PENNY LAB

A Guide to Completing Your Scientific Method Booklet!

Introduction:The first set of slides shows what each page of the booklet needs;

The second set of slides gives examples.

--They have different background color.

CoverPg 2 = Problem Statement,Research, Hypothesis

Pg 3 = Proce- dure

Pg 4 = Data, Observa-tions & Sketches

Pg 5 = Analysis (Graphs & Inferences)

Pg 6 & 7 = Conclusion“RERUN”

Pg 8 = Back Cover, “extra space”

PENNY LAB – Title Page needs…Title – that relates to the labYour NamePartner’s NameSectionDue Date (to be determined)

Slide 1 of 1

PENNY LAB – Page 2

RESEARCH = background info to understand the labAt least 3 facts & 2 different citations. Citation needs name of article and name of website

Problem Statement = what you’re trying to figure out

Slide 1 of 2

PENNY LAB – Page 2 con’tHYPOTHESIS =

dependent variableresponding variable

(=what’s changed)

(=what’s measured)

independent variablemanipulated variable

because (briefly explain why).If [I do this],

then [this will happen] because [of this reasoning].

If

then

Slide 2 of 2

PENNY LAB – Page 3PROCEDURE always needs…Safety = what do we need to be careful

with/about?

Operational Definition = how will the dependent/responding variable be measured?

Set-up Sketch = to show how equipment was set up for the lab

Clean up = what do you have to do to clean up?

Slide 1 of 2

PROCEDURE Extra CreditWrite a procedure for the experiment

we did in class.• Numbered list• Start each step with a verb• Make sure it can be followed! • Up to 4 pts. EC• Write on a separate sheet, put in

booklet

Slide 2 of 2

PENNY LAB – Page 4DATA & CollaborationData Tables = one w/your data; one

w/collaboration data from 3 other groups

Observations = write down at least 2 things you noticed during the experiment

Sketch/es = at least one; it should support your observations; 1 picture can be worth a 1000 words

Slide 1 of 1

PENNY LAB – Page 5ANALYSIS is all about…Graphs = 2, one using your data; the other

uses collaboration dataX-axis = independent or manipulated variableY-axis = dependent or responding variable

Inferences = write down what you can figure out from your graphs

Collaboration = ALWAYS write about your collaboration data as well as your own data!!

Slide 1 of 1

PENNY LAB – Pages 6 & 7CONCLUSION = “RERUN”RestateExplain the procedureReport the ResultsUncertainties or ErrorsNew Things Discovered,

Extensions

Slide 1 of 3

PENNY LAB – Pages 6 & 7CONCLUSION = “RERUN”Restate = your problem question

Explain the procedure = summarize what you did; include variables & op. defn.

Report the Results = tell how your results and inferences support or reject your hypothesis; be sure to use collaboration data! This is always worth a lot of points because this is where you show your THINKING and that you understood what happened

Slide 2 of 3

PENNY LAB – Pages 6 & 7CONCLUSION…continuedUncertainties or Errors* = what are some

things that affected your results? Corrections? What could you have done better?

New Things Discovered*, Extensions* = new information or knowledge gained; interesting or cool/funAlso, how could the experiment be taken further? New questions * at least 2!

Slide 3 of 3

PENNY LAB – Page 8The Back CoverYou can use this if you need more

room for any of the other pages.– OR – it can be the back cover!

Have some fun and be creative, but never leave it blank!!

(Does NOT need to

be titled or

defined!!)

Slide 1 of 1

Next are the sample pages.

Remember, you must DEFINE the step, and then DO the step!**

** Except for the title page and back cover

(red type = hints and

reminders from me! )

Penny LabMrs. Spiegel

Partner: Harvey the HawkSection: 7-ADue: Sept. 31, 2010

Pg 1 / CoverSlide 1 of 1

If (independent/manipulated variable)…

then (dependent/responding variable)…

because (briefly explain why).My Hypothesis If pennies made of different metals have water dropped on them, then harder pennies will hold less drops because the harder metals will make the water splash more.

Hypothesis (format)

Problem Statement = what I’m trying to figure out How many drops fit on a penny?

