FORM 1-PHYSICS-INTRODUCTION TO LABORATORY PRACTICE
INTRODUCTION TO LABORATORY PRACTICE
A Laboratory is a room or a building designed specifically for carrying out experiments.
Laboratory Rules and Safety Guidelines
Basic Principles of Science Investigation
The Concept of Scientific Investigation
Explain the concept of scientific investigation
Scientific investigation refers to the step-by-step procedures and methods employed in carrying out a scientific research.
Steps of Scientific Investigation
Identify the steps of scientific investigation
There are six different scientific step:
- Identification of a problem:This is the first step where a problem is recognised. It provides explanations to the day-to-day questions which we come across in our lives Eg; It is observed that despite adequate feeding, vaccination, treatment and spacious rooms, hens lay fewer eggs each day. What is the cause of the fewer number of eggs?
- Formulation of hypothesis: Hypothesis is an intelligent guess or a tentative explanation for the observation made. Using the example of a few eggs laid by hens per day the hypothesis could be; a smaller number of eggs are laid because of unusual high temperature in the room. In order to prove this hypothesis, an experiment have to be carried out.
- Experimentation: The experimentinvolvesa series of investigations intended to discover relationships or certain facts that may lead to the acceptance, rejection or modification of a hypothesis. The first step in experiment is to construct a plan of investigation.
- Observation and data recording:After setting up the experiment, a researcher makes careful observation using their sense organs and records all events that considers relevant.
- Interpretation of data:Once a researcher has collected data, he should try to explain the meaning of the experiment. This is an attempt to interpret the data. The data may be presented in a form of a table, bar chart, histogram or even graph.
- Conclusion:This is either confirmation or rejection of hypothesis.
A Theory is a set scientific assumptions consistent with one another and supported by evidence but not fully proved (is a hypothesis with more evidence).
Fact is a proved theory supported by evidence
Hypothesis →Theory →Fact