Scientific Method PowerPoint
Scientific Method PowerPoint
Scientific Method PowerPoint
What is Science?
The goal of science is to investigate
and understand the natural world, to
explain events in the natural world, and
to use those explanations to make
useful predictions.
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Scientific Methods
The scientific method is:
A series of steps used by scientists to
solve a problem or answer a question.
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Step 1: Step 2: Form a Hypothesis
Observation / Asking a
Question
Hypothesis
A problem or a question A possible
must first be identified. explanation to the
question or problem.
It is simply a prediction and has
not yet been proven or disproven.
It must be stated in a
How much water can a root way that is testable.
hair absorb? A statement is
considered “testable”
Why does a plant stem bend
if evidence can be
toward the light?
collected that either
What effect does does or does not
temperature have on heart support it.
rate? Page 7
Step 3: Designing a Controlled
Experiment
1. The factors in an experiment that can be changed are called
variables. Some example of variables would be: changing the
temperature, the amount of light present, time, concentration of
solutions used.
2. A controlled experiment works with one variable at a time. If
several variables were changed at the same time, the scientist
would not know which variable was responsible for the observed
results.
3. In a “controlled experiment” only one variable is changed at a time. All other variables should be
unchanged or “controlled”.
2. Does the
data support
or not
support the
hypothesis?
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Step 5: Drawing Conclusions
The evidence from the experiment is used to
determine if the hypothesis is proven or disproven.
Experiments must be
repeated over and
over. When repeated,
the results should
always be the same
before a valid
conclusion can be
reached.
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Forming a Theory
A theory may
be formed Theory:
after the A broad and
hypothesis comprehensive
has been statement of
tested many what is thought
times and is to be true.
supported by
much A theory is
evidence. supported by
considerable
evidence.
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You want to determine the effects
of a certain fertilizer on the
growth of orchids grown in a
greenhouse. Materials that are
available to you include:
greenhouse, 100 orchid plants, State your hypothesis:
water, fertilizer, and soil. You
want to know if the orchids will Possible answer:
grow best with a weak
concentration of fertilizer, a
medium concentration of I predict that the
fertilizer, or a high concentration orchids will grow best
of fertilizer. How will you design with a medium
an experiment to test different concentration of
concentrations of this fertilizer?
fertilizer.
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Here is one possibility:
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Analysis Questions
A hypothesis is an “educated
guess” that is testable through
observations and experimentation.
A theory is a broad statement of
what is believed to be true based
on many experiments and
considerable amounts of data.
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Analysis Questions
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Analysis Questions
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