Scientific Method

1. Brain Teasers
1. Eighth Her Mom Utter
2. Wait Whom Hutch
3. Arrow Loved Oil It Issue

2. Solving Problems
"One Thing at a Time"
A little old lady goes to the doctor and says,
"Doctor I have this problem with gas, but it really doesn't bother
me too much. My farts never smell and are always silent. As a
matter of fact, I've farted at least 20 times since I've been here in
your office. You didn't know I was farting because they don't
smell and are silent."
The doctor says, "I see, take these pills and come back to see me
next week."
The next week the lady comes back. "Doctor," she says, "I don't
know what the heck you gave me, but now my farts... although
still silent... stink terribly."

3. The doctor says, "Good!!! Now that we've
cleared up your sinuses, let's work on your
hearing."

4. During a visit to a mental asylum, a visitor asked
the director how to determine whether or not a
patient should be institutionalised. “Well,” said
the director, “we fill up a bathtub, then we offer a
teaspoon, a teacup and a bucket to the patient,
and ask him to empty the bathtub.” “
Oh, I see,” said the visitor. “A normal person
would use the bucket because it is bigger than the
spoon or the teacup.”
Thinking Outside the Box!

5. “No,” said the director, “a normal person
would pull out the plug. Do you want the
bed near the window or near the door?”

6. Problem Solving: A process where a person uses
previously acquired skills and knowledge to attempt to
determine a solution to a problem
Strategy: A plan to solve a problem
Scientific Method: A strategy used by scientists
1. Identify the problem
2. State hypothesis – including a reason for your
hypothesis
3. Experiment to test hypothesis
4. Analyze results
5. State Conclusion
Problem Solving & Scientific Method

7. Theory: A hypothesis that has been tested but not
proven as fact.
Hypothesis: An educated guess.
“The Lab Write-up”
What is the reason for doing the experiment or what
is there to be learned from doing the experiment?
Usually a sentence or two starting with the words
“The purpose of this experiment is to………”
I. PURPOSE:

8. II. HYPOTHESIS: What “you think” will be the final
outcome of the experiment.
1. What “you think” will happen based on prior
knowledge or observations.
2. Why you think this happen explaining your logic
behind your hypothesis, NOT “just because”!
3. This will take a sentence or two with complete
thoughts. “The hypothesis is ……..”
4. There is no right or wrong answer, with a
hypothesis!
III. MATERIALS:
1. List the major pieces of equipment first.
2. List common supplies second.
3. Number the items in columns.

9. IV. PROCEDURE:
1. Step by step process on how to do the experiment.
2. Clear enough for anyone to follow.
3. Include precautions for safety.
4. Identify the variables in the experiment:
A. Control – factors that remain constant or is
the standard for comparison.
B. Independent Variable – the factor that will be
manipulated or changed during the
experiment.
C. Dependent Variable – the variable that
becomes altered as a result of the
change that was made in the
independent variable.

10. A. Control Group – the group that is not being
exposed to the treatment or tested.
B. Experimental Group(s)– are the group or
groups that are exposed to the treatment or testing.
6. Precision – how accurate you’re going to be
with your measuring tools. Estimate to ½
of the smallest increment on the tool.
5. Identify the Groups in the experiment:

11. 2. Quantitative – information gathered and placed
in data tables, charts, and graphs using
precise measurements, such as height in cm,
mass in g, time in seconds, etc.
V. OBSERVATIONS:
Two categories:
1. Qualitative – information gathered through the
senses such as smell, taste, touch , hear,
shape, etc.

12. Use the following three paragraph format, elaboration is
always the key!
3. Percentage(%) of Error closeness to an accepted
value, shown as a percent:
Accepted Value – Experimental Value x 100 = % of error
Accepted Value
OR
how far you were off______ x 100 = % of error
what you should have gotten
VI. CONCLUSION:

14. King Heiro II & Archimedes