Science Review4.1
Science Review4.1
S. Hall2011-2012
S. Hall2011-2012
Observations, Inferences, Conclusions, Predictions,
and Hypotheses
Observations, Inferences, Conclusions, Predictions,
and Hypotheses
What is an observation?What is an observation?
Yes, and observation is something you can see,
hear, taste, touch, or smell.
Yes, and observation is something you can see,
hear, taste, touch, or smell.
QuickTime™ and a decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Which would be an observation about this
animal?
Which would be an observation about this
animal?
QuickTime™ and a decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
A. It swims in the ocean.B. It has spots.C. It is long, so it is a fast swimmer.D. It is a shark.
Quantitative and Qualitative Observations
Quantitative and Qualitative Observations
• Quantitative-deals with numbers, quantities or how much, or how many
Examples: It had 40 spots. It is 10 feet long.
• Qualitative- deals with how it looks, tastes, feels, sounds, smells--without numbers
Examples: It has gray spots. It feels rough.
• Quantitative-deals with numbers, quantities or how much, or how many
Examples: It had 40 spots. It is 10 feet long.
• Qualitative- deals with how it looks, tastes, feels, sounds, smells--without numbers
Examples: It has gray spots. It feels rough.
What is an inference?What is an inference?
Yes, an inference is something you figure,
using your observations plus what’s in your head
already.
Yes, an inference is something you figure,
using your observations plus what’s in your head
already.
QuickTime™ and a decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
+QuickTime™ and a
decompressorare needed to see this picture.
Which would be an inference about this
animal?
Which would be an inference about this
animal?
QuickTime™ and a decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
A. It swims in the ocean.B. It has spots.C. It is long, so it is a fast swimmer.D. It is a shark.
What is a conclusion?What is a conclusion?
Yes, a conclusion is an inference which
summarizes what your final point is about the
object.
Yes, a conclusion is an inference which
summarizes what your final point is about the
object.
For example:
It s a penny.Evaporation occurs faster in hot, direct light.
Which would be a conclusion about this
animal?
Which would be a conclusion about this
animal?
QuickTime™ and a decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
A. It swims in the ocean.B. It has spots.C. It is long, so it is a fast swimmer.D. It is a shark.
What is a prediction?What is a prediction?
Yes, a prediction is an inference you make about
the future or what you expect.
Yes, a prediction is an inference you make about
the future or what you expect.
Examples:The book will probably be fiction.The plant will likely grow towards the sunlight.
What is a hypothesis?What is a hypothesis?
Yes, a hypothesis is prediction with a reason.
Yes, a hypothesis is prediction with a reason.
For example:
The second plant will grow faster because it will get more sunlight .
If a sponge is placed under an artificial bulb, it will dry faster because the light is hotter.
It is hypothesized that the birds will eat more red seeds because the color is brighter.
Which would be a hypothesis about this
animal?
Which would be a hypothesis about this
animal?
QuickTime™ and a decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
A. It swims in the ocean.B. It has spots.C. It is long, so it is a fast swimmer.D. It is a shark.
The Scientific MethodThe Scientific Method• Scientists first observe the world around them.• They are curious, so they have a question.• They may then observe some more or research what other
scientists have said.• Next, they hypothesize an answer to the question.• Next, they design an experiment or test to see if they are right
(confirm hypothesis). They may use the four question strategy to plan their experiment or test. 4 Question Strategy
• Next, you design your experiment. You select your independent variable and levels of the independent, your dependent variable, your constants, and your control.
• You set up a table to collect your data in. • Then you conduct(do) the experiment at least 3 times
(repeated trials).• Next, you graph your data, and draw some final conclusions.• Then you communicate your results to the world.• You may also apply what you learned to other situations or
develop technologies based on what you learned.
• Scientists first observe the world around them.• They are curious, so they have a question.• They may then observe some more or research what other
scientists have said.• Next, they hypothesize an answer to the question.• Next, they design an experiment or test to see if they are right
(confirm hypothesis). They may use the four question strategy to plan their experiment or test. 4 Question Strategy
• Next, you design your experiment. You select your independent variable and levels of the independent, your dependent variable, your constants, and your control.
• You set up a table to collect your data in. • Then you conduct(do) the experiment at least 3 times
(repeated trials).• Next, you graph your data, and draw some final conclusions.• Then you communicate your results to the world.• You may also apply what you learned to other situations or
develop technologies based on what you learned.
