Unit 1:Investigating Matter
Part 1: Scientific Method
Scientific Method: Is a series of steps used to test a scientific
investigation.
- 6 Steps:
1. Initial Observation
2. Scientific Question
3. Hypothesis
4. Procedure
5. Analyze Data
6. Conclusion
- Can be used in any order & changed/revised as necessary.
- A flowing document always changing.
- only presented for conclusion presentation in this
orders
Theory: is an overall explanation for a series of hypotheses and
observations that have been supported by testing.
- Can change as technology changes
- EX: worms come from soil
- Tells you why things happen
Technology: is the application of knowledge, tools, & materials to
solve problems and complete tasks.
-EX: pencils, paperclips, computers, etc…..
Law: is the result of many experiment, conclusions, &
observations.
- Tells you what happens
- Can expect the same results to happen every time
- EX: life reproduces life
Step 1: Observation
Observation: is any use of the senses to gather information.
- Has to be a fact, just what is observed
- detailed
- No opinions/inference
- opinions: feelings
- Inference: guess what you observe
Use descriptions not item names!
- Inference: guess what you observe, Why (backed by
observation)
-use as descriptions not as items
***** Ask yourself: Who, What, When, Why (inference), Where
Observation Activity:
1. Watch the candle burn and write down observations.
See: orange flame,melting wax
Hear: sizzle
Taste:sulfur
Feel: warmth
Smell: smoke
Homework:
1. Find 5 different locations at home.
2. Write down observations using the 5 senses using the data
table.
Home Observations
Locations
See
Hear
Smell
Taste
Feel
Step 2: Scientific Questions
Scientific Question: used to focus
our investigation and identify what you want to find out.
- You have to see yourself either researching or doing an
experiment or giving out a survey to answer the question?
- Has to be testable, measurable, repeatable and can be proven
or disproved.
- Asks: What, Why, How, When
Scientific Question Activity
From our candle activity change your observations into
questions.
Use the 4 different types of questions at least once.
See: Why was the flame orange? What causes it to be orange?
When did the orange flame occur? How does the orange flame
glow?
Hear: How does sound crackling or sizzle? Why does it crackle?
What makes it crackle? When did the crackle occur?
Taste: When did the taste occur? What causes the taste? Why
can I taste the smoke? How did the taste get in my mouth?
Feel:
Homework:
1.Choose 5 observations change into scientific questions.
Observation
Question
Step 3: Hypothesis
Hypothesis: is a possible explanation or answer to a scientific
question.
- Based on a good scientific question.
- Based with background knowledge
- Written as an If…..then statement.
- Designates variables
- the then part is the answer….
- If is What am I going to do…...
Variables: is any aspect of an experiment that is changed,
controlled, or affected.
3 Types
1. Control Variable/ Group: is the part of the experiment that has
to be kept constant/same.
2. Independent Variable: is the one part of an experiment that you
change or control.
M= manipulated
I= Independent
X= x-axis
- is the cause
- If part of a hypothesis
3. Dependent Variable: is the affect of your change in the
experiment.
D= dependent
R= response to changes (independent); Result
Y= y-axis
- Then part of hypothesis
- the answer to your question
Controlled experiment: is when you have a comparison with a
controlled and a normal sample.
- the more examples the better the data/average
Homework: Take your home questions and write a hypothesis
for each.
Hypothesis:
1. Question:
Hypothesis:
2. Question:
Hypothesis:
3. Question:
Hypothesis:
4. Question:
Hypothesis:
5. Question:
Hypothesis:
4. Procedure:
3 Parts: Materials list, instructions/recipe, safety concerns
Materials: supplies necessary for completion of an investigation.
- completed as a list, includes amounts
Safety Concerns: anything that needs to be kept in mind in order
to have a successful experiment.
-always be safe
- Ex: eye protection, heat safety, chemical safety, clothing
protection, electric safety, animal safety, hand safety, sharp
object, plant safety
Procedure: is a set of instructions necessary to complete an
experiment.
- must be exact
- step by step (1,2,3)
- EX: 1.
2.
3…….
- Has to be repeatable
Demo: Planting a plant
Materials:
1 pkt of seeds
soil
water
fertilizer
1 pot
sunny spot
flat surface
1 set of garden gloves
Safety Concern: hand safety
Instructions:
1. Put potting soil into the pot.
2. Fill the pot to 1in from the top.
3. Poke a hole in the soil to the depth specified on the
package.
4. Place a seed or whatever packet recommends in the hole.
5. Cover the hole with soil to recommended depth.
6. Water it till all soil is moist.
7. Place in sunlight recommended amount on package.
Homework: write a procedure for making a peanut butter and
jelly sandwich.
Data: observations or numbers collected during an investigation.
- 2 Types:
1. Qualitative Data: visual observations made during an
experiment
- quality
2. Quantitative Data: any numerical (#) data collected during an
experiment.
-# quantity
Data Table: a graphic organizer used to contain data collected
during an investigation.
