Final answer:
In a scientific investigation, a detailed process involving hypothesis formulation, experimental design, and data analysis is followed to test predictions about an event or observation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Steps of a Scientific Investigation
A scientific investigation involves several steps such as observing an event, formulating a hypothesis, designing an experiment, collecting data, and drawing conclusions.
A hypothesis is a tentative explanation that should be testable. For instance, if we observe alternating light and darkness, a hypothesis could suggest this is due to the movement of celestial bodies like the sun and moon.
Experimental Design to Test Hypotheses
To design an experiment, for example, to show the acceleration of an object is independent of its velocity, information such as time taken to hit the ground, initial velocity, and displacement of each ball (A, B, C) would be required for a thorough analysis. Properly collecting and interpreting data leads to meaningful conclusions about the hypothesis.
Creating and Testing Predictions
After selecting a hypothesis, predictions are made like "If the air conditioning is turned on, then the room will cool down." The experimental process would then involve changing the independent variable (the air conditioning) and measuring the dependent variable (room temperature) to test this prediction.