182 Scientific Method student handout F20 PDF

Preview

Summary

scientifc method handout...

Description

Student Name: Joel Joseph

Scientific Method and Experimental Design Student Handout and Assignment Your assignment this week has two portions: 1.

You will need to submit your completed handout. 10 points possible

2.

Experimental Design writing assignment, 10 points possible. Details given on the last page of this handout.

All work is due electronically before 1159pm on Sunday, 9/6. Submit both items to the link on the BIO182 Canvas site in the Modules → LAB Materials, documents, and information → Week 2 Scientific Method & Experimental Design area Not a group assignment, everyone is expected to work independently

The Myth: If caught in a rainstorm you will stay drier if you run to get to shelter than if you walk. Experimental Setup: The MythBusters set up a controlled experiment to compare the amount of rainwater absorbed by walking versus running a set distance.

Background Questions: (Answer before watching the episode) 1.

The question to be answered by this segment of MythBusters is “Do you get wetter by walking or running in the rain”? Given this question, what hypothesis do you have? If there is a rainstorm then you will get wetter walking home than running because you will be exposed to more rain since you are travelling at a slower rate allowing for more time to get wet.

2.

Explain why a hypothesis is not just a guess. An hypothesis is not a guess because unlike a guess it is often an unsure prediction or proposed explanation for an observation or scientific question that can be explored through testing and the scientific method.

3.

What is the independent variable to be tested in this experiment? The independent variable to be tested in this experiment is the time it takes to get home which is measured from both the running or walking to shelter.

4.

What is the dependent variable to be measured in this experiment? The dependent variable is the numerical value for the amount of water you must have absorbed when you get home. It is measuring the the amount of “wet” you are during the experiment trial.

5.

A controlled experiment such as this one always has an experimental group and a control group. What is the difference between the two? The difference between the experimental group and the control group is in the experimental group is the group in which the indepdenent variable that is being testing is manipulated is changing throughout the experiment while the control group is the group where the variables does not change and has all the conditions constant. This is usually done so experirmental data can be compared to the control data to understand results and check for error.

Scientific Method and Experimental Design Student Handout

Watch the video at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2axIxq0QM4

Application Questions: (Answer after watching the episode!) 6.

7.

The goal of a controlled experiment is to only alter the variable that is to be tested, leaving all others constant. What are the controls the MythBusters account for in their experimental design? List five. (0.5 points) a.

In-door course that is 100 feet long

b.

Both pairs of particiapants have same clothes and cloth materials

c.

Using sametype of rain-homademade series 1800 sprinklers

d.

Same experimental procedure for each trial etc like measuring water after trial, time

e.

Testing consistent velocity of rain for the sprinklers in conditions like without and with wind

Adam and Jaime each did four trials: walking without wind, running without wind, walking with wind, and running with wind. Do you think this is enough data? Explain how sample size can affect the outcome of an experiment. (0.5 points) I think for more precise and accurate information about the relationship between running and walking in the rain more data will be needed for example like walking or running in relation to different types of rain like weather storm or light sprinkle of rain. Sample size is important in the way it can affect the outcome of the experiment because to small of a size will give inconclusive results that can not be coherently applied to the whole question while an increase in sample size increases the legitimacy and confidence of the results. It also allows for more comparison of data and can lower the chance of

8.

9.

The data table based on the MythBusters’ results is below. Calculate the amount of water absorbed in each trial, and the water absorbed per second for each trial. Enter the data in the appropriate cells. (1 point)

Water Water Absorbed Initial Mass Final Mass of Suit (g) of Suit (g) Absorbed (g) Per Second (g/s)

Trial

Wind

Time (s)

Adam walk

No

18.28

757

785

28

18.28

Jamie walk

No

17.84

757

790

33

6.51

Adam run

No

7.06

757

799

42

7.06

Jamie run

No

6.59

757

793

36

6.59

Adam walk

Yes

17.40

757

789

32

17.4

Jamie walk

Yes

17.56

757

788

31

17.56

Adam run

Yes

6.98

757

801

44

6.98

Jamie run

Yes

6.51

757

790

33

6.51

Calculate the average amount of water absorbed in the running and walking trials: a. Avg. Water Absorbed (Running) = (0.5 points) 2

Scientific Method and Experimental Design Student Handout 38.75 b.

