Scientific Method

Earth ScienceDr. Sims

Query of the Day

• Question:– Put the following steps in order for the scientific

method and describe each step.• Conclusion• Hypothesis• Observation• Problem• Results• Experiment

Terrance Bogg

• Terrance Bogg, a well-known billionaire, is found dead on the floor of his office at 7:00 pm Saturday evening. He has been shot through the chest. Detective Green is called to solve the mystery.

Terrence Bogg

• Detective Green discovers the following facts:– Bogg was shot with a 9mm handgun. The handgun is not

in the office now.– The maid heard the shot at 4:50 pm, but he thought it was

a car back-firing– The crime scene investigators who looked at the body at

7:45 pm said Bogg had been dead for three to four hours. – Two people had threatened Boggs.

• Mr. Stokes hated him because Bogg was ruining his business• Ms. Jones was fired as Bogg’s secretary last week. She was seen

at a local bar yelling that “Boggs should be shot!”

Terrence Bogg

• Mr. Stokes says he was at a party from 2pm to 5pm on Saturday afternoon

• Ms. Jones was in a car accident at 3:00pm on Saturday and has been in the hospital ever since with a broken leg and arm

• Mr. Stokes’ wife said he left the party at 4:30 to go to see his financial planner

• Mr. Stokes’ financial planner said he has not seen Mr. Stokes in over a month.

Lets fill in the first column

• Problem: (What is the problem)

• Hypothesis: (Make an educated guess about this story)

• Observations:

Terrence Boggs

• After searching Mr. Stokes’ house, Detective Green finds the 9mm gun and identify it as the same gun used to kill Mr. Boggs.

Lets finish the first column

• Experiment: (How will the hypothesis be tested?)

• Results/Data: (Results collected)

• Conclusion: (Confirm whether hypothesis is correct or not)

Starter 8/11/2010

• Question:

What is a hypothesis?

Lets try another

• In front of you is two beakers of water. One beaker has a soda, while the other has a regular (non-diet) soda.

Lets fill in the second column

• Problem:

• Observations:

• Hypothesis:

Lets finish the second column

• Experiment:

• Data:

• Conclusion: