1. Just What Is Science
Anyway???
a journey through the scientific method...

2. Science
is a process of inquiry - asking questions
and getting answers
you do science
there are many sciences
life science
poli-science
social science
etc

3. Observation
before you can ask a question - you need to
make an observation…
2 kinds
Direct observation- done w/ the 5 senses
sight, touch, smell, aural, taste
Indirect observation - done w/ equipment
thermometer, anemometer, balance...

4. The Scientific Method
a very good way to do science
easy to follow
repeatable
thorough
is the way it’s really done in the field!
(BUT NOT THE ONLY WAY!)

5. What’s the Purpose??
you need to state the goal of your
investigation - called the Purpose (or
Problem) Statement
it needs to be clear to you (and the reader)
exactly what you are investigating

6. The “magic” purpose statement
The purpose of this experiment
is to determine the effect of
______(iv)_______ on the
_______(dv)_______.

7. Procedure
you need to list the steps that you are going
to (or did) take to carry out your experiment
it must be so detailed so that anyone who
may dispute your work can reproduce
exactly what you did

8. The Rope Problem!!!

9. Variables
to vary - to change
Independent (manipulated) Variable (IV) -
the part of the experiment that you change
Dependent (responding) Variable (DV) -
the part of the experiment that changes as a
result of changing the independent variable
(the outcome)

10. more...
Controlled Variables - the parts of your
experiment that do not change
WHY have these?
Control Group - the part of the experiment
that is your basis for comparison (you
don’t do anything to this group)

11. An Hypothesis…..
..is an educated prediction - “educated”
implies that the predictions are based on
research and your prior experiences.
Should be stated in “If... Then… statements
Ex:“If a car’s mass is increased then it will
go faster down a ramp.”

12. Paper Towel Lab
Come up with an agreed general
procedure
Procedure/variables might get altered
Keep all other variables constant!!!
No out of control experimentation!)
EVERYONE takes notes in lab
group!
Make sure you use measuring tools
properly. (accuracy counts in grade)

13. Data Presentation
data tables
a simple way to organize your data
graphs
to help your data make visual sense
trends

14. Data table
Mass of Ramp Ramp Time Ave.
cart (g) angle length (s) time (s)
(deg) (cm)
40.00 45.0 35.0 11.30
40.00 45.0 35.0 12.10 11.70
25.00 45.0 35.0 10.90
25.00 45.0 35.0 11.90 11.40
Table 1: Cart speed based on cart
mass

15. Units of measure
Mass of Ramp Ramp Time Ave.
cart (g) angle length (s) time (s)
(deg) (cm)
40.00 45.0 35.0 11.30
40.00 45.0 35.0 12.10 11.70
25.00 45.0 35.0 10.90
25.00 45.0 35.0 11.90 11.40
Table 1: Cart speed based on cart
mass

16. Significant digits
Mass of Ramp Ramp Time Ave.
cart (g) angle length (s) time (s)
(deg) (cm)
40.0 45.0 35.0 11.30
40.0 45.0 35.0 12.10 11.70
25.0 45.0 35.0 10.90
25.0 45.0 35.0 11.90 11.40
Table 1: Cart speed based on cart
mass

17. Significant digits...
…are a way to show how accurate the
measurements are
(depends instrument is being used)
Example: Triple beam balance
measures to the nearest tenth of a
gram, therefore all mass measurements
should only go out one decimal point

18. Highlight important stuff
Mass of Ramp Ramp Time Ave.
cart (g) angle length (s) time (s)
(deg) (cm)
40.0 45.0 35.0 11.30
40.0 45.0 35.0 12.10 11.70
25.0 45.0 35.0 10.90
25.0 45.0 35.0 11.90 11.40
Table 1: Cart speed based on cart
mass

19. Give it a clear title
Mass of Ramp Ramp Time Ave.
cart (g) angle length (s) time (s)
(deg) (cm)
40.0 45.0 35.0 11.30
40.0 45.0 35.0 12.10 11.70
25.0 45.0 35.0 10.90
25.0 45.0 35.0 11.90 11.40
Table 1: Cart speed based on cart
mass

20. Conclusions
INTERPRET THE DATA:
what do all of these numbers
mean?
do they answer the problem
statement?
why or why not?

21. Analyze for errors …
what factors skewed your
data?
how far off were the results?
Look to see if any trials were
“outliers”
What should be done next
time to reduce any errors?

22. Reflect….
What link to our studies did this lab
have?
Did you learn anything new, any
surprises?
Any comments or questions?
Anything you might add?
What happened with your hypothesis
and why was it right or wrong?

23. Precision vs. Accuracy
if your data is accurate it is close to
its true value
if your data is precise it is
consistent from trial to trial

24. Precision vs. Accuracy
this is precise but
not accurate

25. Precision vs. Accuracy
this is precise and
accurate

26. Accuracy comes from________?
Precision comes from________?
Answers: equipment
people

27. All Done...