The Scientific Method, Hypotheses, & Identifying

Variables
SNC1W
What is Science?
Science is the process of asking and
answering questions about the world
around us. It creates knowledge
based on evidence collected through
observation and experimentation.

This process is known as the

Scientific Method.
 What are the steps of science?

If possible, one way to test the hypothesis is to perform a controlled

experiment.

Below are eight different steps that make up the Scientific Method in a
controlled experiment. They are listed in alphabetical order. Arrange these
eight steps in the order that they would be carried out by numbering them
from 1 to 8.
The Scientific Method
Ask a question
Conduct the experiment

Design the experiment

Draw conclusions
Make a Prediction/Hypothesis

Observe and Record Data

Organize and Analyse the Results

Research to collect information

on the problem
 The Scientific Method

At the conclusion of this

process, scientific models,
theories or laws may be
formulated. Depending on the
conclusions reached,
scientists will often repeat the
entire process, adjusting the
question they originally asked.
Making a Hypothesis
A prediction states the possible outcome in a controlled experiment. When you can offer
an ____________________________ for your prediction, you transform your prediction into a
____________________________.

When making a hypothesis it is often written in the form

______________________ … ______________________ … ______________________ … ______________________

A hypothesis is an educated guess as to the outcome of an experiment. Your hypothesis

may not be confirmed with your results.
Making a Hypothesis In an experiment investigating the effect of
fertilizer on the growth of plants an
Example appropriate hypothesis would be:

If_____________________________________________

_________________________,

then____________________________ will

____________________________________,

because_________________________________________
________

___________________________.
Making a Hypothesis
Practice questions: For each question, make a hypothesis.
1. How does running affect someone's heart rate?

2. Does the mass of a paper airplane affect how far it will travel?
Making a Hypothesis
3. Does chewing gum affect a person's reaction time/reflexes?

4. How does the amount of salt that dissolves in water vary with water temperature?
 Setting up an
experiment to test the
hypothesis
Any factor that can change or
influence the outcome of an
experiment is called a
___________________________ .
Setting up an experiment to test the hypothesis

As an example, consider an experiment to see the effect

that adding fertilizer has on the growth of a plant. Ten
potted plants are given fertilizer and another ten potted
plants are not given any fertilizer. All 20 plants are of the
same type, and are all given the same amount of soil,
water and light.
Setting up an experiment to test the hypothesis
There are 3 types of variables:
1. The _______________________ variable
- the variable that the scientist chooses to change or manipulate.
Can you identify this variable in the plant experiment?

2. The _______________________ variable

- the variable that changes in response to the independent variable. The
investigator does not directly control this variable.
Can you identify this variable in the plant experiment?
Setting up an experiment to test the hypothesis
3. The _______________________ variables
- the variables that are kept constant during the experiment.
Can you identify these variables in the plant experiment?
Setting up an experiment to test the hypothesis
In laboratory experiments, you will usually be
controlling one variable and seeing how it
affects another variable. Scatter plots can
show these relations clearly. For example,
you might perform an experiment in which
you measure the growth of a plant over time
to determine the rate of the plant’s growth. In
this experiment, you are deciding on the
times at which the plant height is measured.
Therefore, time is called the independent
variable. The height of the plant is the
dependent variable. Table 1 gives some
sample data for an experiment to measure
the rate of plant growth.
Setting up an experiment to test the hypothesis
Figure 1 shows what a scatter plot of the data in
Table 1 might look like.
The independent variable is plotted on the x-
axis. This axis will be labeled Time (days), and
will have a range from 0 days to 35 days. Be
sure to properly label your axis including the
units.
Setting up an experiment to test the hypothesis
Figure 1 shows what a scatter plot of the data in
Table 1 might look like.
The dependent variable is plotted on the y-
axis. This axis will be labeled Plant Height
(cm) and will have a range from 0 cm to 5 cm.
Think of your graph as a grid with lines
running horizontally from the y-axis, and
vertically from the x-axis. To plot a point, find
the x-value (in this example, time) on the x-
axis. Follow the vertical line from the x-axis
until it intersects the horizontal line from the
y-axis at the corresponding y-value (in this
case, height). At the intersection of these two
lines, place your point.
Practice Questions - Try these on your own or with those around you, check your answers with the posted
solutions on myHSC!

1. What is the difference between a hypothesis and a prediction?

a. A prediction offers an explanation for the outcome of the experiment.
b. A hypothesis offers an explanation for the outcome of the experiment
c. Only a prediction makes a guess as to the outcome of the experiment.
d. Only a hypothesis makes a guess as to the outcome of the experiment.
2. If you wanted to determine whether drinking red bull at night causes
sleeplessness, which of the following statements are correct about this experiment:
a. The control variables would be the amount of red bull consumed and the time it takes to fall
asleep.
b. The independent variable would be the time it takes to fall asleep
c. The dependent variable would be the time it takes to fall asleep and the independent variable
would be the amount of red bull consumed.
d. The dependent variable would be the amount of red bull consumed and one control variable
would be the sleeping conditions.
Practice Questions
3. Consider each of the following questions. For each question list the independent,
dependent and controlled variables (as many as possible).
a) What is the effect of increasing the size of an inflated balloon on how quickly it
falls?
Independent variable -
Dependent variable -
Controlled variables -
Practice Questions
3. Consider each of the following questions. For each question list the independent,
dependent and controlled variables (as many as possible).
b. Can listening to music help you fall asleep?
Independent variable -
Dependent variable -
Controlled variables –
c. What are the effects of temperature on the rate of plant growth?
Independent variable -
Dependent variable -
Controlled variables –