The Scientific MethodVocabulary
The Scientific MethodVocabulary
• Research-look up information• Experiment-test• Variables things that change• Independent variable -what you change in the experiment, the
I-Change-It variable, the cause (type of light)• Levels of the independent variable-what different types you
change (direct light, shade, no light)• Dependent variable -what changes as a result of the changes
you made, the effect, can be measured quantitatively (numbers)• Constants- what you keep the same in order for the experiment
to be fair (same kind and size of sponges, same amount of water)• Control- the level of the independent variable that you compare
the others to (no light)• Conduct-do• Data-information• Communicate-tell• Repeated Trials- do the experiment over to make up for errors
that produce unusual data
• Research-look up information• Experiment-test• Variables things that change• Independent variable -what you change in the experiment, the
I-Change-It variable, the cause (type of light)• Levels of the independent variable-what different types you
change (direct light, shade, no light)• Dependent variable -what changes as a result of the changes
you made, the effect, can be measured quantitatively (numbers)• Constants- what you keep the same in order for the experiment
to be fair (same kind and size of sponges, same amount of water)• Control- the level of the independent variable that you compare
the others to (no light)• Conduct-do• Data-information• Communicate-tell• Repeated Trials- do the experiment over to make up for errors
that produce unusual data
TablesTables
IV/MV DV/RVtype of light time to dry (minutes)
X Yno light (under the cabinet) 360shade (under the table) 225full sun (in the window) 130artificial light (under the lamp) 65
The independent variable is always on the left and thedependent is always on the right.
cause effect
Yes, you can tell what the independent and
dependent variables are by looking at tables.
Yes, you can tell what the independent and
dependent variables are by looking at tables.
You can also tell by looking at graphs.You can also tell by looking at graphs.
QuickTime™ and a decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
X axisIndependent VariableCause
Y axisDependent VariableEffect
Y
X
The independent variable is the amount of table salt added. The dependent variable is the boiling temperature.
IV/DVIV/DVEnergizer Brand AA Batteries
Battery Use #3 #4 #20
Time (hour) Voltage Voltage Voltage
0.0 1.605 1.610 1.6090.5 1.4021.0 1.356 1.363 1.3511.5 1.3142.0 1.295 1.295 1.2882.5 1.273 1.280 1.2843.0 1.260 1.265 1.2623.5 1.249 1.256 1.2474.0 1.2324.5 1.221 1.226 1.2165.0 1.2045.5 1.160 1.186 1.1786.0 1.1506.5 1.108 1.135 1.1177.0 0.630 1.120 1.0637.5 0.586
Write the independent variable?Write the dependent variable?
Yes,…Yes,…
What is the independent variable? Volts (in amps)What is the dependent variable? hours of battery use
IV/DVIV/DV
QuickTime™ and a decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Write the independent variable?Write the dependent variable?
Yes,…Yes,…
What is the independent variable? size of the jar in litersWhat is the dependent variable? Number of minutes the candle burned
Mr. Krabbs wants to make Bikini Bottoms a nicer place to live. He has created a new sauce that he thinks will reduce the production of body gas associated with eating crabby patties from the Krusty Krab. He recruits 100 customers with a history of gas problems. He has 50 of them (Group A) eat crabby patties with the new sauce. The other 50 (Group B) eat crabby patties with sauce that looks just like new sauce but is really just mixture of mayonnaise and food coloring. Both groups were told that they were getting the sauce that would reduce gas production. Two hours after eating the crabby patties, 30 customers in group A reported having fewer gas problems and 8 customers in group B reported passing gas less. What is the independent variable? What is the dependent variable? What did Mr. Krabb probably hold constant in the experiment? Which people are in the control group? What should Mr. Krabbs’ conclusion be? http://sciencespot.net/Media/scimethodconvar.pdf
QuickTime™ and a decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Graphs should have titles. And labels. On a bar graph, the bars Should not go to the top, nor should the bars touch the Y axis.
Title
LabelsLabels
Labels
Labels
QuickTime™ and a decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
QuickTime™ and a decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Graph A Graph B
Missing labels Bar goes to the top
Both are bad.
QuickTime™ and a decompressor
are needed to see this picture.