Scientific Method & Variables
Scientific Method & Variables
Scientific Method & Variables
What is a hypothesis?
It is an educated guess based on observations and your knowledge of the topic.
Stated in the If.., then. format Example: IF I water three plants with different sodas, THEN the plant that receives Sprite will grow the tallest.
Graphs
BAR GRAPHS: can be used to show how something changes over time or to compare items. have an x-axis (horizontal) and a y-axis (vertical) the x-axis has time period or what is being measured the y-axis has numbers for the amount of stuff being measured. good when you're plotting data that spans many years (or days, weeks...), has really big changes from year to year (or day to day...), or when you are comparing things.
LINE GRAPHS: can be used to show how something changes over time x-axis has numbers for the time period y-axis has numbers for what is being measured. can be used when you're plotting data that has peaks (ups) and valleys (downs), or that was collected in a short time period. Used for two sets of numerical data (ex: time and temp)
5. Test your hypothesis: Conduct the experiment and record the data. 6. Organize your data: Create a chart or graph of your data. 7. Draw conclusions: Analyze your data and summarize your findings.
Identifying Variables
Independent Variables Dependent Variables Controlled Variables (Constants)
3 Kinds of Variables
Independent Variable something that is changed by the scientist What is tested What is manipulated (changed)
Dependent Variable something that might be affected by the change in the independent variable
What is observed What is measured The data collected during the investigation the numbers Example: how tall the plant grew, how far the paper airplane flew
Example:
Controlled Variable a variable that is not changed Also called CONSTANTS Allow for a fair test Everything in the experiment except for the IV should be kept constant
For Example:
Students of different ages were given the same jigsaw puzzle to put together. They were timed to see how long it took to finish the puzzle.
Another Example:
An investigation was done with an electromagnetic system made from a battery and wire wrapped around a nail. Different sizes of nails were used. The number of paper clips the electromagnet could pick up was measured.
One More
The higher the temperature of water, the faster an egg will boil. Independent variable temperature of water Dependent variable time to cook an egg Constants type of egg, size of egg, amount of water
The greater the amount of soap in a soap and water mixture, the bigger a soap bubble can be blown.
Design an investigation to test this hypothesis. (1) Identify the variables What exactly will be changed? How will it be changed? IV: amount of soap in mixture What exactly will be measured? How will it be measured? DV: size of bubbles
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