Introduction to Scientific Inquiry (Ch. 00) Day 1 Notes(WE’RE NOT IN THE BOOK ANYMORE, SO YOU JUST HAVE TO TRUST MR. KUHLES…)

What is the Scientific Method?The Scientific Method is a consistent, methodical process scientists use to answer questions they have about the world around them.

The Method relies upon objective, data-supported evidence to prove hypotheses

The Method is NOT a single path from point A to point B. Scientists constantly have to redo their experiments and/or hypotheses to answer a question.

This is how it works….

The best way to practice this is to do it… Scenario: You are getting ready to leave for school, and your car won’t start. What do you do?

Let’s use the SCIENTIFIC METHOD TO FIND OUT!

Scenario: You are getting ready to leave for school, and your car won’t start. What do you do?

1. Form a question (a question)◦ Why won’t my car start?

2. Think about what has happened in the past◦ You were up late testing out your new sound system last night.

3. Form a hypothesis (a statement)◦ The car won’t start because the battery is dead.

4. Create an experiment (collect data)◦ Think about a way to test your battery. Make sure the test can be repeated.◦ You a should always repeat an experiment at least 3 times◦ Use a battery tester to find the amount of charge in your battery.

5. Analyze Results/Draw a conclusion (does the data make sense)◦ The battery tester shows that your battery has 0 volts of charge. Does this make

sense?◦ What does a charge of 0 volts mean?

6. Was your hypothesis true?◦ Yes, after doing some quick research about batteries, you learn that a

charge of 0 volts means that the battery is dead.

7. Report Results◦ The car won’t start because the battery is dead.◦ You can talk to your parents and ask them for advice on how to charge

the battery or where you can go to buy a new one.

8. Celebrate! ◦ Use successfully used the scientific method to solve a problem on your

own, and now you can show off to your friends and your crushes that you know how to fix a car.

See? You have already used science in your life plenty of times.

Now I want you to create a group of 4. And use a problem that one of you has had this past week that can be solved with the scientific method. Fill out the same steps we did in the example problem. Be ready to share with the class!!!!!!

YES! NO!

Scenario: 1. Form a question (a question)

2. Think about what has happened in the past

3. Form a hypothesis (a statement)

4. Create an experiment (collect data)

5. Analyze Results/Draw a conclusion (does the data make sense)

6. Was your hypothesis true?

7. Report Results

8. Celebrate!

Use the prompts to help guide your group

Introduction to Scientific Inquiry (Ch. 00) Day 2 Notes(WE’RE NOT IN THE BOOK ANYMORE, SO YOU JUST HAVE TO TRUST MR. KUHLES…)

9/30/15

ObjectivesSWBAT explain the difference between deductive and inductive reasoning and apply these concepts to prove theories.

SWBAT create “variable trees” to organize and simplify new ideas and equations.

Strategies to break down background information

Every thinking process you do in this class can be classified into two types

Deductive Reasoning- using a “big idea” to explain a “small idea” Called the “Top-Down” approach Ex. Since all humans are mortal, and I am a human, then I am mortal. Ex. All cats purr. I own a cat. Then my cat must purr.

Inductive Reasoning- using a “small ideas or observations” to create a “big idea or theory” Called the “Bottom-Up” approach Ex. All cats that you have observed purr. Therefore, every cat must purr. Ex. I am a human. I am also mortal. Therefore all humans are mortal.

NOTE: YOU MUST COMBINE BOTH TYPES OF REASONING TO MAKE AN ARGUMENT OR PROVE A POINT. EITHER METHOD BY ITSELF CANNOT CREATE A COMPLETE PICTURE!!!

You Try… Work with a partner, and in your notes, create ONE to TWO examples of Deductive Reasoning AND ONE to TWO examples of Inductive Reasoning.

Be ready to share with the class in a few minutes…

Exit Ticket If all Do-Dos are Ho-Hos, and all Blip-Blops are Ho-Hos, are all Do-Dos Blip-Blops?

Answer yes or no, and explain if this is an example of inductive or deductive reasoning.

Introduction to Scientific Inquiry (Ch. 00) Day 3 Notes(WE’RE NOT IN THE BOOK ANYMORE, SO YOU JUST HAVE TO TRUST MR. KUHLES…)

10/1/15

ObjectivesSWBAT identify parts of scientific concepts and equations that can be broken down into smaller, more fundamental parts.

