State the Problem	You cannot solve a problem until you know exactly what it is.
Research the Problem	What will it take to solve my problem? What do I know, and need to know, about my problem? By investigating these simple questions, you are educating yourself, which is a key component of the scientific method.
State a Hypothesis	A hypothesis is simply an educated guess as to what you think the cause of your problem is. Remember that the only way you can make an educated guess is by researching your problem
Test your hypothesis	Experimentation will prove your hypothesis correct or incorrect.
Record your results	Analyzing data will give you valuable insight regarding your problem. A single experiment sometimes does not yield enough data for you to draw a conclusion, so repeat the experiment over and over.
State a conclusion	Explain the results of your experiment. Sometimes solving one problem might lead you to another problem. Which means the cycle of discovery, as scientists have found out, goes on and on.

A working knowledge of prefixes and suffixes used in science will be of great help to you, so I have included a list of prefixes and suffixes that will help your scientific vocabulary. You will be tested on these terms early in the first 6 weeks.

Chapter 1 also illustrates the importance of measuring when conducting experiments. Measurements must be reliable and accurate when communicating results to others. The standard system of measure used by scientist throughout the world is the Metric System. Most American students have difficulty learning the metric system because of their limited exposure. We will spend some time early in the six weeks orienting you to the metric system and the different ways in which scientist around the world compare and analyze data.

The basic units that we measure are:

length	how long something is; standard unit is the Meter [symbol M]
volume	the amount of space an object occupies; standard units are the Liter [symbol L] for liquids and the cubic centimeter [symbol cm3] for solids
mass	which means amount, how much of something you have; standard unit is the kilogram [symbol kg]
density	how much matter is packed into a given space; formula is density=mass/volume; standard units are g/mL for liquids or g/cm3for solids
temperature	how fast particles move; standard temperature is measured on the Celsius scale

Sometimes we must be able to convert from one unit to another unit. This process of conversion is known as dimensional analysis. In order to perform dimensional analysis, you must use a conversion factor. A conversion factor is a fraction that always equals 1. For example 1 kilometer equals 1,000 meters or vice/versa 1,000 meters equals one kilometer [it's the same as 4/4=1]. Here are a couple of dimensional analysis sample problems for you to look at.

Chapter 1 Section 2 - Tools of Measurement

Measuring length you should use a ruler. Remember to state your results in meters.

Measuring mass you should use a triple beam balance. Remember to state your results in grams.
Measuring volume for a liquid or an irregular shaped solid you should use a graduated cylinder. For a regular shaped solid, multiply the length x width x height in cm. For a liquid simply pour the liquid into the cylinder. At the surface of the liquid, you will notice a curved line called the meniscus. To determine your volume, read the marking at the bottom of the curve. To determine the volume of a irregular shaped solid, pour an initial amount of water in the cylinder and record your meniscus. Place the object in the cylinder and record your new meniscus. Subtract the difference between the two amounts and the amount of fluid that was displaced is equivalent to the volume of the object.
Measuring temperature you should use a thermometer. Remember to state your results in degrees Celsius.