Inventions and the Scientific Process

A Classroom Lesson from The MathScience Innovation Center

Inventions and the Scientific Process

Where do ideas come from? How do you know if an idea is good (or not)? How do scientists develop and test their ideas?

Why Learn About Inventions?

Its fun! It relates science to YOUR daily life.

Theyre unique; we remember the strange and different so we can tie methods of inquiry and science to the study of inventions!

Some Inventors and their Inventions

Note how each happened Think about the characteristics of each inventor Think how the scientific method relates to the process of invention

Benjamin Franklin 1706-1790

The Franklin Stove The Glass Harmonica Bifocal glasses

Did he invent electricity?

Friedrich Kekule

1858
Wanted to be an architect, not a chemist!

Kekule Structures Instead of H2O, H O -- H

Galileo

1564 - 1642

17 years old Saw swinging lamp in church The Pendulum

Thomas Edison

1876
Simply worked all the time (Genius is 1 % inspiration and 99 % perspiration) By accident and keen observation -invented phonograph!

Albert Einstein

1905
Used pencil, paper, & his mind NO LABS! Knew by feeling General Theory of Relativity Ugly equations

Elijah McCoy

1872

Mechanical Engineer and Train Oilman Invented the automatic lubricator for engines

The Real McCoy

Alexander Graham Bell 1876

Interested in Visible Speech & the deaf Knew little about electricity so he invented telephone Founded the National Geographic Society

Art Fry

1974

3M Scientist & choir member Developed the Postit Note!

Chester Carlson

1938
Invented electrostatic photocopying method IBM, RCA, GE, and other companies turned him down XEROX

Jack Kilby

1959

Worked for Texas Instruments The Integrated Circuit

Photo Credit: usps.gov

Cassidy Goldstein
The Crayon Holder!

2004

Photo Credit: BKFK.com

How do Inventions Happen?

Close observation Sheer dumb luck timing Motivation -- $ ? Search for an answer to a problem Creative approaches and strategies By asking, what if? and Brainstorming Using models followed by a period of testing or scientific analysis.

Traits of Inventors

Unique different individuals Risk-takers follow their instincts Ask questions -- & pay attention to answers Inspired passion about subject

Task commitment persistence

Which of these traits do you have?

Inventions:
are PRODUCTS we create which are Unusual

Appropriate for a job Transformed from something else Condensed (refined after testing)

Pathways to Inventions

First, find a PROBLEM that you want to solve. Develop your IDEA. Then, TEST your idea. And finally, you will EVALUATE your results.

Finding Your Problem

Make a bug list of things that bother you
What bugs you? What can you improve? Messy room? Pencils that break? Heavy school backpacks? Little brothers or sisters?
You can come up with an idea from your bug list!

Developing Invention Ideas

Use Synectics (analogies)
Compare your idea to another thing, or even to yourself!

How is ______ like a ______ ? How am I like a ______?

More Ways to Develop Ideas

Combine Opposites!
What is exactly opposite to my idea that I could somehow combine with it?
Idea Opposite

And More Invention Ideas!

Use the SCAMPER Method:
For my idea, what can I .

Substitute Combine Adapt Modify Magnify Minify Put to other Uses Reverse or Rearrange to make it WORK!

Photo credit: lbl.gov

Put Your Idea to THE TEST!

Once you have an idea, then put your idea to the TEST to see if it works!

In other words, design a test to see if your hypothesis for your invention is supported (or not)!

The Process of Invention and Science

An idea (or problem) = hypothesis Develop a bug list = observe/describe Build/design = testing Back to the drawing board = rethink hypothesis and try a new variable

Establish criteria to evaluate = analysis of results

Will the public buy it? = conclusion

More Invention Strategies

Change your perspective Work problems backwards Break your own rules for past success Develop new reading habits Be a risk-taker Combine opposites Listen! Listen! Listen!

Once begun is half-done!

If I have a thousand ideas a year, and only one turns out to be good, Im satisfied. Alfred Nobel

Photo Credits

Most photos are from the public domain of pictures of great inventors that have been used and reprinted numerous times over the years. Other sources include: BKFK (By Kids for Kids ) usps.gov lbl.gov