Many of life's failures are men who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up. - Thomas Edison Physical Science Ch. 1 Sections 1.

Many of life's failures are men who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.

- Thomas Edison

Physical Science Ch. 1

Sections 1 and 2J. Willis CMS

How do scientists think???

• Observe – using all senses to gather information

• Data: two types– Qualitative – uses descriptions that do not use

numbers or measurements

– Quantitative – uses numbers or measurements

How do scientists think???

• Inferring – explain what they observe by reasons you already know; past

• Predicting – make a forecast based on what has happened in the past; future

What is Physical Science???

• Studies Matter and Energy

– Chemistry – studies matter and how it changes

– Physics – studies how matter and energy interact

So…

1. Is a chemist a physical scientist?

2. Is a chemist a physicist?

3. Is a physicist a physical scientist?

4. Is a physicist a chemist?

Scientific Inquiry ProcessQuestion

Hypothesis

Experiment

Communicate

Conclude

Collect Data

Experimenting

Controlled Experiment- ONLY 1 Variable is tested

- Variables – things that change during an experiment

-Independent Variable (manipulated) -Changed on purpose; variable that you test

-Dependent Variable – Changes as a result of the independent variable; variable that you measure

Stating the Problem

Julie is doing a project and needs to follow the scientific method.

She will be testing to see which soil her plant grows best in.

State the problem…

“Which soil will grow grass seed the best?”

Observing and Hypothesizing

• Julie’s mom swears by “Miracle Grow Soil”• Julie’s aunt loves “Great Grow Soil”• Julie’s dad likes “Wonderful Grow Soil”

• Julie has eaten tomatoes from her aunt’s garden and they are delicious….

• Hypothesis: Great grow will work the best.

Experimenting…

• Julie needs…–Soil (3 types)–Water –Light–Containers–Grass seed

Control Group

• Julie needs to know how well the seed will grow without special soil? This will be her control group.

• A control group is what you compare the independent variable to.

• How will she do this?

Constant

• Julie knows that in order to have reliable results, she must only change the soil.

• What are the things she must keep the same?

Independent Variables

• Julie knows that independent variables are what she intentionally changes in each trial.

• What is her independent variable?

Dependent Variable

• Julie expects something to change with each experiment. This is her dependent variable.

• What is Julie going to measure?

Gathering Data

• Julie must get good data.

• How will Julie gather her data?

Data/Conclusion

Soil Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5

Miracle Grow

2 cm 5cm 10cm 15 cm 20cm

Great Grow 1cm 4cm 8cm 16cm 24cm

Wonderful Grow

1cm 3.5 cm 7cm 10cm 14cm

Regular Soil

1cm 2cm 4cm 6cm 10cm

1) Which soil worked the best?2) How much more did it grow than with regular soil?3) What happened to all growth between week 2 and 3?4) Was Julie’s hypothesis correct?

Draw Conclusion/Share Results

• Julie is a 9th grade Biology student.

• What are some ways she can share her

results?

Theories and Laws

• Julie wants to be known in the science world and wants to make a theory or a law. As she researches, she finds a theory is an explanation that is supported by a large amount of research, from many different researchers and investigations.

• Can Julie make a theory?

Theories and Laws

• Since that won’t work, she looks to a Law and finds that a scientific law is a fact that is generally known as true – like “throw something up and it will come back down” a.k.a. the Law of Gravity.

• Can Julie make a law?

Expanding Research

• Since she is going to have to wait to make her mark, Julie was very interested in her results and her experiment. She wants to know more.

• What are some things Julie can do to learn and experiment more with the question “Which soil grows the best grass seed?”

How does Science change understanding?

• Models – scientists make models to show things we can’t see; atomic model

• Scientific Laws – made by repeated studies with the same results; Law of Gravity

• Theories – explain what may happen based on what is known right now, but that can always change

Attitudes in Science• Curious - has questions • Honest – looking for truth• Open-Minded – willing to accept what data

shows• Creative – thinks of new ideas• Skeptical – not believing just everything

Workbook

• Pages 9-15