(= variable you are testing)

(= variable you measure)

Pg 2Slide 1 of 2

Research = background infoCopper has a hardness of 3.2-3.5; zinc has a hardness of 2.5; steel is 7Citation: Mohs scale of mineral hardness; wikipedia.org

From 1793 – 1837, the penny was pure copper. For the next 20 years, the penny was bronze, which is copper, tin and zinc. From 1857 – 1863 the cent looked whitish because it was made of copper with 12% nickel. For the next 98 years (1864-1962!) the penny was again bronze, except for 1943. Because of the need for copper during WW II, the cent was zinc-coated steel in 1943. In 1962 the tin was removed from pennies, making them 95% copper and 5% zinc. In 1982 this was changed to 97.5% zinc and 2.5% copperCitation: The Composition of the Cent; usmint.gov

Pg 2Slide 2 of 2

= always has these 4 parts

Clean up = what needs to be done at the end of the lab • Wipe down table• Return flasks & other

equipment to back counter

Safety = be careful about…. -- wear goggles

Operational Definition = how the dependent/responding variable is measured number of drops will be one less than overflow

Set-up Sketch: = How the equipment was used

Procedure

(What’s missing from this sketch? Hint: it’s a good way to include your controls!)

Pg 3Slide 1 of 2

PROCEDURE Extra CreditWrite a procedure for the experiment

we did in class.Numbered listStart each step with a verbMake sure it can be followed! Up to 4 pts. ECWrite on a separate sheet, put in

booklet

Pg 3Slide 2 of 2

My Group’s Data

Collaboration Data

I didn’t think water would pile up and make such a big mound on a penny!The 3 pennies really looked different from each other

(OK, so I “cheated” b/c this is PowerPoint and I used Google to find pictures instead of making sketches… )

= includes data tables, observations & sketches

1943 1963 1984

Data & CollaborationObservations:

Number of Drops – Raw Data    Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 31943 Penny 43 45 461963 Penny 22 23 271984 Penny 33 37 38

Number of Drops -- Averages      My Grp Grp 1 Grp 2 Grp 31943 Penny 44.7 46.5 40.2 44.21963 Penny 24 28.2 26.3 26.81984 Penny 36 33.4 34.2 35

(Use

a ruler!!

)

Pg 4Slide 1 of 1

My Group’s Graph (drops)

Collaboration Graph (drops)

Both graphs show that the 1943 penny held the most drops, the 1984 held the second highest number of drops and the 1963 penny held the least amount of drops.

It can be inferred that the 1943 penny holds more water than the 1963 or 1984 pennies.

= graphs & inferences

Inferences:

Analysis

1943 Penny 1963 Penny 1984 Penny0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

Number of Drops – Raw Data Trial 1Number of Drops – Raw Data Trial 2Number of Drops – Raw Data Trial 3

(Use

graph

paper!!)

(Use graph paper!!)

Pg 5Slide 1 of 1

Restate = problem questionHow many drops can fit on a penny?

Explain the procedure = summary with variables and operational definitionWater was dropped onto pennies made of different metals. The number of drops it took to flood the penny was recorded to see if harder metals held more water.

Conclusion = “RERUN”

(You will use 2 pages for the conclusion; I will need 4 slides!)

(Notice how I included the variables and op defn in my sentences)

Pgs 6 & 7Slide 1 of 4

Report the Results = show how results support or reject hypothesis

All the graphs show that the 1943 penny held the most drops. This data does not support the hypothesis because the 1943 is the hardest penny. It is steel. The research said zinc is a softer metal than copper and copper is softer than steel. I now understand that the “softness” of a metal does not seem to “cushion” the drops. Instead, all the data shows that the harder pennies held more drops.

Conclusion (continued) Pgs 6 & 7

Slide 2 of 4

Conclusion (continued)Uncertainties or Errors = things that affect

results; improvements• We had a hard time keeping the pipette at 2

cm.; using a ruler would have helped.• We needed to be more steady because

sometimes we jiggled the paper towel and the water spilled off the penny.

• Sometimes the drops came out too fast because we squeezed the dropper too hard.

(At le

ast 2

!!)

Pgs 6 & 7Slide 3 of 4

Conclusion (continued)New Things Discovered, Extensions =

new information or knowledge; what’s next?

Metals have different hardness. Pennies are made from different metals. I am glad we got to decide which variable we wanted to use in our experiment. What would it be like to compare silver dollars with nickels? Would heads be different from tails? What about different sides?

(At le

ast 2

!!)

Pgs 6 & 7Slide 4 of 4

Back Cover (can be used as extra room for any step, or as a back cover! Never leave it empty!)

(Does N

OT need to

be titled or

defined!!)

Pg 8Slide 1 of 1