SCIENTIFIC METHOD

Film Canister Lab

There are many ways to conduct scienceExamples: Observational- Field study

Such as animal behavior “Experimental Research” – Conducts

controlled experiments. Tests one variable Different steps

EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH“USUALLY ASSOCIATED WITH SCIENTIFIC METHOD”

One way of researching the natural world

Identify a Question or PurposeAfter observing the world around you, you can derive a problem that you want to find more about

Derive a question based on observation above that you would like to investigate.

AND/OR State purpose of experiment

Flip Book- Purpose/QuestionRationale

Gives focus to the investigation

Format

Purpose/Question: Statement or question

My Responsibility

Read for understanding

ExampleSee Film Canister Lab

Observation of film canister

NO TALKING

LISTEN AND WATCH TEACHER

Brainstorm…

Film Canister Lab-

Purpose/Question: Does changing the amount of water in the film canister change the reaction time?

Notice that the words purpose/question are underlined with a colon after the word “Question”

Background Information

Scientist research and become knowledgeable about the subject and investigation that they are going to test.They know and understand key concepts

relating to their topic .AND/OR

They know and understand other investigations that have already been conducted about their topic.

Flip Book- Background infoRationale

Provide facts to understand the investigation

FormatBackground Information: Paragraph of information

My Responsibility• Read• Take notes and highlight• Make connections

ExampleSee Film Canister Lab

Film Canister- Background Info

Cut and Glue in the Background Information for the Film Canister Lab

onto your Lab Paper.

Notice that the words Background Information are underlined with a colon after the word “Information”

Background Information:

Purpose/Question:

Background InformationThere's nothing like a little rocket science to add some excitement to

the day. Alka-Seltzer (an effervescence) is made of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), citric acid, and acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin). When you add water it starts to dissolve the Alka-Seltzer tablet. When the solid dry powders of sodium bicarbonate, citric acid, and acetylsalicylic acid are pressed together to make a tablet, being solids, the molecules are not mobile enough to react. Adding the right amount of water dissolves the chemicals and allows them to mingle and react. This creates a gas called carbon dioxide. As the carbon dioxide is being released, it creates pressure inside the film canister. The more gas that is made, the more pressure builds up until there is no more room in the film canister and the cap is blasted down and the canister is blasted up. The lid of the canister is the path of least resistance for the gas pressure building up inside, so it pops off instead of the stronger sides or bottom of the canister bursting open. We can thank Sir Isaac Newton for what happens next. When the build-up of carbon dioxide gas is too great and the lid pops off, Newton's Third Law explains why the film canister flies across the room: for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. The lid goes one way and the film canister shoots out of the tube in the opposite direction. This system of thrust is how a real rocket works whether it is in outer space or here in the earth's atmosphere. Of course, real rockets use rocket fuel.

Hypothesis A HYPOTHESIS is a tentative statement

that proposes a possible explanation to some phenomenon or event.

A hypothesis:Is written in an IF…Then … Because

statement.Relates two variables (the independent and

dependent).Is testable.

Flip Book-HypothesisRationale

Clear, testable statement

FormatHypothesis: If ____________________ (Independent Variable)

___________, then the ______________ _______ (changes) (Dependent Variable) (Changes)

because ________________________. (based on background info)

**** Do NOT use I, we, me, etc.****

My ResponsibilityForm an educated guess based on background information and prior knowledge

ExampleSee Film Canister Lab

Identify Variables Independent Variable- the factor that

you manipulate, the factor that you change or monitor in an experiment. Cause X-axisAnswers the question: What do I

change/test?

Dependent Variable- the factor that changes in response to the independent variable, the results, the outcome that is being measured or observed in an experiment. EffectY-axisAnswers the questions: What do I

measure/observe for results?

Variables Continued Constant Variables- During the experiment to

only test one variable OR the independent variable scientists use CONSTANTS.Constants are factors in an experiment that

stay the same throughout the whole experiment.

Answers the question: What do I keep the same?

Flip Book- VariablesRationale

Necessary to have a controlled experiment

FormatVariables: Independent: ONE Dependent: ONE Constants: At least two

My Responsibility• Identify one independent variable

• What do I change/test?• Identify one dependent variable (the

results)• What do I measure/observe for results?

• Identify at least two constants• These MUST stay the same through

ALL trials

ExampleSee Film Canister Lab

Film Canister- Hypothesis

Background Information:

Purpose/Question:

Hypothesis: If the amount of water is increased then the reaction time of the lid popping off will decrease because there is less room in the canister for the pressure to build therefore popping off earlier. Variables:

Film Canister Lab- Variables

Background Information:

Purpose/Question:

Hypothesis:

Variables: Independent: Amount of Water (mL) Dependent: Reaction time(seconds) Constants: Brand of effervescent tablet. Amount of effervescent tablet

MaterialsA detailed list of all the equipment

and materials needed to conduct the experiment.

You must be specific and methodical so that someone could exactly duplicate your experiment.

