variable) would depend on ________________________________ (the independent variable).

Problem 2: Are elephants afraid of mice?

What was the independent variable?

A. Whether or not there was a mouse B. The dung with the mouse C. The elephant’s reaction

What is the dependent variable?

A. The number of times the experiment was repeated B. The elephant’s reaction C. The number of elephants scared

Problem 3: Can a rock thrown from a lawn mower have the same force as a bullet shot from a gun?

What was the independent variable?

A. The measured force B. The object tested C. The air gun/rock group

What is the dependent variable?

A. The angle the rig arm went up B. The distance the object was shot C. The force created by the object

A. Experimental/Problem Question – How does fertilizer affect plant growth?

Hypothesis: If _______________________________________________ then

____________________________ because __________________________________

Independent variable =

Dependent variable =

Controlled variable/s =

B. Chris wanted to test the effect of diet pills on how tall the tomato plants in his garden would grow. He took two pots, filled them with dirt from the same bag, and planted four tomato plants in each. He watered one planter with tap water, and he watered the other planter with tap water mixed with dissolved diet pills. The plants were in the same location to ensure they got the same amount of sunlight, and the water was measured so that each pot received the same amount of water. He measured their height at the end of each week for eight weeks, and averaged the height of the four plants in each pot. He then graphed the results to show how the diet pills affected the height of the plants.

1. What is the independent variable of this experiment?
2. What is the dependent variable of this experiment?
3. What is the control?
4. List the constants in this experiment.
5. How many trials were ran for this experiment?
6. Write a hypothesis for this experiment in the if/then/because style.

ASSIGNMENT # 2 : Hypothesis & Variable Practice This assignment is to be completed below in the space provided.

Sally began to compare herself and Melissa to see what could cause the difference in speeds. She noticed that Melissa was taller and wondered if height affected speed. Sally predicted that taller people were able to run faster, but wanted to check her prediction. She asked her gym teacher if she could test her idea.

1. What question is Sally trying to answer?
2. What made her want to answer this question?
3. What is being measured or observed in this experiment?
4. Are the observations recorded in words or numbers?
5. What factor does Sally think might cause the measurement to change?
6. What parts of the experiment were kept the same throughout?
7. Is there a standard of comparison in this experiment (something she compared everyone to)?
8. How many times was the experiment completed?

C. During gym class Sally noticed that her friend Melissa always ran faster than her. Sally knew that they exercised equally, so she wondered what could cause Melissa to run so fast.

Sally measured all of her classmates’ height in centimeters and recorded it in her chart. Each classmate then ran one kilometer while Sally timed them with a stopwatch and recorded the data in seconds. She then began to review her data and look for the answer to her question.

INDEPENDANT STUDY LAB:

The Cricket Experiment

Some say that if you listen to the sound of a cricket chirping, you can determine the temperature. Is this true or is it just an urban (science) legend? Do any other factors affect how fast a cricket will chirp, such as humidity, wind, atmospheric pressure, or nearby crickets?

Website: biol.co/cricketsci

1. Complete the tutorial and fill in the blanks below as you go:

A. When scientists set out to solve a problem, the follow a series of steps frequently

referred to as the __________________________________________.

B. There are three important points to remember when stating or defining a problem: i.

ii.

iii.

C. A hypothesis must be the best explanation, ___________________________________.

D. Once you have made a hypothesis, you must __________________________________.

E. When you test a hypothesis, only ____________________________________________ That condition should be the same condition that was identified in the problem. This factor is called the independent variable.

F. No matter how many times your hypothesis is proved right, it is never ______________.

2. Now proceed through the cricket experiment, recording data and key observations.

A. State the research problem (question):

B. What are two pieces of information that you collected?

C. State the hypothesis using an if...then...because... statement:

D. List your independent variable:

Dependent variable:

Constants (controlled variables):

E. Observations: Describe what you observed during your experiment. Record any data that you collected (you can use the table below to organize your data):

Independent Variable:

---

Dependent Variable:______________

F. State your conclusions. I ndicate whether your experiment has supported or rejected your hypothesis. Be clear in your analysis about what factor(s) affected cricket chirps and exactly how chirps were affected (i.e. Did they increase, decrease or remain the same?).

What are three quantitative and three qualitative observations you could make of lemurs?

Quantitative:

Qualitative:

Example: A student observing a set of acorns noticed something unexpected about one of them. They noticed a white, soft-bodied insect eating its way out of the acorn.

Observations vs. Inferences:

Observations and Inferences

Directions:

1. Refer to each of the scenarios/pictures and list any observations.
2. Once you have listed your observations, try to come up with some inferences.

A. After Sue walked out of her house she heard a siren and smelled smoke

Observations Inferences

B. You come across this scene:

Observations Inferences

C. I am in the lab seeing if adding sugar to water affects how long it takes the water to boil. In the first test I boil 100 mL of water only in a beaker over a Bunsen burner and observe it takes 5:15 mins to boil. Next I add 2 grams of sugar to 100 mL of water and stir to dissolve, then boil making sure everything is the same. This time it takes 7:05 mins to boil the sugar-water mix. Next I add 4 grams of sugar to 100 mL of water. This time it takes 10:35 mins to boil the sugar- water mix.

Observations Inferences

ASSIGNMENT # 3 : Observations & Inferences Worksheet This assignment is to be completed below in the space provided.

Read through the procedure below:

Procedure:

1. Gather your materials.
2. Set up 10 rye grass plants in individual pots under a light source.
3. Number the plants 1 through 10.
4. Plants 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 will receive 50 mL of 1% Miracle Gro solution. (This is the experimental group)
5. Plants 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 will not receive Miracle Gro. (This is the control group)
6. Add 50 mL of water to each control plant daily. Add 50 mL of 1% Miracle Gro solution to each experimental plant daily.
7. Measure the height of the rye grass in cm every 3 days and record results in data table.
8. Repeat steps 6 and 7 for two weeks.
9. Clean up your materials.

Do you think this a good procedure? Why or why not?

Scientific Method - Scenarios

1. With a partner draw an experimental question from the hat.
2. Read through the question. My question is:

____________________________________________________________________________

3. Identify a control group, a dependent variable and an independent variable.

Control group:

Dependent variable:

Independent variable:

PART E: SCIENTIFIC procedures practice

Graphing is an important procedure used by scientists to display the data that is collected during an experiment.

There are three main types of graphs that we will study:

Pie/circle graphs : Used to show parts of a whole

Bar graphs: Used to compare amounts

Line graphs: Used to show the change of one piece of information as it relates to another. It shows the relationship _____________________________________.

PART F: Graphing & Analyzing

scientific data

Parts of a Graph

Title: Summarizes information being represented in ANY graph.

Independent variable: The variable that is controlled/manipulated by the experimenter, such as time, temperature, amount of fertilizer etc. This is placed on the ________ axis.

Dependent variable: The variable that is directly affected by the independent variable. It is the result of what happens when we manipulate the independent variable. This is placed on the ________ axis.

Scales for each variable: When you make a graph you need to know where to plot the points representing the data. In order to do this a scale is needed that includes all of the data points. You should try to make the graph take up as much of the graph paper as you can. Scales should usually start with __________ and climb in ___________________ intervals.

Legend: A short description of any colours or patterns used to represent/describe different features on a graph.

Making a line graph using the data below.

Table 1. Bamboo Growth Over Time

Time (days) Growth (cm)

0 0

1 90

2 180

3 270

4 360