Chapter 1 Section 2

 Students will be able to:

◦ Explain what scientific methods are.

◦ Explain how scientific methods are used to answer

questions

◦ Describe how a hypothesis is formed and tested

◦ Identify methods that are used to analyze data

◦ Explain how a conclusion can support or disprove a

hypothesis

◦ List methods of communicating data

 Series of steps followed to solve problems

 Do you know what the steps are?

 Take a minute to write down the steps as

you know them…
Ask a question

Form a hypothesis

Test the hypothesis

Analyze the results

Draw conclusions

Communicate results
 Focuses the purpose of an investigation

 Make observations
◦ Gather information through your senses

◦ Accurately make and record your observations

 How can you improve the efficiency of boat
propulsion systems?

◦ Experimenters: Czarnowski (zhar NOW skee)

and Triantafyllou (tree ahn ti FEE loo)
 Most boat propellers are only 70% efficient

 Increased efficiency will save resources

(fuel) and money
 Hypothesis: a possible explanation or
answer to a question

 Based on your observations

 Can be tested

 Predictions : statement of cause and effect

that can be used to set up a test for a
hypothesis (if-then format)
 Penguins swimming in the New England
Aquarium…
 Controlled experiments: tests only one
factor at a time; a control group and 1 or
more experimental groups.

 Only one factor differs, this is the variable

 Designing an experiment

 Collecting data
 Czarnowski and Triantafyllou built Proteus,
a 2-propeller penguin boat

 They tested it in the Charles River in Boston

 They collected and recorded data such as

the flapping rate, energy used by the
motors, and the speed achieved by the
boat.

 The only factor that was changed was the

flapping rate
 Organize your data (tables, graphs, etc.)

 Helps to explain and focus on effects of the

variable
 By graphing data on flaps per second,
Proteus was most efficient at 1.7 flaps per
second

 Graphing efficiency showed that Proteus is

17% more efficient than a propeller-driven
boat.
 Do the results of the experiment support
the hypothesis?

 If not, need to find another explanation…

 Problems are rarely solved with just one

experiment
 After many more trials, Czarnowski and
Triantafyllou found that the penguin
propulsion system was more efficient than
the propeller propulsion system.

 This led to more questions…Can this system

be used on large tanker ships?
 Share with others to learn more and expand
your ideas

 Compare hypotheses

 Repeat experiments

 Develop new experiments and hypotheses

 Published their results in academic papers,
science magazines, and newspapers

 They also displayed their results on the

Internet

 This way, other scientists can conduct

additional research about Proteus
 What is the relationship between and
experiment and a hypothesis?

 When following scientific methods, what is

the correct procedure for investigation?