An Introduction to the Scientific Method

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An Introduction to the Scientific Method

• The Lead Balloon Challenge

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To-Do

• Grab a folder from the side counter and put your
  name and class period on the tab. (Ex. Kathy
  Ryan, Per. 8)
• When Ms. R hands back your expectation quiz file
  it in your folder.
• Create another journal entry titled Lead Balloon
  Challenge and update your table of contents.
• Share this prompt with your table group Where is
  one place in the world you hope to travel to by
  the time you are out of college?
• Clear your desk of everything but a writing
  utensil, your journal, and your inspirational
  quote HW.

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Galileo Galilei

• Galileo was born in Pisa Italy in 1564 (the same
  year that William Shakespeare was born and the
  same year Michelangelo died). He is known as the
  Father of Modern Science. He was famous for
  his work with astronomy, physics, philosophy and
  mathematics. He made improvements to the
  telescope and was one of the first people to use
  the scientific method to test theories. The idea
  of testing and experimenting to prove or disprove
  a theory was revolutionary during Galileos time.
  
• Galileos innovative way of thinking led him to
  disprove some of the beliefs of ancient Greek
  philosophers, like Aristotle. He also published
  work that helped prove Copernicus Heliocentric
  Theory. The Catholic Church condemned his theory
  calling it false and contrary to scripture.
  Galileo was shunned by the church and was forced
  to spend the rest of his life under house arrest.

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Galileos Law of Falling Bodies

• Pisa, Italy, December 1612 A new test of an old
  idea about motion.
• In ancient Greek times Aristotle observed and
  claimed that heavier bodies fall faster than
  small light ones of the same material.
• A mass of gold or lead, or of any other body
  endowed with weight is quicker to fall in
  proportion to its size. Aristotle
• In Pisa Italy, Galileo also conducted experiments
  with falling objects. As legend has it, he
  dropped two objects of different mass off of the
  Leaning Tower of Pisa. The objects fell at the
  same speed hitting the ground at the same time.
  The results of his experiment contradicted
  Aristotles theories and led him to publish the
  Law of Falling Bodies

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Journal Requirements

Lead Balloon Challenge
Objective
Materials 1. 2. 3.
Background Knowledge Copy PPT slides regarding

Galileo and Variables
Initial Balloon Design
Initial Time ______
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Lead Balloon Challenge
Objective To design a balloon that
will drop from the 2nd floor
balcony to the 1st floor the
fastest.

• Materials
• 1 Balloon (inflated to the balloon-sizer
  standard)
• 2 sheets of paper
• 1 meter of masking tape

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Key Question
If Galileos publications are true and if every
group gets the same supplies with the same mass
and the same size balloon, then is it possible
for anybody to win this challenge or will
everyone just tie?
If you think its possible to win this challenge
and not just tie, then what could you do to
change the rate that your balloon falls? What do
scientists do to test theories like this?
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Dependent vs. Independent Variables

• Independent Variable- what you choose to change
  intentionally
• Graphed on X axis
• Dependent Variable- depends/changes because of
  the Independent Variable.
• (what you measure and observe)
• Graphed on Y axis
• YOU CAN ONLY CHANGE 1 VARIABLE AT A TIME IN AN
  EXPERIMENT!!!

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Lead Balloon Challenge

• Procedure
• Design and draw your balloon with your group in
  your science journal (get creative). Then once
  your design is approvedbuild it!
• Test the drop speed of your balloon.
• Record the drop time and analyze the performance
  of your balloon (the faster it drops, the
  better).
• Revise your design based on your data and
  observations.
• Test the drop speed of your balloon again to
  optimize your balloons performance.

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Journal Requirements

Lead Balloon Challenge Continued
Observations
Good Design Ideas
Bad Design Ideas
Thoughts for Improvement
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To-Do

• Grab a science safety contract and course info
  sheet (GREEN COPY) from side counter.
• Read each document silently to yourself.
• Answer the following lab safety questions in your
  journal in a new entry titled Lab Safety skip a
  few pages so we can finish Lead Balloon!
• If you dont understand directions or how to use
  a piece of equipment, what should you do?
• If you want to perform an experiment that is not
  in the original directions for the lab, what
  should you do?
• As shared leaders in a lab, how do you make sure
  that this contract is honored?
• How many horseplay re-directs do I get in a lab
  setting?
• In the case of an emergency what is the 1 most
  important thing you can do?
• Finish, compare, and discuss your observations
  page from lead balloon with the people at your
  table.

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Journal Requirements

Lead Balloon Challenge Continued
Observations
Good Design Ideas
Bad Design Ideas
Thoughts for Improvement
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Journal Requirements

Lead Balloon Challenge Part 2
Final Balloon Design
Final Time ______
Analysis Questions 1. 2. 3.
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Lead Balloon Challenge

• Your lab write-up This should go in your journal
  below your final design
• Answer using complete sentences!
• What was the independent variable in this
  challenge? (thing we changed)
• What was the dependent variable in this
  challenge? (thing we measured)
• Compare and contrast your initial design with
  your final design. What did you change and why?
• Write some of the observations you made based on
  the initial balloon drop tests.
• Write two inferences about balloon flight that
  you discovered based on your observations.
• Does this experiment help prove or disprove
  Galileos experiment about falling objects.
  EXPLAIN your reasoning by comparing your test
  with his test.
• What things effect the flight of a falling
  object?
• Compare how this activity relates to using the
  scientific method to solve a problem.

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Card Tricks!
Can a deck of cards help us understand the
scientific method?
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The Scientific Method

1. State the Problem/Purpose
2. Background Research (optional)
3. Formulate a Hypothesis
4. Perform an Experiment or Test
5. Collect and Analyze Data
6. State a Conclusion or results

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The Scientific Method in Action
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Inquiry WheelScientific Method Revised
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State the Problem/Purpose

• What is your goal?
• What idea are you trying to test?
• What is the scientific question you are trying
  to answer?

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Formulate a Hypothesis

• Formulate an educated guess to explain the
  problem.
• Make a prediction regarding the outcome of your
  experiment.
• State the results you are predicting in
  measurable terms.
• WHAT and WHY

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How to Perform an Experiment or Test

• Give a detailed explanation of how you will
  conduct the experiment to test your hypothesis.
  This is called a procedure.
• Be clear about the variables (elements of the
  experiment that change to test your hypothesis)
  versus your controls (elements of the experiment
  that do not change).
• Be very specific about how you will measure
  results to prove or disprove your hypothesis. You
  should include a regular timetable for measuring
  results or observing the projects (for example,
  every hour, every day, every week).

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Collect and Analyze Data

• Make detailed observations throughout your
  experiment
• Record all important data that is collected
• Make graphs, tables, and charts to organize and
  analyze results
• Ask yourself What does this data tell me about
  my problem?

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State a Conclusion

• Answer your problem/purpose statement.
• What did your experiment prove?
• Explain your data and results. Why did the
  results occur?
• Was your hypothesis correct?
• What did you learn from your experiment?