CHAPTER 1 PG.4-27 The Nature of Science
CHAPTER 1PG.4-27
The Nature of Science
OBJECTIVES:
1. COMPARE THE AREAS OF STUDY WITHIN EARTH SCIENCE 2. IDENTIFY EARTH’S SYSTEMS. 3. EXPLAIN THE RELATIONSHIPS AMONG EARTH’S SYSTEMS. 4. EXPLAIN WHY TECHNOLOGY IS IMPORTANT.
Earth Science Sec. 1.1
The Scope of Earth Science
1. Astronomy:
~ The study of objects beyond Earth’s atmosphere ~ Study the universe, galaxies, stars, planets,
meteors, asteroids, aliens~ describe the locations of objects in space in
relation to each other~ astronauts, space center, satellite stations
The Scope of Earth Science
2. Meteorology:
~ The study of the forces and processes that cause
the atmosphere to change and produce weather~ Forecast the weather~ How changes in weather over time can affect
climate~ Chasing the weather~ Going to the coastal city that is about to be
smacked by a hurricane
The Scope of Earth Science
3. Geology:
~ The study of the materials that make up Earth~ Processes that form and change these materials~ History of the planet and its life-forms science its
origin.~ Identify rocks~ Study glacial movements~ Determine how forces change our planet~ Dig sites, mines, underground, canyons
The Scope of Earth Science
4. Oceanography:
~ The study of Earth’s oceans, which cover nearly
3/4ths of the planet~ Study the creatures inhabiting the salt H2O~ Measure the different chemical and physical
properties of the oceans~ Divers, go to the water
The Scope of Earth Science
5. Environmental science:
~ The study of the interactions of organisms and
their surroundings.~ How living life forms affect the environment~ natural resources, pollution, alternative energy
sources~ Impact of humans on the atmosphere
The Scope of Earth Science
***Subspecialties:
~ The study of our plant is a broad endeavor, and
as such each of the five major areas of Earth
science consists of a variety of subspecialties
~ Examples: pg.7 Table 1.1
4 Main Earth Systems
1. Geosphere: ~ The area from the surface of Earth down to its center.~ Divided into 3 main parts: a. Crust – rigid outer shell of Earth
- continental crust and oceanic crust b. Mantle – just below the crust
- differs from crust by composition and behavior
- Temp from 100° C – 4000° C c. Core – below the mantle (made of solid
Iron)
Earth’s Systems Cont.
2. Atmosphere:
~ The blanket of gases that surrounds our planet ~ Clouds; gases and liquids ~ Contains 78% Nitrogen and 21% Oxygen, and 1% water vapor, argon, carbon dioxide, and other trace gases. ~ Protection from harmful radiation from the Sun (blocks UV {ultra-violet} radiation) ~ Keeps planet temp suitable for life
Earth’s Systems Cont.
3. Hydrosphere:
~ All the water on Earth, including the water in the
atmosphere. ~ 97% Salt water ~ 3% Fresh water (glaciers, lakes, and rivers) and ground water…only a fraction of water
is found in lakes and rivers
Earth’s Systems Cont.
4. Biosphere:
~ Includes all organisms on Earth as well as the environments in which they live
~ All life forms require interaction with at least 1
other system~ Most organisms live within a few meters of Earth’s
surface but some exist deep beneath the ocean’s
surface
Earth’s Systems Cont.
All of Earth’s life-forms require interaction with at least one of the other systems for their survival.
Ex: Figure 1.4 pg. 9Earth’s present atmosphere formed millions of
years ago through interactions with the geosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere.
Organisms in the biosphere, including humans, continue to change the atmosphere through their activities and natural processes.
OBJECTIVES:
1. COMPARE AND CONTRAST INDEPENDENT AND DEPENDENT VARIABLES2. COMPARE AND CONTRAST EXPERIMENTATION AND INVESTIGATION.3. IDENTIFY THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MASS AND WEIGHT.4. EXPLAIN WHAT SCIENTIFIC NOTATION IS AND HOW IT IS USED.
Methods of Scientists
Sec 1.2
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Scientific Method
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What is the scientific method?
It is a process that is used to find answers to questions about the worldaround us.