Avg. Water Absorbed (Walking) = (0.5 points) 31

10. Based on the data recorded in the table above, generate a scatterplot graph. Mark the walking trials on the graph with an “x”, and the running trials with an “o”. The independent variable should go on the x-axis, and the dependent variable on the y-axis. Use the link on Canvas for help with Excel graphing if you need it. Copy and paste the scatterplot graph below: (1.5 points)

Water Absorbed (g)

Time (s) vs Water Absorbed running and walking (g) Scatterplot 50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0

44

42 36

33

33

32

28

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

31

8

9

0

10

Time (s) Water Absorbed (g)

11. Generate a bar graph based on the average water absorbed running and walking. Use the link on Canvas for help with Excel graphing if you need it. Copy and paste the bar graph below. (1.5 points)

Average Water Absorbed running vs walking in grams (g) Bar graph 7.1

Water Absorbed (g)

7 6.9 6.8 6.7 6.6 6.5 6.4 6.3

Running

Walking

12. Give one advantage and one disadvantage of displaying your data in a scatterplot graph. (0.5 points) One advantage for a scatterplot graph is that it can show any possible relationship between the the variables that are being tested. It could show possible patterns and even exhibit general patterns like linear or nonlinear relationships. In this case, the advantage scatterplot exhibits that the all the trials have similar results in relation to the walking and 3

Scientific Method and Experimental Design Student Handout running for water absorbed. All the results all standard and there don’t seem to be any outliers.However one disadvantage of displaying the data in a scatterplot is that they don’t give you an exact representation of the mathematical relationships between the variables. Besides the bestfit curve or even linear extrapolations, it won’t be able to give quantitative measurments between data for example like a line graph. In this case, a line graph between the samples of trials of running and walking could have hinted at the differences in the rate of change of each trial or even info on the amount differences between the walking and running trials. 13. Give one advantage and one disadvantage of displaying your average data in a bar graph. (0.5 points) One advantage of the bar graph in this data point is that it makes the data very easy to read and accessible for large amounts of audiences. It can be quickly seen from the data that the running trials have far more water absorption than the walking. However because of this over simplification it can fail to reveal nuances in the experiment like the differences in trials whether or not it was consistently the average or if the data was all over the place and this was the average that was compiled. As a result, the data can be easily manipulated and it can not reveal specific results. Watch the video of a similar “experiment” run by MinutePhysics at the following link: https://youtu.be/3MqYE2UuN24 14. How was the “experiment” as explained by MinutePhysics different than that of the MythBusters? (0.5 points) This experiment of Minute Physics was different than of MythBusters because it had different results and it had different measure of testing the experiment. While MythBusters tried to perform an experimental experiment in which they tested the given variables, MinutePhysics uses physics and mathematical equations to determine that running is the best way to avoid less water. They use physics explanation like velocity of water, speed of runner and different angles of water impact. 15. What conclusion did the MythBusters make as a result of this experiment? Did their conclusion agree or disagree with that of MinutePhysics? Which do you think is a more accurate conclusion? Explain your choice. (0.5 points) The conclusion that Mythbusters made is that running made the water increase in absorption. Their conclusion disagreed with MinutePhysics which stated that it was better to run than walk in the rain. I think the more accurate conclusion is the MinutePhysics because in the Mythbusters video they assumed that the water was at a constant rate and that they didn’t test the impacts of how real water would affect it when coming from different angles like the side. Minutephysics attempted to describe all the instances where water would affect it and thus I think even though it hasn’t been tested yet experimentally it can be more accurate. 16. The MythBusters redesigned this experiment in Episode 38: MythBusters Revisited (Found at the following link. The link is for the full episode, the portion you need to watch runs from 5:50-9:53 https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6pcj7p), and collected different data. Watch this segment and explain how they changed their experimental procedures. (1 point) In the redesigned MythBusters, they changed the experiment like using real rain and waiting for an actual rainfall instead of an artificial water. Even though the water patterns changed on them, they continued again but performed the experiment simultaneously with the runners and walkers and they got overall different results from the original MythBusters experiments. Do you feel their data from the second attempt is more, or less reliable? Explain why. (1 point) I do think the data from the second attempt is more reliable because they had different parameters like real rain water and having the participants equal exposure to the same amount of rain at the same time. This makes the experiment procedure different from the first experiment and it also fixed the experimental errors that was done. It also confirms the physics from MinutePhysics and since the sample size was greater I think it has more accuracy.

