Scientific inquiry follows a process of observation, questioning, experimentation and analysis. The document describes a student noticing different colors appearing when water was dropped on ink, leading to the question of whether black ink contains multiple colors. An experiment using chromatography was conducted, showing the ink separated into different colors. Analysis of the results supported the hypothesis that black ink is not just one color, demonstrating the scientific method of observation, questioning, experimentation and conclusion.

1. Scientific Inquiry and Process

2. Science: way of understanding the unknown The stepping stones of scientific processes Methods by which questions are answered What is Scientific Inquiry?

3. I noticed a pen during homework I dropped water on my homework The ink smeared… different colors appeared Observation

4. Are their multiple colors in black ink? Why are questions important in science? What if you didn’t begin with a question? The Question

5. Questions are building blocks of inquiry Without a question…process is unorganized The question leads to possible solutions Possible Outcomes

6. What are possible answers to the question? Possible hypotheses: There are multiple colors in ink Ink only has the one color The Hypothesis

7. How can you separate the inks? The ink smeared on wet paper Use a chromatography experiment to test Creating a Test

8. Mark a paper with the ink Fill a cup full with water Place the inked paper in water The Experimentation

9. The paper will absorb up the water Water will pass through the ink The ink smears and shows different colors Results of Experimentation

10. What do the results say? Were there multiple colors in the ink? Data Analysis gives answers to the hypotheses Data Analysis

11. The experiment showed multiple colors This proves ink is not just black Do findings support or disprove hypotheses? Make Conclusions

12. Hypothesis: multiple colors in ink The results agreed with the hypothesis Are there any variables that affect outcomes? Was the Hypothesis True?

13. Hypothesis: Ink only has one color The results did not agree with hypothesis What would be your next step? Was the Hypothesis False?

14. Perform the experiment again Use different types of pens Will they have the same results? The RE-DO

15. Results are usually published in reports Findings undergo the peer revision process Revisions finalize the findings Results and Reports

16. Test Analyze/Conclusions Repeat Observation Question Hypothesis Prediction The Scientific Method

17. “Boy (Anders) with Binoculars” August 22, 2007 via Wikimedia Commons, GNU Free Documentation License “3D Character and Question Mark” May 28,2010 via Flickr, Creative Commons Attribution Amy “Beakers” January 28,2010 via Flickr, Creative Commons Attribution “Chromatography Tests” October 3, 2008 via Flickr, Creative Commons Attribution “Nuvola-inspired File Icons for MediaWiki” August 24, 2006 via Wikimedia Commons, GNU Free Documentation License “Bar Graph” October 26, 2008 via Flickr, Creative Commons Attribution Citations