Scientific Inquiry

1
Scientific Inquiry

• Chapter 1.2
• Page 10

2
Section 2Scientific Inquiry

• How do scientists investigate the natural world?
• What role do models, theories, and laws play in
  science?

3
The Nature of Inquiry

• There is no set path that a scientific inquiry
  must follow. Different scientists may choose
  different paths when studying the same event.

1. Pose Questions
2. Form a Hypothesis
3. Design an Experiment
4. Collect and interpret data
5. Draw conclusions
6. Communicate

4
1 Posing Questions

• Scientific Inquiry often begins with a problem or
  a question.
• Good scientific questions are ones that can be
  answered by making observations based on
  evidence, not just opinion.

Does additional weight cause the car to go faster
down the ramp?
5
2 Developing a Hypothesis

• A hypothesis is a possible explanation for a set
  of observations or answer to a scientific
  question.
• It is similar to an educated prediction.

Increasing the weight of the car will increase
its speed down the ramp.
6
3 Designing an Experiment

• In an experiment, there are many different
  factors or parameters that could be changed
  location, temperature, speed, materials, etc.
  These different factors are called variable
  parameters.

In a controlled experiment, the effect of one of
those variables is measured. Therefore only one
variable parameter is changed in each experiment.
7
3 Designing an Experiment

• Hypothesis Eating breakfast in the morning helps
  you stay awake in class.

Day one After 10 hours of sleep, you eat
breakfast and stay awake in class. Day two After
5 hours of sleep, you eat only toast and you get
tired in class. Day three After 4 hours of
sleep, you dont eat breakfast and you fall
asleep in class.
8
3 Designing an Experiment

• In an experiment
• The manipulated variable is the one variable that
  a scientist is trying to determine its effect. It
  is the one variable that is changed in an
  experiment (eating breakfast, weight of the car).
• The responding variable is the factor that is
  measured, the results of the experiment
  (alertness in class, the speed of the car). It
  measures the effect of changing the manipulated
  variable.

9
4 Collecting Data

• Data are the facts, figures, and other evidence
  gathered through observation.
• Quantitative observations (facts, figures,
  numbers, etc.) are usually recorded in a table or
  chart. These data are analyzed later and are
  often put in graphs for easier understanding.
• Qualitative observations are usually recorded in
  the lab journal.

10
5 Drawing Conclusions

• Conclusions always relate to the hypothesis did
  the data support or not support the hypothesis,
  not whether the hypothesis was right or wrong

11
6 Communicating

• A very important part of the scientific inquiry
  process is communicating the results of your
  inquiry.
• Purpose
• -help others with your information
• -a check on the accuracy of your findings

12
How Science Develops

• Scientists use models and develop theories and
  laws to increase peoples understanding of the
  natural world.

A model is a picture, diagram, computer image, or
other representation of an object or
process. Example Bohr model of the atom
13
Scientific Theories and Laws

• A scientific theory is a well-tested scientific
  concept that explains a wide range of
  observations. (The best explanation for the data
  we have.)
• Example The theory that the Earth is flat.
• Theories can change if there is enough evidence
  against it.
• A scientific law describes an observed pattern in
  nature. But does not provide an explanation for
  it.
• Example The law of gravity.

14
The Nature of Inquiry Activity

• Click the Active Art button to open a browser
  window and access Active Art about the nature of
  inquiry.

15
End of SectionScientific Inquiry