Is there only one “scientific method”?
NO, there are several versions of the scientific
method. Some versions have more steps, whileothers may have only a few. However, they allbegin with the identification of a problem or aquestion to be answered based on observations ofthe world around us & provide an organizedmethod for conducting & analyzing an experiment.
What is a hypothesis?
It is an educated guess based on observations & your knowledge of the
topic.
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What is data?
It is information gathered during an
experiment.
Independent Variable
~ What is being changed~ What I am “tinkering with” or “manipulating”
Ex: Gum
Dependent Variable
~ What is being measured ~ “Measured change”
Ex: Test Scores
Control Group
~ Stays the same~ The comparison is being made to them.~ Does NOT receive the IV.
Experimental Group
~ The group that the change is occurring to~ Receives the IV
Control Group
Doesn’t receive IV
Control Group
Doesn’t receive IV
SettingTempTestPencilsLightingDesks
Experimental Group
Receives the IV
Experimental Group
Receives the IV
SettingTempTestPencilsLightingDesks
Con
stan
ts
Con
stan
ts
Controlled Variables
All the elements in the experimentthat do not change
X -axis
Y -
axi
s
DV –Dependent
Variable
IV – Independent Variable
Measurement
Force Length Mass Area
Newtons Meter (m) gram (g) Square m (m²)
Volume Density Time Temp
(m³) (g/m³) sec. K, °C, °F
Liters (L)
Scientific Notation
Shorthand; a number is expressed as a value between 1 and 10 multiplied by a power of 10
The power of 10 is the number of places the decimal point must be shifted so that only a single digit remains to the left of the decimal point
If the decimal point must be shifted to the left, the exponent of 10 is positive Ex: 4,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 = 4 x 10²¹ Ex: 5,974,200,000,000,000,000,000,000 = 5.9742 x 10²⁴
If the decimal point in a number must be shifted to the right, the exponent of 10 is negative 0.0000000001 = 1 x 10 -¹º
OBJECTIVES:
1. EXPLAIN WHY PRECISE COMMUNICATION IS CRUCIAL IN SCIENCE.2. COMPARE AND CONTRAST SCIENTIFIC THEORIES AND SCIENTIFIC LAWS.3. IDENTIFY WHEN IT IS APPROPRIATE TO USE A GRAPH OR MODEL.
Communication in Science
Sec 1.3
Communicating Results
Many ways to communicate info: Newspapers, magazines, TV, the Internet, and scientific
journals Even though you may use the same form of communication,
your description will be different than your lab partner.Scientists have the responsibility to truthfully and
accurately report their methods and results. To keep them ethical, a system of peer review is used in
which scientists in the same field verify each other’s results and examine procedures and conclusions for bias.
It also allows others to learn of new discoveries and conduct new investigations that build on previous investigations.
Communicating Results
Lab reports: After you conduct Earth science investigations and
experiments you will be asked to record and analyze the info that you collect and to draw conclusions based on that data.
Models: Scientific model – is an idea picture, a system, or a
mathematical expression that represents the concept being explained. Ex: Figure 1.11
Graphs: By graphing data in a variety of ways, scientists can more
easily show the relationships among data sets. Shows trends in the data 3 types
Line graphs Circle graphs Bar graphs
Examples:Lab Report Model
Graphs
Line graphs: A visual display that shows how two variables are related Independent variable is plotted on the horizontal (x) axis
and dependent variable is plotted on the vertical (y) axisCircle graphs (Pie chart):
To show a fixed quantity Circle represents the total and the slices represent the
different parts of the whole.Bar graphs:
To represent quantitative data; use rectangular blocks called bars.
Length of bar is determined by the amount of the variable measured and the scale of the bar graph.
Line Graphs
Circle Graphs (Pie Chart)
Bar Graphs
Scientific Theory vs. Scientific Law
Ex: Theory of Relativity
Explanation based on experimentation
Make predictions that can be tested
Simple explanations
Can be modified w/ new data or new technology
Both are involved in scientific investigation
Both are involved w/ observation
Describe the behavior of natural phenomenon
Basic rule of nature Ex: law of Inertia
Events are observed to be the same every time
Ex: planets staying in orbit