Ch 1 - The Nature of Science. B. Asking questions 1. Science can answer a lot of questions but it cant answer things about art, politics, morality, right.

Ch 1 - The Nature of ScienceCh 1 - The Nature of Science

B. Asking questionsB. Asking questions

1. Science can answer a lot of questions 1. Science can answer a lot of questions but it can’t answer things about art, politics, but it can’t answer things about art, politics, morality, right or wrong, good or bad or morality, right or wrong, good or bad or personal preferencespersonal preferences

I.I. What is Science?What is Science?

A. A way of learning about the natural worldA. A way of learning about the natural world

1. Want to know why & how something 1. Want to know why & how something occurredoccurred

2. To do this, one must ask questions2. To do this, one must ask questions

C.C. Possible ExplanationsPossible Explanations

1. With science any answer is 1. With science any answer is uncertain because people will never uncertain because people will never know everything about the world around know everything about the world around themthem

2. With new knowledge they might realize that some old explanations no longer fit new information

QuestionQuestion ExperimentNew Info.

Explanation still possible

Modified

Discarded

New explanation

possible

D.D. Scientific Scientific TheoriesTheories

1. Is an attempt to explain a pattern that is 1. Is an attempt to explain a pattern that is observed repeatedly in the natural worldobserved repeatedly in the natural world

ExEx: The Sun rises in the East and sets in the : The Sun rises in the East and sets in the West West as a result of the counterclockwise as a result of the counterclockwise rotation of the rotation of the Earth.Earth.

2. Theories are the best explanations but 2. Theories are the best explanations but they can changethey can change

3. Theories explain why something happens3. Theories explain why something happens

E.E. Scientific Scientific LawsLaws1. Is a rule that describes a pattern in 1. Is a rule that describes a pattern in naturenature

ExEx: The Sun rises in the East and sets in : The Sun rises in the East and sets in WestWest

2. To become a law it must be 2. To become a law it must be observed repeatedlyobserved repeatedly

3. A law does not attempt to explain 3. A law does not attempt to explain why something happens, it just why something happens, it just describes the patterndescribes the pattern

II.II. SystemsSystems in Science in ScienceA. A system is a collection of structures, A. A system is a collection of structures, cycles and processes that relate and cycles and processes that relate and interact with each otherinteract with each other

Ex: solar system, body systems, ecosystems, Ex: solar system, body systems, ecosystems, life cycles, water cycle etc.life cycles, water cycle etc.

B. Systems are found everywhereB. Systems are found everywhere

C. All systems are made up of other C. All systems are made up of other systemssystems

Ex: Human body system made of smaller Ex: Human body system made of smaller systems;systems;

Our school system part of larger systemsOur school system part of larger systems

III.III. Branches of ScienceBranches of Science

A. There are 3 main categories or A. There are 3 main categories or branches:branches:

1. Life Science1. Life Science

2. Earth Science2. Earth Science

3. Physical Science3. Physical Science

B.B. Life ScienceLife Science

1. The study of living systems and the ways in 1. The study of living systems and the ways in which they interactwhich they interact

2. Biology, Zoology, Botany, Anatomy etc.2. Biology, Zoology, Botany, Anatomy etc.

C.C. Earth ScienceEarth Science

1. The study of Earth systems and the systems in space. It 1. The study of Earth systems and the systems in space. It includes nonliving things such as rocks, soil, clouds, rivers, includes nonliving things such as rocks, soil, clouds, rivers, oceans, stars, weather, etc.oceans, stars, weather, etc.

2. Astronomy, Geology, Meteorology etc.2. Astronomy, Geology, Meteorology etc.

D.D. Physical SciencePhysical Science

1. The study of matter & energy1. The study of matter & energy

a) a) MatterMatter – anything that has mass – anything that has mass and and takes up spacetakes up space

b) b) EnergyEnergy – the ability to change – the ability to change mattermatter

2. EVERYTHING (living and nonliving 2. EVERYTHING (living and nonliving systems) is made of mattersystems) is made of matter

ex: plants, animals, water, air/ atmosphere, cloudsex: plants, animals, water, air/ atmosphere, clouds

3. Physical science is divided into 2 general 3. Physical science is divided into 2 general categories: categories:

a) a) ChemistryChemistry – the study of matter – the study of matter and and the interactions of matterthe interactions of matter

b) b) PhysicsPhysics – the study of energy and – the study of energy and its ability to change matterits ability to change matter

IV. Careers

A. Jobs that are science related

1. Medical – doctors, nurses, ultrasound & x-ray technicians, sports medicine, physical therapists

2. Research – chemists, physicists, biologists

3. Engineering

B. Technology – practical use of science or applied science

V. Science in ActionA. Scientists have a huge collection of skills that they use to solve problems

B. Scientific Method1. State the problem/question2. Collect information/Research3. Hypothesize4. Experiment5. Record Data6. Draw a conclusion7. Repeat

C. Infer – to draw a conclusion based on an observation

D. Experiments

1. Are means to test hypotheses

2. Controlled Experiment – a test where only one factor is changed at

a time to observe how it affects another factor

3. Factors that can be changed in an experiment are called variables.

a) Independent variable – the factor that is changed/ thing you are testing

b) Dependent variable – a factor that changes as a result of the independent variable

c) Constants – factors that are NOT changed in an experiment

E. Lab Safety

1. The #1 rule: Think before you act

2. Know the location of equipment

3. Have good safety habits

*Draw and learn lab safety symbols – p.19

VI. Models in Science

A. A model is any representation of an object or an event used as a tool for understanding the natural world

1. Models help visualize something that is difficult to see

ex: something that is too big, too small, no longer exists etc.

B. Types of Models

1. Physical Modelsa) can see & touch

ex: pictures or 3-D, maps, globes

b) shows how parts relate to one another

c) used to show how things appear or react when an outside

force acts on them

2. Computer Models

a) use software – can see but not touch

b) used for events too slow or too fast to actually see

ex: weather models, plate tectonics etc.

Weather.com - US map radar

Rose Bloom

Flowers blooming, Clouds & Water drop

3. Idea Models a) concepts that describe how someone thinks about something in the natural world ex: Einstein's theory of relativity E=mc2

1879-1955

C. Using Models

1. Not all models used for scientific purposes

2. Other uses:

a) Communication – to relay information and ideas to people

ex: globes, blueprints, recipes

b) Test predictions ex: wind tunnels to duplicate flight

conditions

c) Save time, money & livesex: crash test dummies

D. Evaluating Scientific Explanation1.

Critical Thinking – combining knowledge that you already have with new facts that you are given in order to decide for yourself if you should agree with something

2. Data – the observations and information gathered in an experiment; it can be recorded in the form of a written description, table, chart or drawing

a) must consider if the data is specific and exact

ex: how many people were involved in a study – are exact #’s used?

b) scientists must be able to back up their statements with specific data and it must be able to be repeated by other scientists

3. Good Notes – write down every observation because you can easily forget something in a few hours