Scientific Method Write Up

BSC 1005
M-F 12:00 – 1:00
LAB 1- SCIENTIFIC METHOD
HOW FAR CAN A MEALWORM CRAWL?

Observations:
1. The scientific method allows for an organized and systematic approach to problem solving. It represents the “backbone” of scientific research, as well as a useful method in everyday decision making. The steps involved in the scientific method would include, but not be limited to, the following: 1. Statement of problem 2. Information gathering on research 3. Formulation of hypothesis/possible solution of problem 4. Experimental design and data collection 5. Results and analysis of data 6. Conclusions and applications

2. Mealworm are actually beetle insect lava that metamorphosize to adult beetles in about 6 weeks.
Problem statement: 1. Can we design an activity to illustrate the scientific method, the importance of collecting and graphing data, and coming to conclusions?
Hypothesis:
1. It is believed an experiment to illustrate the steps of scientific methodology can be designed to include observations, problem statement questions, hypothesis which are testable and falsifiable, proper experiment design, data and graphing, and conclusions based on data.

Experiment: Materials: * Mealworm * White paper * Metric Rulers * Pencil * String * Graph paper * Stop watch
Procedure:
1. Observe the length of a millimeter on a Metric ruler 2. Be completely silent for one minute to perceive the passage of time 3. Observe the movement of a mealworm (beetle larva). 4. Predict the number of millimeters the mealworm will crawl in one minute. 5. Place the mealworm on the white paper. 6. Using the pencil, trace the movement of the mealworm on the paper for one minute. 7. Return the mealworm to the container provided by your instructor. 8. Use the string to duplicate the path of the mealworm. 9. Straighten the string, place on the ruler, and record the number of millimeters. 10. Now, place the mealworm back in the cup, warm gently in your hand for about a minute. 11. Repeat the experiment, but with the warmed, mealworm.
Data:
Each laboratory group will record their Data, to the nearest cm…, on the following table:

Room Temperature Worm Number | Predicted # of mm.(Hypothesis) | Actual # of mm. | Difference | 1 | 60mm | 15mm | -45mm | 2 | 3mm | 0 | -3mm | 3 | 15mm | 15mm | 0 | 4 | 25mm | 26mm | -1mm | 5 | 40mm | 38mm | -2mm | 6 | 10mm | 35mm | +25mm | 7 | 12mm | 3mm | -9mm | 8 | 2mm | 3mm | 8mm | 9 | 5mm | 4mm | +1mm | *10 | 10mm | 20mm | +10mm |
*Group 10 was my group

Warmed Worm Number | Predicted # of mm.(Hypothesis) | Actual # of mm. | Difference | 1 | 60mm | 20mm | -40mm | 2 | 3mm | 0 | -3mm | 3 | 15mm | 5mm | -10mm | 4 | 25mm | 40mm | +15mm | 5 | 40mm | 61mm | +21mm | 6 | 10mm | 23mm | +13mm | 7 | 12mm | 17mm | +5mm | 8 | 2mm | 8mm | +6mm | 9 | 5mm | 10mm | +5mm | *10 | 10mm | 140mm | +130mm |
*Group 10 was my group

Questions: 1. How close were your predictions to actual number of millimeter crawled? * I was in group 10 and our prediction was only off by +10mm on the first iteration where the meal worm was at room temperature. When the meal work was warmed it jumped to +130mm. I did not expect such a high jump in movement.

2. How did your results compare with the rest of the class? * Most of the class had a negative difference as to where our group had a positive difference in movement.

3. What might you do to minimize your difference column? * I would aim for a slightly higher prediction on the worm’s movement at regular room temperature. I would aim for a much higher number of predicted movements while it was warmed.

4. What was the control part of this experiment? * The meal worms

5. What did you vary the 2nd time you took data? * The temperature of the worms

6. What were some of your controlled variables? * Length of the worm, surface used for testing, time for warming, etc.
Conclusion:
This experiment clearly illustrated the scientific variable. We asked a question (Designed activity to illustrate scientific method). We did some research on what is needed for a proper scientific method. We came up with an experiment involving meal worms that would help us illustrate the scientific method. We wanted to find out if warming the temperature of a meal worm would increase its movement speed over a minute. We divided ourselves into 10 groups; each group had the same materials and understood the experiment. We all made predictions on what we though the worm would travel unwarmed and warmed. We tested our worms and compared data at the end to form a conclusion. We then compared our results with the other groups to communicate our results.

Extension: 1. If the mealworm travels 1mm in a minute, prepare a line graph of the data, using X as the independent variable of time. And Y as the dependent variable of distance, to predict how far the mealworm might travel in 10 minutes.

2. A mealworm is actually an insect larva. At room temperature, it should go through the metamorphic phases of larva, pupa, and adult to become a beetle in about 6 weeks. Make a graph comparing the amount of time the insect goes through each stage. Then, setup an experiment to test the problem statement, “How many mm might the adult beetle travel in 1 minute”. Make up your own data, and develop a graph based on your own data. Come to a conclusion based on your data.
HOW FAR CAN AN ADULT MEALWORM CRAWL?
Observations:
1. The scientific method allows for an organized and systematic approach to problem solving. It represents the “backbone” of scientific research, as well as a useful method in everyday decision making. The steps involved in the scientific method would include, but not be limited to, the following: 1. Statement of problem 2. Information gathering on research 3. Formulation of hypothesis/possible solution of problem 4. Experimental design and data collection 5. Results and analysis of data 6. Conclusions and applications

2. Mealworm are actually beetle insect lava that metamorphosize to adult beetles in about 6 weeks.

Problem statement: 1. How many mm might the adult beetle travel in 1 minute?
Hypothesis:
1. My predictions are that the mealworm will travel 30mm.

Experiment: Materials: * Mealworm * White paper * Metric Rulers * Pencil * String * Graph paper, stop watch
Procedure:
1. Observe the length of a millimeter on a Metric ruler 2. Be completely silent for one minute to perceive the passage of time 3. Observe the movement of a mealworm (beetle adult). 4. Predict the number of millimeters the mealworm will crawl in one minute. 5. Place the mealworm on the white paper. 6. Using the pencil, trace the movement of the mealworm on the paper for one minute. 7. Return the mealworm to the container provided by your instructor. 8. Use the string to duplicate the path of the mealworm. 9. Straighten the string, place on the ruler, and record the number of millimeters. 10. Now, place the mealworm back in the cup, warm gently in your hand for about a minute. 11. Repeat the experiment, but with the warmed, mealworm.
Data:
Each laboratory group will record their Data, to the nearest cm…, on the following table:

Room Temperature Worm Number | Predicted # of mm.(Hypothesis) | Actual # of mm. | Difference | Adult beetle 1 | 30 mm | 35 mm | +5 mm |

Conclusion:
The adult mealworm will crawl more than a larva.

How might you apply the scientific method in everyday situations? - I apply the scientific method every day. As a film student/creator, whenever I am writing a movie or scene, I wonder if my audience will enjoy the movie or scene. I then conduct some research by watching films or scenes from other movies that are similar. Once I have established what I want to write in or create, I again ask myself if my audience will enjoy it. I always believe my audience will enjoy my production, of course I am proved false many times. I then begin to piece together my project with the previous information I learned from the other similar movies I watched. Once it is complete I show my project to fellow crew members and writers. Once I get their opinion, I decide on keeping it the way it is or changing it. I then release it to the public and from what we can gather from the audience’s opinion I find out if it was good or bad. (My movies contain a ton of blood and guts and a very interesting humor, I am not creating any “the Artist” type of movies, just wanted to clear that out)This paper will self-destruct in 5-4-3-2-1-!!!!!!