- includes Rows & Columns
- Sets up data for analysis graph
- requirements:
1. Titles; overall ( lets know data collected), row( Dependent
Variable) & column( Independent Variable) with units
2. Enough space to keep it neat.
EX:
Wisconsin Trees
Type of Tree (MIX)
# of trees/acre (DRY)
Oak
600
Maple
750
Beech
300
Homework: Take the list of data and organize them into a
data table.
b Recyclables Collected During Week; day of week; paper
(kg) 5.0, 4.0, 2.5; aluminum (kg) 4.0, 1.0, 2.0; glass (kg) 12.0,
10.0, 10.0; Monday; Wednesday; Friday;
Recyclables Collected During Week
Day of Week
Paper (kg)
Aluminum
(kg)
Glass (kg)
Monday
5.0
4.0
12.0
Wednesday
4.0
1.0
10.0
Friday
10.0
2.0
10.0
5. Analyze Data
Analyze Data: is the part of an experiment that looks for trends or
patterns in the data collected.
- Uses data table to develop a graph to show patterns
Graph: a way to show data trends or patterns with qualitative or
quantitative data.
- Shows independent variables (cause) and dependent variables
(effect)
- X-axis= horizontal line, getting ready to lay down (------)
- independent variable (MIX)
- Y-axis: vertical Line, always standing at attention ( I )
- dependent variable (DRY)
- Shows relationships between independent and dependent
variables
- 3 Types:
1. Line graph: shows data collected over time.
- has an X & Y axis
- data connected by a line
2. Bar Graph: Shows comparison
- used for qualitative data
- has an X & Y axis
- data showed in bars or blocks
3. Circle/Pie Graph: Shows % of a whole
- data showed in a circle with different pieces
Analyze Questions that need to be answered in this section.
1. What patterns do you see for the independent and dependent
variables?
2. Was your hypothesis accurate? Why or Why not?
Homework:
Take the Recycling Data Table and plot the data into each type of
graph. Which graph is the best suited for this set of data.
6. Conclusion
Conclusion: is the explanation for the trends/patterns found in
the data.
- is shown in a presentation of findings or a written report stating
your results.
- includes graphs, analysis, and overall summaries
** Always remember the increased number of trials = more
accurate data.
Conclusion Questions that need to be answered in this section.
1. Restate analyze results in paragraph form.
2. What would you change in order to get a more accurate result?
Homework: Study for Test
Part 2: Measuring in Science
Tools of Science
Tools of science are used to measure data in an experiment.
1. Graduated Cylinder
2. Balance Scale
3. Spring Scale
4. Thermometer
5. Stopwatch
6. Ruler
1. Graduated Cylinder
- is a device that measures liquid volume only.
- looks like a tall tube glass or a round cup w/ a lip.
- Use the meniscus to get an accurate measurement.
- Due to surface tension some of the liquid sticks to the side of
the cylinder and can make your measurements wrong.
-- Take the measurement from the bottom of the bubble.
-Base Unit: Liter (L), mL
2. Balance Scale ( Triple-beam balance)
- measures mass
- Base unit Gram (g)
3. Spring Scale
- measures weight/gravity
- weight: is the amount of gravity pulling an object toward the
center of the earth.
- Gravity: an attraction between objects due to their mass.
- 9.8m/s/s
- units: Newtons (N); 1N = 100g
4. Thermometer: measures how hot or cold a substance is.
- Temperature: is a measure of the energy that particles in a
substance move.
- Units: Degree Celsius (C)
Homework: Draw an example of each of these tools and put
them in your homework folder.
Scales of Science
Temperature Scales
3 kinds
Kelvin:Kelvin is a temperature scale designed so that zero
degrees K is defined as absolute zero (at absolute zero, a
hypothetical temperature, all molecular movement stops - all
actual temperatures are above absolute zero) and the size of one
unit is the same as the size of one degree Celsius. Water freezes
at 273.16K; water boils at 373.16K. [ K = C + 273.16°, F = (9/5)C +
32°].
Celsius 0C
Comparisons
Fahrenheit 0F
1000
Boiling
2120
370
Body Temperature
98.60
00
Freezing
320
Measurement Scales
English System: based on historical standards of the time
- base unit: yard (yd), inch (in), Gallon (gal), Quart (qt), ounce
(oz), ton, pound (lb),
Metric: based on 10
- base units meter(m), liter(L), gram (g)
Kilo
K
Hecto
1000
h
Deka
100
dk/dc
10
Base
Unit
meter (m)
Liter (L)
Deci
d
.10
Centi
c
Milli
Gram (g)
.01
: King Henry Died Unexpectedly Drinking Chocolate Milk
: 1 letter = base unit ( m,L,g)
: 2 letters = subunit (mm,mL,mg)
: Liter always capitalized b/c looks like an I too.
1km=_1000____m
K H DK (M,L,G) D C M
EX: 1000.mg=g
160.cm= mm
109.g = kg
1000L= mL
14.km= m
250.m=km
56.cm
6.m
7.g 698.mg
Activity: Measurement, Tool, Practice
Station 1: Graduated Cylinder
#1
#2
#3
#4
Station 2: Balance Scale
#1
#2
#3
#4
Station 3: Spring Scale
#1
#2
#3
#4
Station 4: Thermometer
m
.001
#1
#2
#3
#4
Station 5: Stopwatch
#1
#2
#3
#4
Station 6: Ruler
#1
#2
#4
#3
Homework: fill in the data table and Answer the questions.
1.
Measurement Comparisons
English Comparison
Base Units Measures
Length
Mass
Volume
Temperature
Gravity
SI
Tool
Abbreviation
meter
Liter
gram
Newton
X
Minute
Celsius
2. Give me an example for using each tool to find a measurement.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
3. A tailor is someone who makes or alters items of clothing. Why
might a standard system of measurement be helpful to a tailor?
4. How can you tell the difference between the English and metric
system?