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The Scientific Method

involves a series of steps that are used to find an

answer to a problem.

Do you remember the steps of the scientific method?

1)ObservationAH—Look at this!

Observe a problem or anything around you

Example:

Observe the 2 pennies in front of you.

Record your observation.Observati

onPenny

1Penny 2

Color Dull Shiny

2) QuestionDevelop a question or problem that can be solved through an experiment.

Q) Will lemon juice clean the dull coin?

3) Research

After you search the internet and the books for information you find out

that:Lemon, vinegar and tomato sauce can be use to clean silver and metal objects

Can you guess an answer to your question?

After you made your research,

3) HypothesisAn educated guess.

Lemon juice can be used to clean the dull coin.

NOW, lets test whether our hypothesis is

right or wrong.

4) ExperimentMake a test to test whether the hypothesis is

correct.1)Put the coin in the lemon juice.2) Wait for 5 min. and record the results.

5) Record results

Dull coin

After 5 min. in the

lemon juice

Shiny

In tables, graphs.

6) ConclusionThe answer to the

question (you state whether your

hypothesis was right or wrong)..

The lemon juice cleans the dull coin.

Any experiment has

Variables

WHAT ARE

Variables?

VariablesVariables are things that

vary and change

In any experiment there are 3 variables:

Independent

variables

Dependent

variablesControlled variables

Let’s look at each type….

Independent (input) variable

This is the thing that you decide to change.

Example 1:Investigating how a weight affects the length of an elastic band.

You decide the weight to put, so:Weight is the independent variable.

Example 2:Investigating how the rate of cooling of a beaker depends on the initial temperature.

You decide the initial temperature, so:initial temperature is the independent variable.

Students of different ages were given the same jigsaw puzzle to put together. They were timed to see how long it took to finish the puzzle.

Example 3:

You decide the ages of the students, so:Different ages of the students is the independent variable.

The higher the temperature of water, the faster an egg will boil.

Example 4:

You decide the temperature of water,

so:Different temperatures of water is the independent variable.

The temperature of water was measured at different depths of a pond.

Example 5:

You decide the depth of water, so:Depth of water is the independent variable.

This is the variable that changes as a result.It is the variable that you measure.

Example 1:Investigating how a weight affects the length of an elastic band.

You measure the resulting length of the elastic band, so:Length is the dependent variable.

Dependent (outcome) variable

Example 2:Investigating how the rate of cooling of a beaker depends on the initial temperature.

You measure the temperature every minute as it cools, so: temperature is the dependent variable.

Students of different ages were given the same jigsaw puzzle to put together. They were timed to see how long it took to finish the puzzle.

Example 3:

You measured time, so:Time taken to finish the puzzle is thedependent variable.

The higher the temperature of water, the faster an egg will boil.

Example 4:

You measure the time the egg takes to boil, so:Time is the dependent variable.

The temperature of water was measured at different depths of a pond.

Example 5:

You measure the temperature, so:Temperature is the dependent variable.