Scientific Method

Beginnings
Aristotle (384 BCE-322 BCE or BC)
ancient Greek philosopher

Aristotle
Aristotle, more than any other thinker, determined the
orientation and the content of Western intellectual
history. He was the author of a philosophical and
scientific system that through the centuries became
the support and vehicle for both medieval Christian
and Islamic scholastic thought: until the end of the
17th century, Western culture was Aristotelian. And,
even after the intellectual revolutions of centuries to
follow, Aristotelian concepts and ideas remained
embedded in Western thinking.

 In other words, Aristotle was so

famous that his work influenced
thinking in the Western world from
his time to the present.
This was fine when he was right. But
he was so influential that his
mistakes were never noticed.

 Aristotle and his contemporaries

believed that all problems could be
solved by thinking about them.
Sometimes this worked, other times it
did not.
For example, Aristotle thought that
heavy objects would fall faster than
lighter ones.

 Now that does seem reasonable at

first. And this is how science was
done in ancient times.
But what did Aristotle not do?
He never tested his ideas!
The world would have to wait almost
2000 years for that to happen.

Galileo Galilei
1564-1642 AD or CE
Lived in what is today
Italy
Is considered to be
the first true scientist.
Why????
Because he actually did
the experiment.

 Aristotle said that heavy objects fall

faster than lighter ones.
So Galileo asked, How much faster?
So he sent students up to the top of a
building and had them drop a heavy ball
and a lighter one off at the same time.
He had other students waiting below to
measure the difference in time
between the two hitting the ground.

 Today of course we know what happened.

Much to everyones surprise both balls hit
the ground at about the same time!
This shows that it is much preferred to
test your ideas rather than merely think
about them.
One test is worth a thousand expert
opinions. Bill Nye

Key Idea
When conducting an experiment,
change one factor and keep
everything else exactly the same.
The one thing you change is called the
variable.
All the things you keep the same are
called constants.

Galileos Experiment
What was the variable in Galileos
experiment?
The weight of the balls.
What were some constants?
Dropped from same height.
Dropped at same time.
Balls had same shape/size.

Review

Scientific Method Steps

State the problem.

Make a hypothesis.
Conduct the experiment.
Record/analyze data.
Make a conclusion.
Report findings to others so they can
repeat the experiment.

Hypothesis
An educated guess
a prediction
Use If, then format
We predict that if we drop a ball from a
higher height, then it will bounce higher.
If is the manipulated variable.
Then is the responding variable.

Observations
Observations: We use our senses to
gather information about the world
around us. There are two types of
observations.

Qualitative
Qualitative observation: (quality)
Usually made with our senses.
Color, shape, feel, taste, sound.
Olivia is wearing a blue sweater.
The lab tabletop is smooth.
The dogs fur is shiny.

Quantitative

Quantitative observation: (quantity)

How many. Will always have a number.
Based on exact measurement.
The room is 8 meters across.
Sarah is 141-cm tall.
Sam weighs 450
Newtons.

Inferences
Inference:
A logical interpretation of an event
that is based on observations and
prior knowledge.
What does this mean in 7th grade
terms?

Making Inferences
You are at the counter in the office to get a
bus pass signed. You see a student leave the
principals office crying and upset. We could
make an inference as to why the student is
upset.
Could be in trouble (ISS, OSS, expelled)
Family problems at home (sick, accident)
Student not feeling well
Student has poor grades (failing, retention)

Theory
Has a very different meaning in
science than in everyday life.
The detective has a theory about
who robbed the bank. This is a
guess.
When scientists use the word theory
it is not used as a guess.

Theory defined
An explanation based on many
observations during repeated
experiments that is valid only if it is
consistent with observations, makes
predictions that can be tested, and is
the simplest explanation.
A logical, time tested explanation for
events that occur in nature.

 So the theory of gravity, theory of

electricity, the germ theory of disease, and
the theory of evolution are tested, accepted
explanations for events that occur in nature.
Theories can really never be completely
proven, only disproven. When new evidence
comes along, we must modify our theory or at
times even get rid of it and start over again.

 Ptolemys earth centered theory of the

solar system is an example of what can
happen when new evidence comes along.
When Copernicus showed that putting
the Sun in the center made it much
easier to predict the planets motions,
the old earth centered theory was
discarded and a new one developed.

Graphing
Graphs are a useful tool in science.
The visual characteristics of a graph make
trends in data easy to see.
One of the most valuable uses for graphs is
to "predict* data that is not measured on
the graph.

Graphing Steps

Identify the Variables

Determine the range
Determine the scale
Number and label each
axis
Plot the points
Draw the graph
Give your graph a title

Identify the Variables

Independent Variable (the thing you changed)
Goes on the X axis (horizontal)
Should be on the left side of a data table.
Dependent Variable (changes with the independent variable)
Goes on the Y axis (vertical)
Should be on the right side of a data
table.

Range
Subtract the lowest data value from the
highest data value.
Do each variable separately.

Scale
Determine a scale,
(the Quantitative value for each square),
that best fits the range of each variable.
Going by 5s, 10s etc.
Spread the graph to use MOST of the
available space.

Label Axis's
You need to tell everyone reading your
graph what the graph means.
Be sure to include units.

Plotting
Plot each data value on the graph with a
dot. You can put the data number by the dot,
if it does not clutter your graph.

Drawing
Draw a curve or a line that best
fits the data points.
Most graphs of experimental data
are not drawn as "connect-thedots".

Title
Your title should clearly tell what the graph
is about.
If your graph has more than one set of data,
provide a "key" to identify the different
lines

Interpolation
Interpolate:
predicting data
between two measured
points on the graph.

Extrapolation
Extrapolate:
extending the graph,
along the same slope,
above or below
measured data.

Operational Definition

A very clear and very precise

explanation of the items
being measured.

A method to ensure that

anyone making the
measurement will get the
same answer.

Basically you are deciding

how each variable is being
measured.

How will we measure?

In the Bouncing Ball Lab
we are measuring how
high the ball bounces
when dropped.
But where do we measure
to?
The bottom. Top, or
middle of the ball?
It makes a difference.

Our Definition
We will all measure
from the floor to the
bottom of the ball.
This way we will get
consistent results.

Design your own Experiment

Design an experiment
List the question
to investigate which
Your hypothesis
brand
of
battery
will
Independent variables
last the longest.
Dependent variables
What are your controls

Design two of these experiments.

Which light bulb brand
will last the longest?
What type of vehicle
gets the best gas
mileage?
Which type of dish
soap cleans the best?

Which species of frog

can jump the farthest?
Which type of dog can
run the fastest?
Which animal can see
the best at night?
Which type of cat can
jump the highest?