Scientific Method

Question 1

A question must be…

Answer 1

1) Testable - Can be answered with an experiment
2) Realistic - Do we have the skill and equipment to do the question
3) Specific and Measurable -What are you measuring in your investigation? What is changing? How will you measure it?
4) Focused - How does one thing affect another thing

Question 2

What makes a good question?

Answer 2

Has no simple answer.
Starts with HOW, WHY, WHAT, WHICH

Question 3

What makes a bad question?

Answer 3

Answer is too simple or easy
Starts with WHO, WHEN, WHERE, HOW MUCH, HOW MANY

Question 4

What is a hypothesis?

Answer 4

1) An educated guessed
2) It is based on previous observations
3) Testable prediction
4) Written as a IF/Then Statement
IF = independent variable
THEN = dependent variable

Question 5

What are the types of variables?

Answer 5

1) Independent variable - purposely change
2) Dependent variable - observed or measured
3) Control - Things in the experiment that stay the same

Question 6

What makes a good hypothesis?

Answer 6

1) Solid question - Measurable and Specific -IF/THEN statement
2) Background Research
3) Make sure it is testable
4) Independent and Dependent Variables

Question 7

What is NOT a good hypothesis?

Answer 7

1) Not specific
2) Does not have If and then

Question 8

What is scientific law?

Answer 8

1) Describes something that happens in nature
2) Does not explain why
3) Does not need an explanation it just is

Example: Ice floats on water, Energy can not be created or destroyed

Question 9

What is scientific theory?

Answer 9

1) Is an explanation of an observation that is supported by A LOT of EVIDENCE

The evidence is used to
1) explain the observation
2) predict observations will occur in future experiments

Example: Atomic Theory and The Big Bang Theory: both are based on tested hypothesis supported by evidence (measured and observed) widely excepted. Both change if new evidence is found.