UNIT 1 DAY 2: BUBBLE
GUM INQUIRY LAB
1.21.2016
BELL RINGER
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Keep bell ringers in order, on the same
sheet of paper.
Get out your signed syllabus and lab
safety contract.
1. If you drop a piece of glassware and
spill a chemical, what should you do
first?
2. If you accidentally spray a chemical
in your eye, what should you do
immediately?
3. How could #2 have been easily
prevented?
4. Recall (throw-back Thursday)
Name the first 3 steps of the scientific
method, in the correct order 
AGENDA
Don’t Forget: Lab Safety Quiz Friday!
 Scientific Method Notes (Foldable)
 Scientific Method Video: Pellagra
 Scientific Method Practice
 Inquiry Lab #2: Bubble Gum
 Homework: Finish Lab Write-Up


Simpsons Scientific Method Practice
LAB SAFETY QUIZ

Take the next two minutes to review your notes
from yesterday, ask questions to your neighbor.
UNIT 1 DAY 2 NOTES: THE
SCIENTIFIC METHOD

These notes should be the first set included in
your notebook!
THINK


What types of question can science answer?
 What method do we use to answer those
questions?
What types of questions are not suited to science?
Why?
STEPS OF THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD
Six
 Great
 Friends
 Party
 All
 Day

State the Problem
Gather Information/Observe
Form a hypothesis
Perform experiment
Analyze Data
Draw conclusion
CREATE A FOLDABLE (FRONT):
STEPS OF THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD:
Term
Question
Definition Example 1 Example 2
Use 5 senses to
notice
something/pose
a question
Hypothesis
An educated
guess, based on
observation
and research
Independent
Variable
The variable
that the
experimenter
changes on
purpose
Dependent
Variable
The variable
the
experimenter
measures; the
outcome we
Does drop
height affect
how high a
ping pong
bounces?
Pellagra
Disease
NOTE WHICH VARIABLE IS LOCATED ON
EACH AXIS!
FOLDABLE (BACK).
Control Group
Constants
Analyze Data :
-Qualitative
-Quantitative
Conclusion
The group that
is used as a
comparison for
the test
group/factor
The factors that
stay the same in
an experiment
-descriptive
observations
-numerical
observations
Re-state the
hypothesis as
true/false after
analyzing data
SCIENTIFIC METHOD
*PRACTICE SCENARIOS*
PRACTICE.

You think that people who wear Nike
Hyperdunks are able to run faster on the
court over Jordans. You make one team
wear Nike and another wear Jordans.
PRACTICE.

You notice that some of your friends spent LOTS
of time on Instagram. You tell some students to
go on Instagram for 4 hours every night, and
other students only go on Instagram for 30
minutes per night. You measure their grades on
their progress reports.
THINK:
What is the independent variable?
 What is the dependent variable?
 Constants?
 Control Group?

PRACTICE.
You want to test different fertilizers on growing
sunflowers. You put one set of sunflower seeds in
soil without fertilizer and another set of sunflowers
in soil with fertilizer. You give them the same
amount of water and sunlight for 2 weeks
measuring their height every day.
 Control Group
 Constant
 Independent Variable
 Dependent Variable
SCIENTIFIC METHOD: SOLVING THE MYSTERY
OF PELLAGRA
Pellagra Video
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeloeutvsqM

As you watch the video, identify the parts of the
experiment used to find the cause of this mystery
disease.
 Control
 Independent variable
 Dependent variable
 Constants

PELLAGRA DISCUSSION
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
What are the initial symptoms of Pellagra?
What region of the US was this disease
common in?
Name (2) theories for what caused the
disease.
What was the true cause of the disease?
Why were people unwilling to accept the
true cause of the disease?
PELLAGRA TEST
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Control: regular diet (people who ate the regular
diet were in the control group)
Independent Variable: nutritious diet
treatment versus regular diet
Dependent Variable: sickness/ how many
people were symptom-free at the end of the study
Constants: daily activities, medicine, sleep
IT’S SCIENCE.
NOTES: KEY PLAYERS IN THE
SCIENTIFIC METHOD
The independent variable in an experiment is
the one variable that an experimenter
manipulates.
 Dependent variables are variables that an
investigator measures, observers, or counts. In
an experiment, the researcher determines if the
value of a dependent variable is changed by the
value of the independent variable.
 Constants are factors held the same for all
groups.
 The control provides a basis for comparison; it is
a group where the independent variable is held
at a certain level or is absent.

SCIENTIFIC METHOD PRACTICE
Show off your skills!
 10 minutes: Complete as many SpongeBob
Scientific Method scenarios as possible.
 2 minutes: Pair and share with your neighbor:
correct any that you disagree on!

GUM INQUIRY
QUESTION: DOES GUM LOSE OR GAIN
MASS (WEIGHT) WHEN YOU CHEW IT?

(If you already know the answer to this, don’t
ruin it for everyone!)
MATERIALS.

Think about and make a list of the materials you
will need to do an experiment to test this
question
FORM A HYPOTHESIS.

(3) possibilities:
Mass of the gum will INCREASE
 Mass of the gum will DECREASE
 Mass of the gum will ____________________________
 Choose (1) and use at least one good reason to
support your hypothesis.


EX) Mass of the gum will INCREASE because of the
extra saliva (spit) on the gumball after it’s chewed.
FORM A HYPOTHESIS.

There are no right or wrong answers here – the
most important part is that you come up with
some reasons WHY the gum will lose/gain mass.
WRITE YOUR OWN PROCEDURE.
How are you going to test this hypothesis?
 As a group, decide:
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How to standardize chewing (time VS. # chews)
When to mass the gum
How to mass the gum (zero original wrapper)
Who will perform the trials
Who will record data
Who will time trials etc.
COLLECT DATA.
Conduct your experiment! Don’t forget to gather
and record all important data that is going to
help you make a conclusion.
 Also, don’t forget that you will need to try it a few
times to make sure your results are showing a
pattern and are not a fluke!

GRAPHING SKILLS.

Once your data is collected: average your pre and
post gum masses.
Average: add up all 4 trials, divide by 4.
 Pre-Chew Gum Mass: _______________
 Post-Chew Gum Mass: ______________


Draw a bar graph showing the average mass.

Add your bar graph with team # to the back wall.
GRAPH RESULTS.
How does chewing gum for 10 minutes affect gum
mass?
Gum Brand 4
Gum Brand 3
Gum Brand 2
Gum Brand 1
0
0.5
1
Post-Chew Mass
1.5
Pre-Chew Mass
2
2.5
3
THINK
1.
2.
3.
Did the brand or flavor of the gum affect the
mass lost?
What was the % sugar content (or artificial
sugar) in your brand of gum?
How do you think sugar content may impact the
results?
CONCLUSION
QUESTIONS

1. What does your data tell you?

2. Does your data support your hypothesis?

3. Is your data trustworthy? Was there any possible error
in your experiment?

4. List one possible explanation for your findings.
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5. List the parts of the experiment:
Hypothesis
Materials
Procedure to Test
Independent Variable
 Dependent Variable
 Constants

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
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DISCUSSION
1. Now that your results are in, how does your
procedure compare to other teams? List one way
you can improve your procedure.
 2. Create one new question, based on the results
of this experiment.
Each lab member should complete the conclusion
and discussion!
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