Scientific Method Activity

In the natural world, scientists use the scientific method to create understanding about problems they observe. There are four main processes: observation, hypothesis, testing of hypothesis and drawing a conclusion.

Observation / Observe problem
Hypothesis / Think of a possible solution to problem. It needs to have a prediction that can be tested
Testing the Hypothesis / Do an experiment to test your solution
Drawing a Conclusion / Verify if experiment solved the hypothesis

Observation:

In the evening you try to turn on the front porch light. But it does not come on.

fig A

Hypothesis:

The light will not glow because the light bulb is burnt out.

Prediction:

Replacing the light bulb will cause the light bulb to glow.

Test Hypothesis:

You replace the light bulb and then flip the light switch.

Drawing a Conclusion:

Replacing the light bulb corrected the problem. The new light bulb illuminated.

But we cannot determine what caused the light bulb to go bad. We only tested for lack of illumination and not the root cause of the problem. The hypothesis was only for lack of illumination. In order to determine the direct cause we will need to construct another hypothesis and perform the same steps to test it.


Let us go the next step and try and determine what the root cause of failure was for the light bulb.

Possible issues:

1  Bird caused lamp failure

2  Lamp lasted its life expectancy

3  Filament burnt out

4  Possible wiring issues in the switch

5  Possible wiring issue with fixture

Fig B (left) Fig C

Fig D


Scientific Method Activity

Worth 5 points

Given the following parameters answer the following items. The objective is to think in scientific terms about the problem. Think about it and document it.

Using one of the five possible issues

1 Bird caused lamp failure

2 Lamp lasted its life expectancy

3 Filament burnt out

4 Possible wiring issues in the switch

5 Possible wiring issue with fixture

Observation:

______

Hypothesis:

Prediction:

______

______

Test Hypothesis:

______

Draw a Conclusion:

______