What is a Prediction?
A prediction is a guess about what might happen based on what you observed. For example, if I increase the amount of sunlight on tomato plants in my experiment will cause an increase in their size compared to identical plants that received the same care but less light.
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1.I see it is raining and the sun is coming out. There could be a rainbow.
2.When I flip the switch, the lamp will light. 3.The weak magnet picked up five paper clips; I predict the strong magnet will pick up more. 4.If I release both balls at the same time, they will hit the group at the same time. 5.I predict it is going to rain because the clouds are dark |
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Predicting is stating what you think a future observation will be Observations may be qualitative or quantitative in nature. We make predictions by first looking for pattern. |
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Discovering patterns will enable you to make dependable predictions about your experiment The ability to reliably predict future events helps us to plan for them Predictions made between observed data points are call interpolations Predictions made beyond the observed data are called extrapolations. While some things change in steady or repetitive ways, other changes appear to be irregular or left to chance.
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When making predictions it is important to:
-Collect data through the careful use of your senses (observing) -Search for patterns of characteristics and behaviors (classifying) -Formulate cause and effect relations (inferring) -Construct statements about what you think future observations will be (predicting) -Test the dependability of the prediction |