What is Science? Science is an organized way of attempting to understand the natural world, structurally and operationally. We are always: - looking for ways to improve our quality of life - trying to understand how systems work - attempting to improve on an existing system
What is Science?. Science is an organized way of attempting to understand the natural world, structurally and operationally. We are always: - looking for ways to improve our quality of life - trying to understand how systems work - attempting to improve on an existing system - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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What is Science?Science is an organized way of attempting to understand the natural world, structurally and operationally.
We are always: - looking for ways to improve our quality of life
- trying to understand how systems work
- attempting to improve on an existing system - atlatl, pump toothpaste
The Need for Proof
• Evidence is based on observations.
• Information gathered using the senses during an observation is called data (sing. datum).
Data
• Data can be qualitative or quantitative.– Qualitative – no specific number, rather a
comparison or estimate• ex. big, blue, some, herd, bunch
– Quantitative – specific number given in an attempt at exacting detail
• An estimation or prediction based on previous experiences or observations are called inferences
• You can infer about whether or not a fish with large, sharp teeth eats other fish because of your previous experiences or observations of fish with large, sharp teeth.
Hypothesis
• “Educated guess”• Testable prediction• Possible explanation of an experience or
observation in nature
Always as a statement, never as a question
There may or may not be an underlying knowledge about the hypothesis
Theory
• Best possible scientific explanation of an experience or observation in nature.
• Have not been tested• Can not be tested
There is an underlying knowledge about a theory, both observationally and experimentally