What is ?. Science is …. Observing, studying, and experimenting to find the nature of things. 3 main branches: physical science, biological science, and.

What is ?

Science is ….

• Observing, studying, and experimenting to find the nature of things.

• 3 main branches: physical science, biological science, and Earth science.

• Earth Science is the study of the Earth and its neighbors in space

Science is a PROCESS…

• Science is a way of learning about the natural world through observations and logical reasoning.

• Science can grow and change as new ideas are explored.

• Scientific Inquiry is another term for the ongoing process of discovery in science.

• Scientists use critical thinking to solve problems

Thinking Like a Scientist

Some of the skills used by scientists include asking questions, making observations and inferences, developing hypotheses, and conducting experiments.

This is called USING the SCIENTIFIC METHOD.

Scientific Methods

• General ways to help organize your thinking about questions

• Helps you find and evaluate possible answers• Sets of procedures that scientists use• The steps can vary

Asking Questions…

• Are you curious about things?

• Curiosity drives scientific investigation by leading people to think about a question or a problem.

Scientific/ Testable Questions

• Centers on objects, organisms, and events in the natural world

• Connects to scientific concepts rather than to opinions, feelings, or beliefs

• Answered through scientific investigations – experimenting or observations

• Gather evidence and using data to explain how the natural world works

Making Observations

• Observation involves using all five senses – sight, hearing, touch, smell, and sometimes taste.

• Observations also include measurements.

• Facts, figures, and other evidence that we learn through observations is called data.

Get to Know Your Peanut!

Observations OrganizerThink of properties you can see such as size, shape, color, lines, texture, pattern, behavior…

I observed….

Think of the other senses of smell, sound, touch, and perhaps taste.

I noticed….

Connect it with something that you already know. It reminds me of…..

Add details and be specific. This is so because….

Be curious and ask questions you could investigate. I am curious about…

It surprised me that…. ORI wonder what would happen if…..

Qualitative & Quantitative Observations

• Qualitative observations describe• Describes the characteristics of something

• Quantitative observations measure

• Scientists try to use quantitative observations because they are more precise.All observations take practice!

Measuring MATTER

What is MATTER?

• Matter is anything that has MASS and VOLUME.

• All matter takes up space.• There are 4 states of matter:

SOLID LIQUID GAS PLASMA

MASS• The amount of matter something is made of • Anything that has matter, has mass.• Mass is measured in GRAMS and is measured

on a triple beam balance

Reading a triple beam balance

What mass does this balance show?

What is VOLUME?

• Volume is the amount of space taken up, or occupied, by an object.

• Objects that have volume cannot share the same space at the same time.

• Matter takes up space.

Liquid Volume

• Liquids are measured in LITERS (L)• We use a graduated cylinder to measure

liquids.• The curve that is seen at the liquid’s surface is

called a meniscus.

• Measure a liquid’s volume from the bottom of the meniscus

Reading a graduated cylinder

Solid Volume

• The volume of any solid object is expressed in cubic units.

• Cubic means having “three dimensions”• Cubic centimeters (cm³) is most often used.

How to measure volume of a solid

How to measure volume of a solid with an odd shape

Compare Liquid Volume to Solid Volume

• The volume of any liquid can be expressed in cubic units.

1 mL is equal to 1 cm³

Precision in Measurement

• Precision, or exactness, of measurements can vary.

• Precision depends on the instrument used • Example: a tape measure marked every .01 m

is more precise than a tape measure marked .1 m.

• To measure something use the most precise instrument

• Example: measure 2.5 mL of water in a 10 mL graduated cylinder instead of a 50 mL cylinder.

Accuracy vs. Precision

• Accuracy and precision are not the same.• Precision depends on the instrument• Accuracy depends on the person doing the

measuring

Making Inferences…

• Based on your observations, you can suggest explanations for events.

• Inferences often change as new observations are made.

• The only rule of inferring is to be logical.

