Scientific Method

What is science?

• The study of some body of knowledge that can be tested by repeatable experiment

What is the scientific method?

• Observation

• Prediction

• Measurement

• Predict again

• Try again

What is the scientific method?

• Prediction usually takes the form of a mathematical expression• Which usually ends up being protrayed in a

graph

What is the scientific method?

• Prediction usually takes the form of a mathematical expression• Which usually ends up being protrayed in a

graph

What is the x axis?When would this graph be expected to be valid?When would you expect it to be invalid? (Hypothesis)How would you test this?

What is an Optical Illusion?

• Any illusion that deceives the human visual system into perceiving something that is not present to exist.

• In science, we need to keep from getting fooled by illusions

Who’s the Tallest?

How Many People do you See?

4

Face or Liar?

What do you see?

How Many Faces do you See?

11

Scott Toilet Tissue advertises 1,000 sheets per roll & while it's true that there are still 1,000 sheets, the sheets shrunk! They used to be 4 inches and have now been reduced to 3.7 inches.

How do you determine if a physical measurement is correct?

How do you determine if an optical illusion is real?

How do you determine if a product is a good purchase?

How do you determine if a product is a good purchase?

- Measure it!

How do you determine if an optical illusion is real?

- Measure it!

How do you determine if a physical measurement is correct?

- Measure it again!

Food Net

Weight

Price Unit

Price

Comments

Oatmeal 12 oz $2.49

Oatmeal 24 oz $4.89

Oatmeal 40 oz $8.20

Bananas 5 pounds $1.50

Bananas 10 pounds $2.50

Bananas 50 pounds $12.00

Choose the best food choice and explain why

What do optical illusions have in common with science?

• Scientists resort to the power of observation to make sense of data acquired through experimental investigations.

Why are accurate observations important?

• Over 80% of the information you receive is obtained visually.

• Scientists rely on the powers of experimentation involving measurements to separate illusion from reality.

How do we determine if a perception is accurate?

• Measure the right thing.

• Repeatedly.

Further Interest

• www.michaelbach.de/ot/

• http://www.mcescher.com/