Experimental Design
A. What is the scientific method?The scientific method is used to perform scientific investigations. Scientists usually have to repeat the same steps to come up with new information because the method isn't linear. I chose this image because it represents a scientist using the scientific method and performing an experiment.
B. Reference Links
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C. Scientific Method Steps
1. Ask a question.
2. Formulate a hypothesis. 3. Design and perform an experiment but only use one experiment variable at a time. 4. Collect and record your data to determine weather to accept or reject the hypothesis. 5. Think of an idea to do something different to your experiment and test it again. |
D. Practicing the Scientific Method
I explored 1) graphing, 2) identifying variables, 3) developing hypotheses, 4-5) designing a controlled experiment and 6) predicting results with a partner.
E. Experimental Data
Part 1: I was given data to make a graph, below. My graph demonstrates an inverse relationship between the concentration of ethylene using mL/m^2 and the maturation days for the apples. It was observed that as the concentration of ethylene increases, maturation days decrease. This is due to the effects of ethylene which is released by plants causing fruit to mature faster.
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F. VariablesPart 2: Potential environmental variables to consider:
1. The amount of sunlight 2. Water 3. The weather G. HypothesisPart 3: I selected variable (the weather) from a list of environmental variables I developed with a partner. I believe that the weather may affect the growth of a variety of apple trees because I have observed that if apples do not grow in the optimal weather, they take longer to ripen and, if the temperature is extremely cold, the apples probably will not ripen as quickly, freeze or may not develop properly. In the hot weather, the apples may become dry. If my hypothesis is true, I will see an increase in the apples' maturation time as measured by apple size and the intensity of the color.
Independent Variable: Weather Dependent Variable: Apple Maturation Time |
H. Control GroupsPart 4: It is important to control variables in an experiment because you need a group of apples in a "normal" environment, which is the control group, and another two groups of apples; one in a cold environment and the other in a hot environment (experimental group). If the apples in the cold room take longer to grow than the apples in the room with normal temperature, then my hypothesis is supported.
Control Group:The apple trees in a room with average temperature (21ºC). Experimental Groups: 1) The apple trees in a cold room (7ºC) 2) The apple trees in a hot room (29ºC). |
I. Experimental DesignPart 5: Experimental Procedure:
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J. Expected Results
Part 6: If my hypothesis is true that weather affects apple maturation time, then, I would expect to see apples grown in ideal whether mature at a faster rate than apples grown in extreme weather because if it is too hot, apples may dry up and, if it is too cold, apples may freeze or take longer to ripen.
Deeper Analysis Viewing Experiments
I did research on the following question: How does caffeine affect the body and what are the consequences? I wanted to find the answer to this question because we consume products containing caffeine almost daily, for example coffee, energy drinks or soda and I wanted to investigate how it may affect the body.
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BibliographySmatresk, Neal J. "How does caffeine affect the body?" Scientific American. Feb. 15, 1999
<http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=how-does-caffeine-affect> |
Hypothesis
If you consume caffeine, and go through stressful conditions, then chemicals in your body will raise the heart rate, increase blood pressure and deliver more oxygen to the brain and other tissues.
Independent Variable: Caffeine
Dependent Variable: The body's reaction, heart rate, blood pressure
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