The Scientific Method 1

The Scientific Method Shaunda Smith SCI/230 07/14/13 Valerie Brewer

The Scientific Method 2 The observations of discovery science stimulate us to ask questions and seek explanations. Ideally, such investigation makes use of what is called the scientific method. As a formal process of inquiry, the scientific method consists of a series of steps (Simon, Reece, and Dickey, 2010, pp.14). The activity this week involved using the scientific methods five steps. The experiment chosen was the car scenario, in which the car would not start one morning. This is when the scientific method five steps are put to good use. The first step is observing the situation. One morning the car in the garage will not start. It was working great the day before. This is when the next step, asking questions is put into place. The question would be why is the car not starting? The next step we put the next step into place, which is the hypothesis. It is best to have at least three possible hypotheses to experiment with. The three in this activity is; the car needs fluids; the battery is not working; and there are electrical problems. The hypothesis chosen was that the car has electrical problems. After choosing deciding on the hypotheses, the next step is prediction. The prediction choices are fuses needing replaced or replace the spark plugs. The next step is to decide which prediction supports the hypotheses. The conclusion was that to get the car started, the fuses needed replaced. After the fuses are replaced the car started, thus the hypotheses was supported. A real life situation that has happens a lot is misplacing the cell phone. This can involve hours of searching for the cell phone. Applying the five steps of the scientific method can help solving the misplaced cell phone. First, observe the situation. The cell phone is always missing. Second, is asking questions about why the cell phone is misplaced all of the time? Next, the hypothesis is formed. The cell phone is in the purse, the cell phone is in the car, or the cell phone was dropped.

The Scientific Method 3 The prediction is now predicted. The cell phone is in the car. The conclusion was supported by hypothesis.

The Scientific Method 4 Reference Simon, Eric J., Reece, Jane B., and Dickey. Jean L., Campbell Essential Biology with Physiology, Third Edition. 2010 by Pearson Education, Inc. Published by Benjamin Cummings. Retrieved from University of Phoenix course materials online July, 14, 2013.