Ask A Scientist© General Science Archive

name         Miriam S.
status       other
age          30s

Question -   Hi. I do not know if you can help me.  My 7th grader is 
doing a science fair project, and because he needs orthodontic work, he 
decided to do it on teeth movement.  So, he wrote a whole (4 page) 
eport, using various books, websites and interviewing our 
orthodontist.  The report is done.  The problem is that he cannot come up 
with an idea for a science fair project related to teeth movement.  He 
needs to have a hypothesis, gather data, and have a conclusion.   Our 
orthodontist, as well as two friends who are dentists, suggested building 
models of teeth  in wax and showing how they move.  But that does not do 
what his teacher wants re hypothesis, data etc.  even something that is 
not exactly about teeth movement , but relates to it (let us say the 
theory behind it) would be fine.  But we cant figure anything 
out.  Something like, increased pressure placed on a stationary object 
will move the object faster...or I do not know, but we have to be able to 
measure pressure and physically do it.  I do not know if I am being at 
all clear. I just know, he has to present an idea to the teacher later 
this week and we are at a loss!  I thought maybe through your resources 
you mite have an idea for us! Please help!

You have me stumped, too.  But let us investigate the process, and perhaps 
that will help.

Hypothesis:   A question that is provable true or false.  (I know that this 
is wrong since you cannot prove something true, but let us go with 
it.)  What questions do you have, that by a careful design, you can collect 
measurements that will confirm/reject your hypothesis?
Are teeth fixed?
Do teeth move?
If teeth move, by do they rotate?
If teeth move, do they translate?
If teeth move, by how much do they rotate if an external force is placed on 
them, per month?

OK, these are just the beginning.  I think you can see that the first 
question is OK, but poor.  The next question is a bit better.  The 
following two questions get into specific questions by which measurements 
will confirm/refute the hypothesis.  The final one is putting particular 
parameters on the problem, and helps you with the design of your 
experiment.  I think you get the idea.  Try your own ideas, but this should 
help you understand how a scientist thinks to write an hypothesis.

How will you get the data?  Perhaps models, x-ray studies, or other sources.

---Nathan A. Unterman
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