Science Observe the world

Identify and state the Problem Research State the HypothesisDesign the Procedure Make an observation and Record DataOrganize and analyze dataState a Conclusion

The Scientific Method 1.2

The Problem must be about something that you can

measure, preferably with a number The scientific method starts when you ask a

question about something that you observe: How, What, When, Who, Which, Why, or Where?

Do Background Research: Rather than starting from scratch in putting

together a plan for answering your question, you want to be a savvy scientist using library and Internet research to help you find the best way to do things and insure that you don't repeat mistakes from the past.

Research generates the hypothesis

Construct a Hypothesis: A hypothesis is an educated guess about how things work:

"If _____[I do this] _____, then _____[this]_____ will happen."

You must state your hypothesis in a way that you can easily measure, and of course, your hypothesis should be constructed in a way to help you answer your original question.

Procedure step by step instructions of the experiment Test the hypothesis

Don’t use I, we, they etc….

Record Data Once your experiment is complete, you collect

your measurements and review your data. data : tables, graphs, charts

Analyze Your Data Decide if the data is reliable

State a Conclusion: summarize the experiment and state if your

hypothesis is true or false. Accept or reject the hypothesis Explain the data to support the hypothesis. Replicate the work

Designing an Experiment

Control group – standard for comparison

Independent variable –factor being tested, changed, manipulated by the experimenter, in a graph it’s on the x axis

Control variable –what is kept the same, standard,improves reliability

Dependent variable –what is measured,observed,when the independent variable changes ,on y axis

  For instance: if you were measuring the growth rate of plants under full sunlight for 8 hours a day versus plants that only have 4 hours of full sunlight per day, the amount of time per day of full sunlight would be the independent variable - the variable that you control. 

The growth rate of the plants would be a dependent

variable. dependent variables depend upon the independent

variable.  The growth of the plant depends on the amount of sunlight

Designing an Experiment

The mice experiment …Problem I have a bad memory but that’s not a

scientific problem.

How do we boost memory ?

What’ s next ?

Research

An experiment showed an enzyme in mice called PP1 erases memory

Used 30 aged mice

What’s next ?

State the hypothesis

If the PP1 enzyme is inhibited ( slowed by a drug) then memory will improve

Procedure

15 mice are given a drug that inhibits the enzyme that erases memory

Mice are timed in a maze over 12 weeks to see if they have an improvement in memory

What are the variables ? Control,independent,dependent

Control group – group with no drug to inhibit enzyme

Give them a

Independent variable Ask what is being changed ?use a drug to inhibit the enzyme that erases

memory over a certain number of days

o Dependent variable Ask what is being measured ?Measuring the speed of the mouse in a maze to

show memory improvement

Conclusion

Aged mice did improve their memory when PP1 was inhibited

Summarize results

Accept the hypothesis in a statement

The hypothesis … is accepted to be true

other terms

Law – theory tested to be true, explains things (but doesn’t explain why)

ex Newton’s law

Back when Newton declared his laws, he believed them to be absolute descriptions of how the universe worked. At the time, they were irrefutable. We now know that his laws are in fact approximations (rules that work when describing motion on the macroscopic scale but which break at the quantum scale)

Since that time, science has gotten warier about describing anything as being absolute.

Theory - science has tossed the use of "law" in favor of "theory".

This "theory" does not mean "hypothesis" which is a speculation. In this case, think of music theory - definitely not a hypothesis

widely accepted most probable explanation hypothesis tested and confirmed Supported by a large body of evidence Ex- cell theory

Fact – a truth by actual experience or observation, something known to be true

It’s a live

Characteristics of Living thingsIt’s difficult to define life.

A living thing is called an _________________.

There are seven characteristics of life….

23

Are any of these alive?

24

Do they exhibit characteristics of life?

There are seven characteristics of life….

cell phoneA growing plantRepo manRap stationCloset organizerSunpond with an Iron ( still looking )

Characteristic of Life

I. Cells- all living things are composed of cells

A. Cell number 1. unicellular - one 2. multicellular- many B. Cell type 1. prokaryotic 2. eukaryotic

Prokaryotic – simple cell, first cell, no nucleus or organelles with membranes

Eukaryotic cell – has a nucleus and many organelles w/o membranes

This is your body’s cell

II. Organization – how molecules are arranged in an organism

III. Energy use – nutrition, how it is used converted or stored

autotrophs – source of energy is the sun and inorganic , makes it’s own food as

heterotrophs- source of energy is organics (food)

IV. Response to the environment – react and behave to stimulus.

Also reach Homeostasis maintain internal equilibrium by adjusting its physiological processes.

Migrate, fight or flight

V. Growth

cell division –parent cell makes new cell often called a daughter cell

cell enlargement – size increases slowly

VI. Reproduction – for survival of it’s species

Sexual reproduction- processes that pass a combination of genetic material to offspring, resulting in increased genetic diversity.

Asexual reproduction -formation of new individuals from the cell of a single parent.

A as a prefix means negate ( not valid)

VII. Adaptation – genetic traits that give an organism an advantage

Survival of the fittest