Methods of ScienceMethods of Science

What is the Scientific Method?What is the Scientific Method?

Why use the scientific method?Why use the scientific method?

It’s a planned, organized approach to It’s a planned, organized approach to problem solving.problem solving.

The Scientific MethodThe Scientific Method

Identify a problem/questionIdentify a problem/questionResearch problemResearch problemDevelop a hypothesisDevelop a hypothesis

Suggested explanation for and observationSuggested explanation for and observationTest it by experimentingTest it by experimenting

What makes a good experiment?What makes a good experiment?

Change only one variable at a time.Change only one variable at a time. Independent variable Independent variable

Factor manipulated by the experimentFactor manipulated by the experiment

Dependent variableDependent variableChanges if the independent variable is changedChanges if the independent variable is changed

The Scientific MethodThe Scientific Method Identify a problem/questionIdentify a problem/question Research problemResearch problem Develop a hypothesisDevelop a hypothesis

Your idea of what will happenYour idea of what will happen Test it by experimentingTest it by experimenting Analyze resultsAnalyze results

Record all informationRecord all information Organize your information for sharing (graphs, charts, Organize your information for sharing (graphs, charts,

etc.)etc.) Draw conclusionsDraw conclusions

May contradict your hypothesis.May contradict your hypothesis.

Problem SolvingProblem SolvingThe students in band had worked hard to raise money to The students in band had worked hard to raise money to

purchase new uniforms. The students were concerned purchase new uniforms. The students were concerned about how hot they would get during football games and about how hot they would get during football games and parades. Gerome determined which color of uniform parades. Gerome determined which color of uniform was the coolest. He designed a scientific experiment to was the coolest. He designed a scientific experiment to determine which color absorbed the least amount of determine which color absorbed the least amount of heat. He obtained fabric samples of each color. He cut heat. He obtained fabric samples of each color. He cut the samples the same size and folded them into pickets. the samples the same size and folded them into pickets. Then, he placed a thermometer inside each pocket and Then, he placed a thermometer inside each pocket and placed them in the sun. After recording the temperature placed them in the sun. After recording the temperature of each sample after a set period of time, he was able to of each sample after a set period of time, he was able to determine which color was best.determine which color was best.

In your group discuss: How did Gerome use the scientific In your group discuss: How did Gerome use the scientific method in his experiment?method in his experiment?

Using the Scientific MethodUsing the Scientific Method

In your groups, design on paper an In your groups, design on paper an experiment that would test some aspect of experiment that would test some aspect of Earth science.Earth science.

Give details as to how you would carry out Give details as to how you would carry out your experiment.your experiment.

Think about what variables you could Think about what variables you could change and how it would effect your result.change and how it would effect your result.

MeasurementMeasurement

Using only your hand as a measuring Using only your hand as a measuring device, measure the length of your device, measure the length of your textbook, then compare measurements in textbook, then compare measurements in your group.your group.

Now using a ruler, measure again, and Now using a ruler, measure again, and compare.compare.

Infer and describe the advantages of using Infer and describe the advantages of using standard measuring devices.standard measuring devices.

MeasurementMeasurement

Systeme International d’Unites (SI) Systeme International d’Unites (SI) Standard system of measurement used by Standard system of measurement used by

scientistsscientists

MeasurementMeasurement DefinitionDefinition Standard Standard UnitUnit

LengthLength The distance between The distance between two objectstwo objects

Meter (m)Meter (m)

WeightWeight The gravitational force The gravitational force on an objecton an object

Newtons Newtons (N)(N)

MassMass The amount of matter in The amount of matter in an objectan object

Grams (g)Grams (g)

AreaArea The amount of surface The amount of surface within a set boundarywithin a set boundary

Square Square meter (mmeter (m22))

VolumeVolume The amount of space The amount of space occupied by and object occupied by and object

Cubic Cubic meter (mmeter (m33))

MeasurementMeasurement DefinitionDefinition Standard Standard UnitUnit

DensityDensity The amount of matter The amount of matter that occupies a given that occupies a given spacespace

Grams per Grams per cubic cubic centimeter centimeter (g/cm(g/cm33))

TimeTime The interval between The interval between two eventstwo events

Seconds Seconds (s)(s)

TemperatureTemperature The average vibrations The average vibrations of the particles that of the particles that make up a materialmake up a material

Celsius (C)Celsius (C)

Common SI UnitsCommon SI Units

LengthLength Meter (m)Meter (m)

Kilometer (km)Kilometer (km)

Decimeter (dm)Decimeter (dm)

Centimeter (cm)Centimeter (cm)

Millimeter (mm)Millimeter (mm)

Micrometer (μm)Micrometer (μm)

Nanometer (nm)Nanometer (nm)

1km = 1000m1km = 1000m

1dm = 0.1m1dm = 0.1m

1cm = 0.01m1cm = 0.01m

1mm = 0.001m1mm = 0.001m

1μm = 0.000001m1μm = 0.000001m

1nm = 0.000000001m1nm = 0.000000001m

What measure would I use to measure the What measure would I use to measure the distance across the US? A hammer? The distance across the US? A hammer? The Washington Monument? A dime?Washington Monument? A dime?

Common SI UnitsCommon SI Units

VolumeVolume Cubic meter (mCubic meter (m33))

Cubic centimeter Cubic centimeter (cm(cm33))

Liter (L)Liter (L)

Milliliter (mL)Milliliter (mL)

1 cm1 cm3 3 = 0.000001 m= 0.000001 m33

1L = 1dm1L = 1dm33 = 0.001m = 0.001m33

1mL = 0.001L =1 cm1mL = 0.001L =1 cm33

MassMass Kilogram (kg)Kilogram (kg)

Gram (g)Gram (g)

Milligram (mg)Milligram (mg)

1g = 0.001 kg1g = 0.001 kg

1mg = 0.000001kg1mg = 0.000001kg

Common SI UnitsCommon SI Units

TemperatureTemperature Kevin (K)Kevin (K)

Celsius (ºC)Celsius (ºC)

0ºC = 273 K0ºC = 273 K

Temperatures are often reported for the public Temperatures are often reported for the public weather information in the non-SI unit of the weather information in the non-SI unit of the Fahrenheit scale, not the Celsius scale. You can Fahrenheit scale, not the Celsius scale. You can change the temperature reading by conversion.change the temperature reading by conversion.

ºC = ºC = (ºF – 32)(ºF – 32) ºF = 1.8 (ºC) + 32 ºF = 1.8 (ºC) + 32

1.81.8

85 ºF -40 ºC 39 ºF85 ºF -40 ºC 39 ºF

Scientific NotationScientific Notation

A shorthand way to write extremely large A shorthand way to write extremely large or small numbersor small numbersWritten as the product of two numbersWritten as the product of two numbersThe first number must be greater to or equal The first number must be greater to or equal

to one but less than ten (1 ≤ x ≥ 10)to one but less than ten (1 ≤ x ≥ 10)The second number is written as a power of The second number is written as a power of

ten (10ten (10xx))

Scientific NotationScientific Notation

5,974,200,000,000,000,000,000,0005,974,200,000,000,000,000,000,00090,000,000,00090,000,000,0000.00000000010.0000000001

7.3 x 107.3 x 1088

9.415 x 109.415 x 1088