Why Did Visitors at Magic Mountain Get Sick? Last week, 36 people at Magic Mountain were rushed to...

Why Did Visitors at Magic Mountain Get Sick?

Last week, 36 people at Magic Mountain were rushed to the hospital due to stomach cramps, fever, and uncontrollable vomiting. You are a forensic pathologist who must figure out what made them sick.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=person+throwing+up&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=f188x_fQrpsb0M&tbnid=m7bINynhr-rUiM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffunny.ph%2Ffunny-pictures%2Fwhy-not-to-ride-roller-coasters-full%2F&ei=ALX5UeG0HIXA2QXTmYHYCg&bvm=bv.50165853,d.aWc&psig=AFQjCNEY57lBJqyABQXBPjSInb__VT0O9g&ust=1375405679534373

Thinking Like a Scientist: Observation

Scientific thinking begins with observation, the process of gathering information. List some observations about the pictures above that might help us in our investigation.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=magic+mountain+roller+coasters&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=iI7Jpg0wl3_aZM&tbnid=CiZf8M14YNb5eM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpikimal.com%2Famusement-park%2Fvs%2Fsix-flags-magic-mountain%2Fsix-flags-great-america&ei=GLj5UfHrDKGz2QW-9YCQAw&bvm=bv.50165853,d.cGE&psig=AFQjCNGONjliC0MsviifOr0W9fkPDHV_Ow&ust=1375406469595574

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=magic+mountain+crowds&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=-BDjo4DLDHiWAM&tbnid=oAqlu9s86Wg25M:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecoasterguy.com%2Findex.php%2F2013%2F04%2F27%2Fsix-flags-magic-mountain-trip-report-for-26-apr-2013%2F&ei=i7f5Ubz6O6a42wXZlICoCQ&bvm=bv.50165853,d.cGE&psig=AFQjCNFz2suI2CBmNb3E-qtfDW0BNwndZg&ust=1375406320003398

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=magic+mountain+food&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=-VLsoGTg3DasJM&tbnid=_AUteovgxlidxM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fao-ent.com%2F&ei=zLf5UfCcGIrH2wXtwIGABQ&bvm=bv.50165853,d.aWc&psig=AFQjCNFdX_QGjshf-abpc0oG5rIxRuUslw&ust=1375406400588611

Thinking Like a Scientist: Collecting Data

Data is the information that is gathered during observation. What type of questions could we ask that would help us gather more data?

- Did the sick people ride any roller coasters?- How many roller coasters did they ride?- Did the sick people drink alcohol that day?- How much alcohol did they drink?- What kind of food did the sick people eat?- How much food did they eat?

Thinking Like a Scientist: Data- Did the sick people ride any roller coasters?

- How many roller coasters did they ride?

- Did the sick people drink alcohol that day?

- How much alcohol did they drink?

- What kind of food did the sick people eat?

- How much food did they eat?

Most of them rode Full Throttle4-6 roller coasters each

Most of them drank Coronas

0-6 beers

They all ate BBQ ribs at the Yosemite Sam GrillThey all ate 16-20 oz of pork ribs







Most of them rode Full Throttle4-6 roller coasters each


0-6 beers


Quantitative data can be counted or measured







Most of them rode Full Throttle

4-6 roller coasters each


0-6 beers


Qualitative data cannot be counted or measured

Thinking Like a Scientist: Inference- Did the sick people ride any roller coasters?






Most of them rode Full Throttle

4-6 roller coasters each


0-6 beers


Based on the data, we can make an inference (logical guess) that the cause of the sickness was food poisoning.

Thinking Like a Scientist: Hypothesis

We now have a hypothesis (proposed explanation): the cause of the sickness was food poisoning due to tainted pork ribs.

We based our hypothesis on inference.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=vomit+amusement+park&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=_4516DOzgAg43M&tbnid=N92Q_UHBMVHWsM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdisneyhumans.tumblr.com%2Fpost%2F25888455169&ei=UsH5Ua76K4aJ2AWU0YDoDw&bvm=bv.50165853,d.aWc&psig=AFQjCNHOH7aJK5v8LMILYOJT3kK8s-F_sA&ust=1375408846545982

How could we test this hypothesis?

