Wolodkowicz

Biology IH

Chapter 1BScientific Method

  1. Scientific Method- a series of steps scientists use to solve problems.
  2. Problem- Plant is dieing.
  3. Recognize the problem via observation-using your 5 senses to understand what is happening in the situation (Plant is wilting).
  4. Research the problem.
  5. Hypothesis & Prediction- A statement that can be tested, it explains your observations. Ex. The peanut plant will die due to lack of water. One can then predict that if one adds water, the plant will live.
  6. Experimentation-testing your hypothesis.
  7. Controlled Experiment- is an experiment based on the comparison of a control group with an experimental group. Note: the setup for both experiments would be identical except for one factor, the factor being tested or the independent variable. Ex:
  8. Control group- an experiment in which the scientist already knows the results. Ex. Peanut plant grown in specific soil, watered with 10ml of water/day in 24-hour sunlight will live.
  9. Experimental group- an experiment in which the hypothesis or unknown is tested. Peanut plant grown in the same soil, the same amount of sunlight, but with no water. (Independent variable is the water).
  10. Dependent variable- is driven or results from the independent variable. It is the data collected in regards to the independent variable vs. the control group. Ex. The dependent variable would be the growth of the 2 plants based on water or lack there of.
  11. Data (results)- measurements, samples, ect, taken for a determined number of seconds, minutes, hours, days, months, or years recorded. Often placed in chart form or graph from.
  12. Inferring or drawing a conclusion- The final outcome of the experiment- after 10 days, plant A with water grew 10cm, while plant B without water died on the 8th day. Conclusions can lead to more hypotheses.
  13. Theory- a statement believed to be true in the scientific community due to many repeated testing of the original hypothesis.
  14. Fact- Proven without a reasonable doubt. It is a fact that plants need water to survive. It is a theory that dinosaurs died via an asteroid, but not a fact.
  15. Measurements used in biology- metrics or SI units (International System of Measurements). Based on a unit of 10.
  16. Length- meters (m)
  17. Mass- grams (g)
  18. Volume- amount of space a substance occupies (length*width) m3 or liter (L).
  19. Temperature- Celsius (C) 0oC is freezing/100oC is boiling. Kelvin (K).
  20. Time- seconds (s).

Kilo (1000) Hecto (100) Deka (10) m (1) deci (.1) centi (.01) milli (.001)

Kilo (103), Hecto (102), Deka (101),m (1),deci (10-1), centi (10-2), milli (10-3)

Conversion ex: 350m 350,000mm 2.85cg .00285dag