The Scientific Method
Ryan Manthey
SCI/230
7 February 2010
Jo Latimore
The Scientific Method
The scientific method is a method of gathering data and evidence subject to principles of reasoning. The collection of information through observation and experiments, and the creation and testing of a hypotheses are what the scientific method consists of. Scientists create hypothesis and design experiments to test these hypothesis. One hypothesis with a successful experiment may help or further prove truth to other hypothesis.
The following steps, and information was obtained from the class website:
Observation: Have you ever noticed if you place a plant near a window, that after a while, the plant grows or leans toward the window?
Question: Have you ever wondered why the plant grows toward the window?
Hypothesis: What reasons or factors can you list that might cause a plant to lean or grow toward a window? For example I think plants respond to the light which they need to make their food.
Prediction: If it is true that plants respond to the light from which they need to make their food then grow and I grow three plants with a light to the left of them and three plants with a light to the right of them.
Results: The leaves of the plants with the light on the left turned toward the left and the tops of the plants grew toward the left. The leaves of the plants with the light on the right turned toward the right and the tops grew toward the right.
For my experiment I will try to find out why plants grow toward the light instead of away from the light. My hypothesis is that I believe plants grow toward the light because they need the light to produce their food. From my high school science classes I know that plants need sunlight in order to produce their food. This process is called photosynthesis. Plants also need light for chlorophyll production, a reduction in this causes leaves to turn yellow, hence why leaves die in the fall season....