Question

Figure 1.10 In the example below, the scientific method is used to solve an every day problem. Which part in the example below is the hypothesis? Which is the prediction? Based on the results of the experiment, is the hypothesis supported? If it is not supported, propose some alternative hypotheses. 1\. My toaster doesn't toast my bread. 2\. Why doesn't my toaster work? 3\. There is something wrong with the electrical outlet. 4\. If something is wrong with the outlet, my coffeemaker also won't work when plugged into it. 5\. I plug my coffeem aker into the outlet. 6\. My coffeemaker works.

Short answer

Answer: The initial hypothesis was that there is something wrong with the electrical outlet. The prediction made was that if the outlet is the issue, other appliances, like the coffeemaker, wouldn't work when plugged into the same outlet. After testing, the conclusion was that the hypothesis was not supported as the coffeemaker did work when plugged into the outlet.

Step-by-step solution

Identify the Hypothesis

The hypothesis is an educated guess or proposed explanation for a phenomenon. In this exercise, the hypothesis can be found in statement 3: "There is something wrong with the electrical outlet." This is the proposed explanation for the toaster not working.

Identify the Prediction

The prediction is a statement that describes what is expected to happen based on the proposed hypothesis. In this case, the prediction is found in statement 4: "If something is wrong with the outlet, my coffeemaker also won't work when plugged into it." The prediction is that if the electrical outlet is the issue, then other appliances, like the coffeemaker, shouldn't work either when plugged into the same outlet.

Evaluate the Results and Conclusion

The results of the experiment can be found in statement 6: "My coffeemaker works." Based on this result, when the coffeemaker was plugged into the outlet, it did work. This means the hypothesis ("There is something wrong with the electrical outlet") is not supported.

Propose Alternative Hypotheses

Since the initial hypothesis is not supported, we should come up with alternative hypotheses to explain why the toaster doesn't toast the bread. Here are some potential alternatives: 1. The toaster is broken. 2. The power cord of the toaster is damaged. 3. The toaster's settings are not adjusted correctly for toasting bread. 4. The toaster needs to be cleaned or maintained.