Take a good look at this picture…

Questions

Are there cars parked on the sides of the road?What color is the pickup truck driving in the

road? Any minivans around? What color is the sign on the post?What is the speed limit?Are there any pedestrians on the road?

Observation or Inference?

• Look at the picture on the next slide• Determine whether the statements are

observations or inferences• Now, turn to your partner and compare your

answers – discuss• Be prepared to share what your partner has

said

1. There is a representation of a face on one side of the coin.2. The Latin word "Dei" means "God."3. The coin was made by deeply religious people.4. The date 1722 is printed on one side of the coin.5. The coin was made in 1722.6. The face on the coin is a representation of the nation's president.

Classifying

• In science, we classify or group things according to their properties or similarities and differences.

Identifying and Manipulating Variables

• Variables are factors, conditions, and/or relationships that can change or be changed in an event or system

• Variables that can affect the outcome of the experiment are kept constant, or controlled

• Only the results of changing the given variables are observed.

Helicopter Happening

Three Kinds of Variables

• Constant Variable– A variable that is not changed

• Manipulated Variable/ Independent Variable- factor or condition that is intentionally changed by

the investigator - controlled by you during the experiment

• Responding Variable/ Dependent Variable- a factor or condition that might be affected as a

result of that change- changes because of the manipulated variable

(worksheet)

Predicting

• Forecast a future event based on prior experiences

• Science is based on several assumptions or beliefs about the natural world -- cause-and-effect relationships in the natural world

• Predictions can come from observations, inferences, or experiments (data).

• The amount of data available and the accuracy of the data affect the accuracy of the prediction.

Predictions about Insects

Forming Hypotheses• When we ask questions, sometimes they can

be tested. • A hypothesis can be formed after identifying

the variables to be tested.• A hypothesis is a special kind of prediction

that forecasts how one variable (manipulated) will affect another variable (responding)

• A hypothesis expresses a logical explanation that can be tested.

• They specify an exact focus for an experiment.

Steps for writing a good hypothesis:

• Identify variables in a given event or relationship

• Identify a pair of variables that might be logically related

• Identify the manipulated and responding variables

• Write the hypothesis using the following format:– “If the (manipulated variable) changes, then the

(responding variable) will change.”

Relationship Between Observing, Inferring, and Hypothesizing

• Observing leads to inferring• Inferring in turn leads to identifying variables

and hypothesizing• (worksheet)

Is It A Car??

Scientific Models• Scientific modeling is a research method scientists use to replicate

real-world systems and are used to test hypotheses and predict information.

• Modeling involves developing physical, conceptual, or computer-based representations of systems.

• Models represent real-world events or systems that are too large to observe or too small to observe.

• Often they are not accurate because the scientists may not have all the data. It is important that scientists test their models and be willing to improve them as new data comes to light.

• A good model must be able to explain as many characteristics of these observations as possible, but also be as simple as possible.

• All models have limitations — no model can possibly explain every detail of a scientific phenomena

The Experiment

• During the experiment, you are testing the question you asked earlier.

• You will test your variables against one another

• During the experiment you will make observations, make predictions, record data, identify variables, all to answer the question.

Controlled Experiment

• An experiment that isolates the effect of one variable on a system by holding constant all variables but the one under observation.

• In other words, only one variable is changed and all others are held constant to obtain results of the experiment.

• Example: A student wants to know the affect orange juice has on plant growth. The student would have 2 sets of plants: 1 with oj and 1 without. All other factors that affect plant growth would remain the same for both sets of plants.

Recording Data and Observations

• Recording data accurately allows the scientist to prove or disprove the hypothesis

• We record data in tables, charts, and graphs.

Why do we create data tables and graphs?

