8/30/2011

Post date: Aug 30, 2011 1:56:25 AM

• • Bell ringer (verbally): Why is it important to decide on a procedure BEFORE doing an experiment?

  • Notes - A scientific approach (1.2)

    • Scientific methods

      • An organized plan for gathering, organizing, and communicating information

      • The goal is to solve a problem or better understand something

      • Making observations

        • Information you obtain through your senses

        • Repeatable observations are called facts (e.g. standing in the rain makes you wet)

        • These observations lead to a questions (e.g. will I get wetter if I stand or run in the rain?

      • Forming a hypothesis

        • Proposed answer to your question

        • Must be testable to be useful

      • Testing a hypothesis

        • Any factor that can change is called a variable

        • The variable you change on purpose is called the manipulated variable

        • The variable that changes as a result is the responding variable

        • We try to keep everything else the same. All variables that don't change are called control variables.

      • Drawing conclusions

        • Use data collected to support (agree with) or refute (disagree with) hypothesis

        • If hypothesis is refuted, a new or revised hypothesis is made and tested

      • Developing a Theory

        • If a hypothesis is supported in repeated experiments, scientists adapt it into a theory

        • A theory is never "proven". The best they can be is "well supported by evidence"

    • Scientific Laws

      • Describes a pattern in nature without trying to explain it

      • Theories explain laws

    • Scientific Models

      • Models make it easier to understand something that might be hard to observe directly (e.g. atom drawings)

• Assignment: P.11: 1-8 due 8/31