Experimental Design Assignment For the second portion of the assignment for this week you will need to complete the writing assignment as outlined below:  

No more than three pages, typed, written in paragraph format (not with bullets or in “recipe” format) Grammar and spelling count 4

Scientific Method and Experimental Design Student Handout 

10 points, due electronically before 1159pm on Sunday, 9/6. Submit to link on the BIO182 Canvas site in the Modules → Scientific Method area



Not a group assignment, everyone is expected to work independently

Do you believe in ghosts? Bigfoot? Alien abductions? If you said yes to any of these, you're not alone. Many people hold beliefs about the existence of paranormal phenomena. However, many of these things cannot and have not been supported by scientific evidence. Though many people (even well-respected people) claim that science can prove the existence of the phenomena, many of their arguments fall flat in the face of critical thinking. While certainly there is nothing wrong in believing in these things, it’s important to distinguish what science is and how it is used to discover patterns and knowledge about the world around us. Science is based on natural and predictable phenomena that can be tested according to the scientific method with good experimental designs. 1.

Choose a topic that is considered to be in the realm of the paranormal, such as alien abductions, ESP, or ghosts.

2.

Compile a short list (three or four) of claims about the topic and list evidence used by others to support the existence of the phenomena. You can use various websites and your own knowledge base to compile this list. For instance, if doing a report on UFO sightings some of the claims could be eyewitness accounts, video/photographic footage.

3.

Focus on a single item of the phenomenon and then ask a question about this topic that could be tested by the scientific process.

4.

List the independent and dependent variables for your question. Think about confounding variables and how you might control for them in your experiment (controls).

5.

Construct a hypothesis that addresses your research question (meaning the hypothesis must be a tentative prediction about the question).

6.

You will then need to come up with an experiment design to test your hypothesis without relying on weak arguments normally utilized for paranormal occurrences. In your experimental design you must be able to: systematically and precisely manipulate the independent variable, precisely measure the dependent variable, and control any potential confounding variables. Use the scientific method and scientific processes to propose a research method that could support/refute the existence of the phenomenon.

7.



Your experimental design must be detailed enough so another individual could complete the experiment without any assistance/instructions from you.



The design must implicitly state the dependent and independent variables and controls.



The only limits of equipment or materials you have for the experiment are those that are actually found in “real life” – nothing that is made up or theoretical.



Make sure to address experimental treatment groups (including a control group) and replicates.

Write a Scientific Research Proposal in the format posted on Canvas in Modules-Lab Information-Week 2. Make sure to cite any sources you use in your paper. For a little help with topic ideas, you can watch the following: https://www.realclearscience.com/video/2017/10/25/three_times_science_debunked_the_paranormal.html WARNING: if you use any of the experiments or ideas in the video, you will receive a zero for the assignment.

IF you have questions, contact your lab TA. Remember: TAs have 24 business hours to respond to all student emails (meaning if you wait until the weekend to email your TA you should NOT expect a reply before Monday or Tuesday)

5...