• Easy and organized way to record the results of your experiment

• Shows the independent and dependent variables together in one picture

Creating a Data Table

• Data tables always need a title• Rows and Columns also need titles

Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri AvgBreakfast

Lunch Dinner

Number of Fruits and Vegetables Eaten at Each Meal

Days of the Week

Mea

ls

Graph Title

Column Title

Row Title

Trial1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Trial 4 Avg

Baseball 17.5 18.3 21.4 18.8 19.0

Football 34.3 34.4 37.5 38.6 36.2

Basketball 9.3 8.5 7.6 8.2 8.4

Travel Distance (m)

Obj

ects

Thr

own

Organizing your data onto a table

• Determine the number of columns and rows you need to have– Remember, you need an extra for headings

• Not all experiments require you to show and average

• If units are used on data table, put them in the title

• Use a ruler to ensure neatness

Now your turn…

• Using the info given to you, design your own data chart for the sample experiment

• Remember to use your rulers and be neat

• Don’t forget a title and units if necessary

Rolling Marbles for a Distance

Ramp height measured in centimeters is listed below0 cm, 5 cm, 10 cm, 15 cm, 20 cm, 25 cm

Distance measured in centimeters0cm, 17 cm, 35 cm, 51 cm, 65 cm, 72 cm

Heating of Compound – XJ-007

Time in minutes0 min, 5 min, 10 min, 15 min, 20 min

Temperature measured in degrees C0, 12, 35, 86, 153

Graphing Your Data

• Graphs indicate trends in data• A graph is a diagram that shows the

relationship of one variable to another. • A graph makes interpretation and analysis of

data easier.

Types of Graphs

Pie Chart

Bar Graph

Line Graphs

Parts of a Graph

• X axis: Independent variable– horizontal– the first coordinate plot

• Y axis: Dependent variable– vertical– second coordinate plot

Creating your graph

• Always have a title• Space between points on the x and y-axis

must be equal – chose an appropriate scale• Use the highest and lowest data points to

determine the spacing on axis lines• Use a ruler to draw your axis lines• Now you try! Graph and plot the following

data points from the example experiment.

Best-Fit Line Graph

• We do not always want to connect the dots on a line graph

• Sometimes we need to take an “average” or “best-fit” of our data

• To make a best-fit line graph, find the best straight line “through” the points plotted

• There should be as many points above the line as below the line – this gives the average

Best-Fit Line Graph

Now your turn….

• Use the info given to you to graph the data from the sample experiments

• Remember to title your graph

• Use a RULER

Results

• Results are what come from performing the experiment.

• Results should NEVER be changed to make your hypothesis “correct.”

• These show what happen to the responding variable.

• Results are diagrammed, graphed, charted.

Analysis of the Results

• Because we chart, diagram, or graph the results of an experiment, we can analyze those images.

• To analyze or read the results, we need to know how to read a chart, a diagram, or a graph.

• Analyzing the results of an experiment, is another way of communicating our findings.

Communicating• Communication is a very important part of the

scientific process.• We can communicate our ideas and findings in

many ways• Written reports, data tables, graphs, diagrams,

and charts are all forms of communication.• Scientists publish the results of their

experiments in scientific journals, where other experts can review the work.

• Research that has been examined by other scientists is said to have been peer reviewed

Conclusion!

• The conclusion is the final communication in the scientific process.

• This is when the data is interpreted and either your hypothesis was proved correct or not.

Science and Technology Work Together

• Technology is the application of science for practical uses.

• Engineers apply scientific knowledge and methods to design products people use.

• Advances in science and technology depend on one another

• Technology drives exploration

Engineering Design Process

The Goal

Build a Bridge

Scientific Law

• A scientific law describes a process in nature that can be tested by repeated experiments.

• A law allows predictions to be made about how a system will behave under a wide range of conditions.

• A law does not explain how a process takes place.

Scientific Theory• An explanation of how a natural process

works.• Scientific theories are always being

questioned and examined.• A theory must explain observations clearly

and consistently• Experiments that illustrate the theory must be

repeatable• You must be able to predict results from the

theory

Big Bang Theory

Other Theories of the Beginning of the Universe