Analysis of meat shows traces of the parasitic worm Trichinella. It is common, and is normally killed by cooking.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=ribs+food+poisoning&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=NTKrDOXx0L2qcM&tbnid=LPTkrnkIfUzNHM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fteamhess.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F07%2Frecipe-barbecue-ribs-in-crock-pot.html&ei=F8L5Uc_KJaji2wXjnoCABA&bvm=bv.50165853,d.aWc&psig=AFQjCNFTGr6qo22_SM05BLgISvRd-Ls7Lg&ust=1375409028408330

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=ribs+food+poisoning&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=kKL_G6o0QUOFzM&tbnid=d7Y-dUetWVVWOM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fforum.snipershide.com%2Fmaggies-drawers-bar-grill%2F196568-makin-bacon-lady-back-ribs-explicitly-delicious.html&ei=McL5Ucn_DYnF2wW-wICICw&bvm=bv.50165853,d.aWc&psig=AFQjCNFTGr6qo22_SM05BLgISvRd-Ls7Lg&ust=1375409028408330

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=vomit&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=Y_0giwFWud36_M&tbnid=YTINvcB37jhDwM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2Fgothamgirl%2F3148155493%2F&ei=ZcL5UZrABYn02gXJk4GQAQ&bvm=bv.50165853,d.aWc&psig=AFQjCNGlUdMDu7nlPSpO-P0C_vPpQtHKzA&ust=1375409115979073

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Trichinella_larvaeG.JPG

Our hypothesis is supported!

Can we now consider it a theory?

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=trichinosis&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=ZUE_i_FhNMeebM&tbnid=DcFP33cis-WH2M:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbioweb.uwlax.edu%2Fbio203%2Fs2009%2Fmaiers_andr%2FInteresting%2520Facts.htm&ei=LcT5UcfbD8Wt2QXp8IHgBw&bvm=bv.50165853,d.aWc&psig=AFQjCNFHZsftxY7okCnTysMXwGFClskGDw&ust=1375409558706742

Hypothesis vs. Theory

A hypothesis does not become a theory until it has been tested many, many times under different conditions. Our hypothesis is supported, but it is not yet a theory.

The meat company also supplies pork to Universal Studios and Disneyland.

Did anyone there get sick? Does their meat test positive for trichinella?

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=ribs+food+poisoning&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=kKL_G6o0QUOFzM&tbnid=d7Y-dUetWVVWOM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fforum.snipershide.com%2Fmaggies-drawers-bar-grill%2F196568-makin-bacon-lady-back-ribs-explicitly-delicious.html&ei=McL5Ucn_DYnF2wW-wICICw&bvm=bv.50165853,d.aWc&psig=AFQjCNFTGr6qo22_SM05BLgISvRd-Ls7Lg&ust=1375409028408330

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=disneyland&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=Qety0np_p7zv-M&tbnid=oC-eSlxskWPyaM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffssba.org%2Fdisneyland-adventure&ei=ZcX5UYmXOaPo2AW9p4GQDA&bvm=bv.50165853,d.aWc&psig=AFQjCNERrZoq3rkKVpT5BuRwYixKrZaZvg&ust=1375409884571424

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=universal+studios&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=_BfZ-h8vI4UYRM&tbnid=CqChi8aYN91bbM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.primetimeshuttle.com%2Fpromotions%2Fsummer-in-la.html&ei=qsX5UaGuG4in2AXu3IG4CQ&bvm=bv.50165853,d.aWc&psig=AFQjCNG2B09nKTrZqg22xrFl74Iwego6xA&ust=1375409950793133

Revising the Hypothesis

New data might emerge that requires us to revise our hypothesis.

We learn that 20 other people at Magic Mountain that day ate chorizo made from the same pork. They didn’t get sick!

Maybe it was the barbecue sauce?

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=barbecue+sauce&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=RtVTKLXfYLbBlM&tbnid=YIScp3kocEr0QM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.foodnetwork.com%2Frecipes-and-cooking%2Fhomemade-bbq-sauce-recipes%2Fpictures%2F&ei=lcj5UZC_J9Sr2AWu3oH4Dg&bvm=bv.50165853,d.aWc&psig=AFQjCNGWYhGWXstVq2bsix4dMoI3iX5kCw&ust=1375410700719659

Summary• Observations lead data

• Data leads to inference

• Inference leads to hypothesis

• Hypothesis may be supported, but it is not yet a theory

• A theory is well-supported – it has been tested many times

Why Did Visitors at Magic Mountain Get Sick? Last week, 36 people at Magic Mountain were rushed to...

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