The process of science

• AIM

  • The purpose of the experiment
  • Answer " Why are we doing the experiment
• Investigative Question

  • A question which links the independent and the dependent variables together
  • Open-ended
• Hypothesis

  • Statement which includes the independent and dependent variables
  • Educated guess at the relationship between 2 variables
  • Can be True or False
• Method

  • Describes how to do the experiment
  • Detailed enough that anyone reading it can do the experiment
• Experiment

  • Designed to prove/disprove the hypothesis, answer the investigative question and achieve the aim
  • Only fair if: 1. All quantities except X and Y are kept constant
  • 2. X is systematically changed by the scientist
  • 3. As X is changed, Y is measured
• Record of Data

  • Data is recorded in a table with the independent variable listed first
• Graphs of Data

  • Can be plotted from the table
  • Can be used to determine the type of mathematical relationship between the variables
  • Can be used to find proportionality constants and derive scientific formulas
• Discussion and Conclusion

  • The scientist makes deductions from the data