What Next?

• Whether or not your

hypothesis was
supported, good
research always
raises new problems
to be experimented
on. So, the scientific
method is often
considered a
continuous cycle!
Scientific Theories
• Repeated experimentation often leads to the
development of scientific theories
• A scientific theory is a well-substantiated
explanation of some aspect of the natural world,
based on a body of facts that have been
repeatedly confirmed through observation and
experiment.
• TedEd: Theory vs Law
Collecting and Organizing Data
• In science, data
generally refers to the
results of trials or tests
completed during an
experiment
• It is typically organized
into diagrams, charts,
tables, or graphs
Graphing Guidelines: The Basics
• All graphs should have a title, so the reader knows
what is being illustrated
• The independent variable is always placed on the
horizontal axis (x-axis)
• The dependent variable is always placed on the
vertical axis (y-axis)
• Points are plotted and all data points are
connected.
• If you have more than one line, there must be a
legend that indicates the meaning of each line
Numbering Each Axis: A Simple Trick!
• First look at the numbers you have to graph. For
each axis, find the smallest number that has to be
plotted and subtract it from the largest number
that has to be plotted. This is your range.
• Count the number of boxes you have to use. Now
divide your range by this number. If this number is
a decimal, round up to the nearest whole number.
• This calculated number represents the value of
each interval on your axis (what you’re counting
by).
Example:
Weeks Height (cm)
1 2 • The following is sample data
2 11 from our previous tomato
3 17 plant experiment. It
4 24
represents the average height
of the tomato plants that
5 33
received the new fertilizer.
6 36
7 45
• On the graph provided in your
notes, correctly label the x and
8 52
y axis.
9 61
10 75
11 80
12 84
 Height (cm)

Weeks
Number the X-Axis
Weeks Height (cm)
1 2 • Next, we will number the x-
2 11 axis. For this set of data it is
3 17 fairly easy to determine.
4 24 • There are 12 weeks, and 14
5 33 intervals, so each interval will
6 36 represent one week.
7 45 • Number your x-axis on the
8 52 graph provided in your notes.
9 61
10 75
11 80
12 84
Height (cm)

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Weeks
Number the Y-Axis
Weeks Height (cm)
1 2 • Now, we will number the y-axis.
2 11 This one is a bit trickier! First,
3 17 determine your range by following
4 24 the steps below:
5 33 • Identify the smallest number to plot:
____
6 36 • Identify the largest number to plot:
7 45 ____
8 52 • Subtract these two numbers to
determine the range:
9 61
10 75
11 80
12 84
Number the Y-Axis
Weeks Height (cm)
1 2 • Now, count the number of intervals on
2 11 the y-axis.
3 17
4 24 • Divide the range by the number of
intervals. Round your answer to the
5 33 nearest whole number.
6 36
7 45
8 52
9 61
10 75
• What does this all mean? Each interval
on the y-axis represents 6 cm (basically,
11 80 you should count by sixes).
12 84
• Beginning with 2, number they-axis using an interval of 6

14 20 26 32 38 44 50 56 62 68 74 80 86
Height (cm)

2 8

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Weeks
• Now, plot the points! Don’t forget to connect them!

14 20 26 32 38 44 50 56 62 68 74 80 86
Height (cm)

2 8

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Weeks
Final Step: Add a Title

Title: The Effect of Fertilizer on Tomato Plant

Growth Over Time