The Miracle Fish (or is it?)

By: Mark Shlyahovsky, Emily Medwid, Kat Reid, Sam Carlin, and Shannon Frost

What is an observation?

Qualitative Observations are observations based on what is being observed. A quantitative observation are observations that are being measured. When you are asked for a quantitative observation, you are being asked for a number. In example: There are several, red fish on the table. This is a qualitative observation. There are 23 fish that are 9.1 centimeters long. That is a quantitative observation.

fotosearch

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Qualitative Observations in our fish

• Directions on one side. • Red• Not very long• Flat• Transparent

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Quantitative Observations

• 9.1 cm long• About .04 g• 2.6 cm wide

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HypothesisA supposition or proposed explanation made on the basis of limited

evidence as a starting point for further investigation

Independent, Dependent, and Constant variables• Independent variables- Changing temperature of the surface• Dependent- Movement of the fish• Constant- The air temperature• Control- Room temperature, Laid the fish on a table

Our groups hypothesis

• If we change the temperature of the surface that the fish is on, then the movement of the fish will change because the movement of the fish depends on the temperature of the surface containing it

Experimental Procedure: An experimental procedure is a specific set of instructions for conducting a certain experiment.

Our Procedure (decreased temperature steps):

1. Insert a watch glass in the refrigerator the day before experimenting to get the watch glass cold.

2. The next day, dry off the watch glass to remove any excess moisture.

3. Place the fortune fish on the watch glass and record its movement and rating using the rating scale.

4. Place another watch glass in the refrigerator for only five minutes and repeat step #4.

5. Repeat step #4 once more but only put the watch glass in the refrigerator for one minute.

(Medwid, Emily, et al.)

Our Procedure (increase temperature steps):• 6. Place a watch glass on a hotplate for five minutes at a setting of • 2 to let the watch glass warm up.

• 7. Remove the watch glass from the hot plate with tongs and • set it on a flat surface (like a desk).

• 8. Wipe the watch glass off with a towel to get rid of the • excess moisture.

• 9. Place the fortune fish on the hot watch glass and record its movement and rating using the rating scale.

• 10. Repeat steps #6-9 only change the hot plate to a setting of 4.

• 11. Once again, repeat steps #6-9 changing the hot plate to a setting of 8.

(Medwid, Fortune Fish on Warm Watch Glass)

(Medwid, Emily, et al.)

Materials List:• Refrigerator • Timer• Watch glass• Hot Plate• Tongs• Towel• Fortune Fish

(Medwid, Hot Plate)

(Roventine)

("Tongs by 3DRivers")

(Medwid, Emily, et al.)

Rating Scale:

1 Little to no movement at all. - Least Active

2 Curling sides or very small movement.

3 Movement of the head or tail (average movement).

4 Moving head or tail (sufficient movement).

5 Curls up entirely (extreme movement). - Most Active

Data Table:

Movement of Fish Rating (1-5)Increase Temperature (Heat) – Hot (8)

The fish started shrivel up and melt on the watch glass. The fish did not “work” (tell a fortune) after that.

2

Increase Temperature (Heat)- Warm (4)

The sides of the fish moved a small amount as well as the tail curling up. It was a fairly fast reaction. The fish did not “work” (tell a fortune) after that. 3

Increase Temperature (Heat)- Lukewarm (2)

The tail curled up first, then the head; ending in the whole body being curled up. Although the reaction was relatively slow. 4

Decrease Temperature (Cold) – Coldest (Overnight)

No Movement.

1

Decrease Temperature (Cold) – Less Cold (5 minutes)

No Movement.

1

Decrease Temperature (Cold) – Least Cold (1 minute)

No Movement.

1

Movement of Fish Rating (1-5)

("The Snowflake: Winter's Secret")

In Conclusion…• The fish is temperamental – it only works at certain temperatures• Extreme Hot: Shriveled up; melted• Extreme Cold: Lifeless fish• Lukewarm: Movement, but very slow

Extreme Hot Extreme Cold Lukewarm

Analysis…

Analysis- An analysis is a presentation of a process, which is usually written

Conclusion- A conclusion is the final part or the close, usually summing up the points and stating the result of the opinions or decisions reached

analysis. (n.d.). The American Heritage® Science Dictionary. Retrieved October 03, 2013, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/analysisconclusion. (n.d.). Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved October 03, 2013, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/conclusion

Analysis…• When the fish was placed on surfaces with extreme temperatures,

whether it was hot or cold, the fish had little to no movement

• The fish clearly reacted to warmth better than the cold

• The heat of 2 on the hot plate caused the fish to move the most. Both the tail and the head moved. The whole body ended up curling up.

• With a heat of 4 on the hot plate, there was a smaller amount of movement than with a heat of 2. There was movement on the sides of the fish and it curled up.

• With a heat of 8 on the hot plate, the fish had very little movement and after a while, started to melt and shrivel up

Analysis…• When the fish was placed on the coldest surface, there was no

movement at all

• When the fish was placed on the less cold surface, there was still no movement at all

• The fish still had no movement at all on the least cold surface

The Next Step…

•Supported the Hypothesis•The fish did react differently for each different temperature

•Follow-Up Experiment • Impact of Moisture

Citations

Medwid, Emily. Fortune Fish On Warm Watch Glass. 2 Oct. 2013. Photograph.

- - -. Hot Plate. 2 Oct. 2013. Photograph.

Roventine, Mykl. "Fortune Fish." Flickr. Flickr, 30 Nov. 2010. Web. 3 Oct. 2013. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/myklroventine/5222793344/>.

"The Snowflake: Winter's Secret Beauty." The Snowflake: Winter's Secret Beauty. SnowCrystals.com, 1 Feb. 1999. Web. 3 Oct. 2013. <http://www.its.caltech.edu/~atomic/book/snowflake.htm>.

Citations (cont.)

"Tongs by 3DRivers." TurboSquid. N.p., 2013. Web. 3 Oct. 2013.

"Observation Clip art and illustrations." Fotosearch. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Oct. 2013. <http://www.fotosearch.com/clip-art/observation.html>.

"Miracle Fish." Hobbytron. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Oct. 2013. <http://www.hobbytron.com/FortuneTellerMiracleFishMagicTrick.html>.

analysis. (n.d.). The American Heritage® Science Dictionary. Retrieved October 03, 2013, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/analysis

conclusion. (n.d.). Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved October 03, 2013, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/conclusion