Experimental Design
A. What is Scientific Method?
The scientific method is various steps scientists perform in order to prove if something is either correct or incorrect.
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B. Reference Links
C. Scientific Method steps
Scientists use a more complex process to create an accurate conclusion to a hypothesis. People use a much simpler process involving less steps The steps we use are as followers:
1. Ask a question 2. Construct a hypothesis 3. Test the hypothesis 4. Review your data 5.Come up with ha conclusion 6. Share your results |
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. I used a Google spreadsheet to create a graph and I saved my image file to upload here. My graph demonstrates an inverse relationship between concentration of ethylene and the days of maturation of the apples because it was observed that as the concentration increases, maturation decreases. This is be due to the effects of ethylene which is known to be released by plants naturally which causes plants to mature faster in less amount of days.
Dependent variable: The apple maturation Independent variable: concentration of ethylene The best dosages for each type of apple Winesap, golden and gala are 25 mL/m^2, 35 mL/m^2 and 35mL/m^2, respectively because this concentration produces a result that apples with ethylene will mature faster than those without |
F. Variables
Part 2 :Potential environmental variables to consider:
1. The amount of sun the apples should get. 2. How much rain the apples should receive. 3. The different type of Weather. G. Hypothesis
Part 3:
I selected variable 3 from a list of environmental variables I developed with a partner. The variable I picked is the different type of weather from a list of environmental variables I developed with a partner. I predict that the Winesap, golden, and gala trees planted in different weather environments will show different effects on the time it takes for apple maturation because I have observed that trees do not grow as well in winter as they do in summer. If my hypothesis is correct, I will observe the trees will grow in a summer-like environment than in a winter-like environment as measured by how many apples grow on trees. |
H. Control Groups
Part 4:
It is important to control variables in an experiment because if we didn't have any, we wouldn't know the main cause of the change in the experiment. Control Group: A group of apple trees in a a greenhouse. Experimental Group: A Group of apples trees in environments with different climates such as winter or summer. |
I. Experimental Design
Part 5:
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J. Expected Results
The results I would expect is that the apples that were in a good climate would have grown faster. The other group that was in a drier climate, I would expect to have taken longer and most likely would probably be a bit closer to dead. The other group that was in a really dry climate must have either not grown at all or have taken a really long time.