Question

As stated in the text, there is no one scientific method. However, making observations, formulating hypotheses, and performing experiments are generally components of "doing science." Read the following passage, and list any observations, hypotheses, and experiments. Support your answer. Joyce and Frank are eating raisins and drinking ginger ale. Frank accidentally drops a raisin into his ginger ale. They both notice that the raisin falls to the bottom of the glass. Soon, the raisin rises to the surface of the ginger ale, and then sinks. Within a couple of minutes, it rises and sinks again. Joyce asks, "I wonder why that happened?" Frank says, "I don't know, but let's see if it works in water." Joyce fills a glass with water and drops the raisin into the glass. After a few minutes, Frank says, "No, it doesn't go up and down in the water." Joyce closely observes the raisins in the two glasses and states, "Look, there are bubbles on the raisins in the ginger ale but not on the raisins in the water." Frank says, "It must be the bubbles that make the raisin rise." Joyce asks, "OK, but then why do they sink again?"

Short answer

Observations: The raisin sinks and rises in the ginger ale, but not in water. There are bubbles on the raisins in the ginger ale, but not in water. Hypotheses: The bubbles on the raisins in the ginger ale cause the raisin to rise and sink. Experiments: Comparing the raisin's behavior in ginger ale and water, and analyzing the relationship between the bubbles and the raisin's behavior.

Step-by-step solution

Observations

At the beginning of the passage, Joyce and Frank observe that when Frank accidentally drops a raisin into his ginger ale, the raisin sinks to the bottom and then rises to the surface. The raisin then sinks and rises again within a couple of minutes. They also observe that the raisin behaves differently in water, not rising and sinking as it did in the ginger ale. Lastly, they notice that there are bubbles on the raisins in the ginger ale but not on the raisins in the water.

Hypotheses

After observing the bubbles on the raisins in the ginger ale, Frank hypothesizes that it is the bubbles that cause the raisin to rise and then sink again.

Experiments

The experiments conducted in the passage are: 1. Frank and Joyce first observe the raisin's behavior in ginger ale and make a scientific observation. 2. To investigate further, they compare the behavior of the raisin in water. They fill a glass with water and drop a raisin into it, noting the raisin's behavior and comparing it to the behavior in ginger ale. 3. After noticing the bubbles on the raisin in the ginger ale, they further analyze the behavior and its relationship to the bubbles. Throughout this passage, Joyce and Frank perform components of the scientific method to understand the behavior of the raisin in both water and ginger ale.

Key concepts

Scientific Observations

Scientific observations are the heart of understanding the world around us. These are the deliberate use of our senses to gather data and notice details about events and phenomena. As exemplified in the exercise, Joyce and Frank's first step was to observe what happened to the raisin in different liquids. They paid close attention to the raisin's sinking and floating behavior in ginger ale compared to its stillness in water. These initial observations provide the foundation for any scientific inquiry.

Good scientific observations will be:

• Detailed and accurate, capturing all relevant aspects of the phenomenon.
• Repeatable, meaning that others should be able to make the same observation under similar conditions.
• Objective, which requires setting aside personal biases or expectations while observing.

It's through these careful observations that we begin to perceive patterns and inconsistencies that may lead to a deeper understanding of the mechanisms at play.

Formulating Hypotheses

Hypotheses are educated guesses or proposed explanations made on the basis of limited evidence as a starting point for further investigation. They play a pivotal role between observations and experiments. In our exercise, after noting the difference in the raisin's behavior in ginger ale versus water, Frank hypothesized that the presence of bubbles was causing the raisin to rise and fall.

An effective hypothesis should:

• Be testable and falsifiable through experiments or further observations.
• Be logical and should follow from the observations already made.
• Be as simple as possible, explaining the phenomenon without unnecessary complexity (Occam's razor).

This hypothesis sets the stage for Joyce and Frank to proceed with experiments to test their ideas. It guides their investigative process by focusing on the bubbles' role in the raisin's movement within the ginger ale.

Conducting Experiments

Conducting experiments is an integral part of the scientific process. These are systematic procedures carried out to test a hypothesis by manipulating variables and observing the effects. In the example with Joyce and Frank, they did not merely stop at guessing; they conducted sibling experiments to test their hypothesis. Joyce immersed the raisin in water to see if the lack of bubbles affects the floating and sinking pattern observed in ginger ale.

Well-designed experiments include:

• A control variable, or the subject that stays constant and unchanged throughout the test. In this case, the control could be the condition of the raisin.
• Independent variables which is changed or manipulated, such as the type of liquid.
• Dependent variables, which are the conditions that are measured in response to changes in independent variables, like the raisin's movement.

Ensuring precise measurements and avoiding external variables is crucial for experimental reliability. In conclusion, Joyce and Frank's methodical approach embodies the scientific process: conducting an experiment to see if their hypothesis correctly explains the phenomena they've observed.