Use brand names and/or numbers for every single item on your list

Bullet the list with the details listed at the end of each item

Flip Book- MaterialsRationale

Lists all equipment and materials used during an investigation

FormatMaterials:• Needs to be bullet points• Brand names• Quantities

My ResponsibilityGather listed equipment and materials

ORIdentify and gather the equipment and materials

ExampleSee Film Canister lab

Film Canister- Materials

Background Information:

Purpose/Question:

Hypothesis:

Variables:

Materials:• 2 Alka-Seltzer tablets• 1 film canister with cap• 1 graduated cylinder• 1 thermometer• 1 timer/stopwatch• 100 mL of tap water• Paper towels to clean up mess

Notice that the materials are bulleted and listed one after another.

ProcedureWrite a detailed and precise procedure that

includes the correct sequence of steps to be taken

The procedure should be specific and methodical so that another experimenter could duplicate the experiment without having to ask you ANY questions! Write for one level of the independent

variable and add repetitions for repeated trials

Written in step by step form using numbers

Flip Book- ProcedureRationale

Logical, detailed steps written so that another scientist could duplicate the exact lab

FormatProcedure:1. Listed in numerical

steps2. Include multiple

trials when applicable

3. Can use “repeat” for multiple trials

My ResponsibilityFollow the detailed steps exactly

AND/ORWrite the detailed steps to be followed

ExampleSee Film Canister Lab

Film Canister- Procedure

Cut and Glue in the Procedure for the Film

Canister Lab onto your Lab Paper.

Procedure:1. Break the tablet in half.2. Measure 10 mL of tap water3. Measure the temperature of the water.4. Pour the 10 mL of tap water into the film canister.5. Add one half of the tablet to a film canister. 6. Quickly cap the canister and turn upside down so the cap is resting on the table. 7. Measure the time it takes to pop the top and record in the data

table. 8. Repeat steps 2-7 for one more trial. 9. Repeat steps 2-8 for 20 mL of water. Notice that the procedures

are numbered and listed one after another.

DataExcellent way to organize and show trends in data. Many types of graphs to show data.

Data TableDrawingsGraphs

○ Bar graph- most common, best when I.V. is not numerical.

○ Line graph-mostly used when you have numerical I.V. and D.V.

Flip Book-DataRationale

Used to organize the results of an investigation and used to identify trends and patterns in an investigation

FormatData Table:

Graph:

My ResponsibilityAccurately collect and record data in an organized format (chart, table, graph, drawing, etc.)

ExampleSee Film Canister Lab

IV- DV- Constants

Trial 1 Trial 2 Mean

Title:

I.V.:

D.V

.:

Film Canister- Data

Cut and Glue in the Data Table for the Film Canister Lab onto your Lab

Paper.

Procedure:

Data Table:

IV- Amount of Water- mL

DV- Time in seconds Constants

Trial 1 Trial 2 Mean Amount of tablet

Temp of water

10 mL

20 mL

Film Canister - GraphProcedure:Data Table:

Graph:

8 10 12 14 16 18 20 2212

13

14

15

16

17

18

(10, 16.41)

(20, 13.22)

(10, 17.59)

(20, 13.16)

(10, 15.22)

(20, 13.28)

Canister Reaction Time for Different Amounts of Water and Alka-Seltzer

Trial 1

Trial 2

Mean

Amount of Water (mL)

Tim

e (s

)

THIS IS OUR

EXAMPLE GRAPH MAKE YOUR

OWN WITH YOUR OWN

DATA!!!

0

This zig-zag is to be used when intervals on the Y-axis start later than zero and may only be used ONE time from the zero to the start number

Conclusion Paragraph or several paragraphs stating:

whether the data supported the hypothesis or not, the major findings including evidence from your data, include trends present in data, what happened that was unexpected (if any) and possible reasons why.

Also include any recommendations that would improved your experimentRemember that science is done by humans so what are

some human errors? Things you might not have been aware of before the experiment and know now that you would do differently.

Could also include possible things for further study

Flip Book- ConclusionRationale

Analyze and summarize the investigation to determine if the hypothesis has been supported

FormatConclusion:

THIS IS IN PARAGRAPH FORM- Use transition words between sentences

• Begin by restating the purpose. • Restate the hypothesis and include whether or

not the hypothesis was supported or unsupported.

• State and interpret the major findings from the investigation. This will act as the evidence to justify the claim (hypothesis was supported or unsupported). Include data from the lab and readings.

• Include any errors that might have occurred that would impact the results of the investigation, and any recommendations that may have improved the investigation.

• End with an application statement (real world connection or in class connection).

ExampleSEE FILM CANISTER LAB

My ResponsibilityWrite a paragraph or several paragraphs stating the major findings of the investigation and whether or not the hypothesis has been supported

Film Canister- Conclusion

Procedure:

Data Table:

Graph:

Conclusion:Using the sentence starters provided, complete the conclusion for this experiment.

Report out or Redo experiment

Scientist review their investigation. They either make their studies known to the

scientific community. It is subject to peer review.

OR Make revisions to experiment Retest their revised investigation