What is it?A tool used by scientists to gather

information about scientific observations and questions.

The Steps…ObservationProblem/QuestionResearchHypothesisMaterialsMethodsResultsConclusion

Our ExampleBubble Gum!

ObservationScientist notices something about the

world around themThis observation will begin the process and

lead to the next stepBubble gum changes as you chew it

Problem/QuestionThe scientist poses a question about his/her

observationHow?

What?When?

Where?Why?

Who? How does the weight of bubble gum change as

you chew it?

ResearchScientists will gather as much background

information about their question as possible to create an educated hypothesis.Must be peer reviewed!Gain knowledge to develop a “good”

experimentMust be put into your OWN words!!!

We did not do this in our lab NOTE – Small, classroom experiments will often

times not include this step.

HypothesisA hypothesis is a tentative statement that

proposes a possible explanation to some phenomenon or event (or our question(s)).

Testable, testable, testable!Not your opinion (do NOT use “I” or “We”)

May contain predictionThe bubble gum’s weight will decrease by

20%.

But Were We…Never say Right or Wrong!!!A hypothesis is never Right or Wrong. A hypothesis is either supported or not

supported.HypothesisTheoryLaw

Right or Wrong can be used here, and only here!!!

MaterialsThe materials used by a scientist that are

necessary to test the hypothesis.The materials are listed clearly and

accurately to help with recreation of the experiment.Bubble GumPaper TowelScale

MethodsThe methods are a description of how to

perform the experiment in the exact way the scientist did.They are detailed so that any one of your

peers could read and repeat the exact experiment.

They are numbered and in complete sentences.You were able to read and repeat the

experiment I had conducted with the Bubble Gum.

ResultsRaw Data!

Graphs and TablesThere is no interpretation of the data

here!!! (No explanation of ‘why?’)Tables and graphs are labeled and titled.

The weight of the gum at each time interval in our table.

ConclusionScientists interpret the data and draw

conclusions from it.The hypothesis is supported or not

supported here.Possible errors are discussed here.What was learned from the experiment is

described here.You should have written your short

conclusions about what you discovered.

Can you order the events of an experiment?

______ A scientist goes to the library and reads a number of articles about the

physical properties of solutions.______ A scientist goes to the laboratory and does the following:

1. Fills each of two beakers with 1 liter of fresh water.2. Dissolves 35 grams of table salt in one of the beakers.3. Places both beakers in a freezer at a temperature of -1°C.4. Leaves the beakers in the freezer for 24 hours.

______ A scientist wants to find out why seawater freezes at a lower temperature

than fresh water.______ After 24 hours a scientist examines both beakers. The salt water is

liquid and the fresh water is frozen.______ A scientist who lives in Rhode Island near the ocean shore notices

that the pond in his yard was freezing earlier in the winter than the ocean shore.______ A scientist suggests “Ocean water freezes at a higher temperature

than fresh water does.”______ A scientist gathers and uses:

- two beakers- 1 liter of fresh water- salt- a freezer

______ A scientist discusses and writes down what errors he/she think occurred in

the experiment and what they would do different next time.

VariablesIndependent

- What is changed (by the scientist)

- X-Axis

Dependant- What is measured- Y-Axis

ControlA control is used in an many scientific

experimentsIt is what scientists use to compare their

results toUsed to measure change

Hint!!! Take away the independent variable!

GraphingTitle

Tells what the graph is aboutX-Axis

Independent variableWhat is changed! (ex: time, temperature, depth, etc.)

Y-AxisDependant variable

What is being measured

ScalesMust include all data points