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Scientific Method
- Research Question:
- The research question is the single most important part of the scientific method.
- Every part of your project is done to answer this question.
- The research question is sometimes formed as a statement and is called the "Problem" or "Problem Statement."
- Hypothesis:
- The hypothesis is an "educated guess," formed as a statement.
- You propose it to be the answer to the research question.
- An educated guess is based on some prior knowledge.
- Experimental Design:
- Plan an experiment in which you can test your hypothesis.
- Variables:
- The experiment will contain an element or elements that do not change (called controlled variables or dependent variables)
- Also elements that will change (called manipulated variables or independent variables).
- Control:
- The control is a particular sample that is treated the same as all the rest of the samples.
- It is not exposed to manipulated variables.
- Observation:
- When you interact with your experiment, you are using your senses to observe.
- Does it have a smell, make a noise have color, etc.?
- Collect Data:
- As you observe your experiment, you will need to record the progress of your experiment.
- Data can be whatever you observe about your experiment that may or may not change during the time of the experimentation.
- Examples of data are values in pH, temperature, a measurement of growth, color, distance, etc.
- Data:
- The data are the values written down as the experiment progresses.
- Charts & Graphs:
- When at all possible, illustrations of data are advisable.
- They create a professional appearance and convey a great deal of information.
- Examples include: Bar Graph, Pie Chart, X & Y axis Graph, Histogram, etc.
- Materials:
- List all supplies and equipment.
- Procedure:
- The procedure is a somewhat detailed, step - by - step description of how you conducted your experiment.
- Results:
- The results is usually in the form of a statement that explains or interprets the data.
-
- You do not go into any detail or explanations here. You simply say in words what your data is telling you.
- Conclusion:
- The conclusion is a summary of the research and the results of the experiment.
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- This is where you answer your research question.
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- You make a statement of whether your data supported your hypothesis or not.
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- You may have data that supported part of your hypothesis and not another part.
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- You may also have data that did not support your hypothesis at all. In this case, you may explain why the results were different.
- Application:
- The application is how the information or knowledge gained in the experiment can be used. It is not often included in science fair projects.
SI Units
|
SI base unit
|
| Base quantity |
Name |
Symbol |
| length |
meter |
m |
| mass |
kilogram |
kg |
| time |
second |
s |
| electric current |
ampere |
A |
| thermodynamic temperature |
kelvin |
K |
| amount of substance |
mole |
mol |
| luminous intensity |
candela |
cd |
|
SI Prefixes
| Factor |
Name |
Symbol |
| 1024 |
yotta |
Y |
| 1021 |
zetta |
Z |
| 1018 |
exa |
E |
| 1015 |
peta |
P |
| 1012 |
tera |
T |
| 109 |
giga |
G |
| 106 |
mega |
M |
| 103 |
kilo |
k |
| 102 |
hecto |
h |
| 101 |
deka |
da |
|
|
| Factor
| Name
| Symbol
|
| 10-1 |
deci |
d |
| 10-2 |
centi |
c |
| 10-3 |
milli |
m |
| 10-6 |
micro |
µ |
| 10-9 |
nano |
n |
| 10-12 |
pico |
p |
| 10-15 |
femto |
f |
| 10-18 |
atto |
a |
| 10-21 |
zepto |
z |
| 10-24 |
yocto |
y |
|
Significant Digits
Atlantic-Pacific Rule
When you look at the number in question, you must determine if it has a decimal point or not. If it has a decimal, you should think of "P" for "Present". If the number does not have a decimal place, you should think of "A" for "Absent".
Example, for the number 35.700, think "P", because the decimal is present.
For the number 6500, you would think "A", because the decimal is absent.
Now, the letters "A" and "P" also correspond to the "Atlantic" and "Pacific" Oceans, repectively. Now, assume the top of the page is North, and imagine an arrow being drawn toward the number from the appropriate coast. Once the arrow hits a nonzero digit, it and all of the digits after it are significant.
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