SWBAT create “variable trees” to organize and simplify new ideas and equations.

Variable TreesVariable trees is a technique that I came up with in the shower the other morning, and I hope/think it will be a powerful tool to help you solve problems in science.

Variable trees is a method to break apart and categorize parts of a scientific or mathematical equation to eliminate parts that you know or can MEASURE to find a single unknown variable.

IF YOU CAN MEASURE IT, YOU CAN KNOW IT!!!!

How to use a variable tree to make your own recipe to solve a problem.

VARIABLE TREE

1) Begin by choosing a formula that is the most appropriate for the problem we are trying to solve

2) Use what you know about each variable, and break down the VARIABLE you CANNOT MEASURE or ASSUME FROM THE WORDING OF THE PROBLEM

3) Add assumptions and measureable variables to the “RECIPE” on the right.

4) After the formula is broken all the way down, use your “RECIPE” to cook up a solution!

Vocabulary you need to know Variable- a letter or symbol that represents an idea, theory, or

numberEx. a, t, total time, d, Vf, , Vi

Assumption- a number or idea that you apply to a variable after using inductive or deductive reasoning

Ex. You assume Vi is 0 because the problem says that the object started from rest

Measurement- a number that you can get by using a tool, research, look-up table

Ex. You use a stopwatch and a meter stick to determine the distance traveled and time taken to travel that distance

Constant- a number for a variable that never changesEx. Gravity is a constant. It will always equal 9.8 m/s2

Let’s revisit our old favorite…PREPARE FOR SOME SCIENTIFIC MAGIC…

Question: Create an experiment to determine the average acceleration of a 10th grade student.

𝑎=𝑉 𝑓 −𝑉𝑖

𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒Step 1: Choose an Equation

a = cannot assume or measure, already broken down, so leave unknown

Step 3: Break down variables OR make assumptions or measurements OR Leave unknown

Vf = make assumption OR

break down

Step 3: Break down variables OR make assumptions or measurements OR Leave unknown

Vi= make assumption OR

break down

Step 3: Break down variables OR make assumptions or measurements OR Leave unknown

Total Time= can measure so add to

recipe

Step 3: Break down variables OR make assumptions or measurements OR Leave unknown

a, Vf, Vi, Total Time(4 variables)

Step 2: Define Variables

Vf

Step 4: Use Inductive/Deductive Reasoning to make an assumption OR Breakdown More OR Measure

Distance = can measure do add

to recipeStep 5: Cannot be broken down further so make measurement OR assumption

Time = can measure so add to recipeNOTE: This is a different variable from Total Time

Step 5: Cannot be broken down further so make measurement OR assumption

Assume Vi = 0. Based on the wording of the problem, assume that you want a

positive acceleration, therefore you can start from

rest.Step 4: Use Inductive/Deductive Reasoning to make an assumption OR Breakdown More OR Measure

USE RECIPE TO SOLVE YOUR QUESTION!!

Step 6: After you have only 1 unknown, use recipe to solve problem

Reasoning Practice! In the following example problems, use Inductive and/or Deductive Reasoning to simplify each problem.

1) Jeremiah walks 5 blocks North then 5 blocks South. What is his total displacement?

2) Jose rides it bike starts out riding his bike at 10 m/s, then comes to a stop in 2 seconds. What is his acceleration?

Use Reasoning or a Variable Tree to answer the following questions

3) If only forces cause an object to accelerate, and no forces are acting on a rolling ball, does it’s speed change?

4) The Law of Conservation of Energy states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, it only changes form. If a meteor has 3.56 x 1014 Joules of Potential Energy right when it enters our atmosphere, how much Kinetic Energy does it have right when it hits the ground?

5) If the nuclear bomb at Hiroshima released 6.00 x1013 Joules of energy, and the meteor from question 4 hits Reno, will Reno be destroyed?

Exit Ticket If the max height above the ground of an object shot from a cannon is equal to the following formula. What variables would go into your recipe to find the total height of an object? (HINT: You can’t measure the height of a cannonball as it flies through the air. And remember, gravity is a constant)

Max Height= (Vi x time) + (0.5 x gravity x time2)