Introduction to Science: Defining Science and its Categories

1. Chapter 1: Introduction to Science

2. Defining Science • Science deals with the natural world. • Science can be classified into 3 main categories:

3. Defining Science • Life Science (Biology) • the study of living organisms • Earth Science • the study of Earth and space • Physical Science • the study of matter and energy • chemistry & physics

4. Defining Science • Scientists investigate nature by observation, experimentation, or modeling

5. Defining Science • Model – represent things that are too small, too big, or too complex to study easily

6. Defining Science • Physical Science is the study of matter and energy. Ex. of matter are: plants, animals, rocks, clouds, and eggs. Ex. of energy are: lightning, thunder, heat, sunlight, and electricity.

7. Defining Science • Pure/Natural Science • research that adds to the body of scientific knowledge • has no practical use

8. Defining Science • Technology (Applied Science) • the practical application of scientific knowledge

9. Natural human genetics atomic theory study of the human ear Technology DNA fingerprinting nuclear weapons hearing aids Defining Science

10. Defining Science • Bias – a way of thinking that favors one outcome or interpretation. • (an opinion)

11. Defining Science • Critical thinking – the ability and willingness to assess claims critically and to make judgments on the basis of objective and supported reasons.

12. OBSERVATIONS VS. INFERENCES • Observations- Things perceived with your senses – sight, touch, smell, sound, and taste. • Inference- Logical explanations for what you observed based on prior knowledge.

13. OBSERVATIONS or INFERENCES??? • _____ 1. The glass must have been dropped. • _____ 2. The liquid is bubbling. • _____ 3. The metal is gray. • _____ 4. The bubbles are oxygen.

14. OBSERVATIONS or INFERENCES??? • _____ 5. The glass is cracked. • _____ 6. The vinegar tastes sour. • _____ 7. The metal must be Pb (lead) • _____ 8. The flask feels warm.

15. Scientific Method • - a series of steps followed to solve problems • - organized set of investigation procedures. • - involves finding missing information.

16. Scientific Method – 5 steps • Patty • Found • Tommy • A • Car

17. Scientific Method 1. State the problem(usually in question form). • What do you want to know? • What do you want to solve? • What effect does the independent variable have on the dependent variable?

18. Scientific Method Research the problem. • What is already known about your question? • Find out about the topic. • Gather information from: internet, prior knowledge, books/library TV, newspaper, ask people (survey)

19. Scientific Method 2. Form a hypothesis. • Predict the outcome to the problem. • Make an educated guess of an answer to the question (based on prior knowledge and observation). • Can be tested • What you are trying to prove?

20. Scientific Method 3. Test your hypothesis. • Develop a procedure to test the hypothesis. • Repeat experiment 3-5 times

21. Scientific Method Explain the importance of multiple trials when conducting experiments.

22. Scientific Method Explain the importance of multiple trials when conducting experiments. To have a more reliable answer.

23. Scientific Method 4. Organize & Analyze the data. • Record the results of the experiment • Collect and analyze results. • Does the data support the hypothesis? • Put results in graphs, tables, charts. Keeping accurate records is very important.

24. Scientific Method 5. State a conclusion. • Compare the hypothesis with the results of the experiment to form a conclusion. • Make a conclusion based on the data summary of the experiment.

25. Experimental Design • Experiment- organized procedure for testing a hypothesis

26. Experimental Design • Experimental Group – The group to which one thing is changed, but everything else is kept the same. • Control Group – The group to which nothing is changed. - compared to the experimental group.

27. Experimental Design • Types of Variables: Independent variable - what is being tested. - is changed (on purpose) to determine how it will affect the dependent variable. - should test only ONEindependent variable at a time.

28. Experimental Design • Types of Variables: Dependent variable - what we observe or measure. - the result/response obtained due to the change of the independent variable - it depends on the independent variable.

29. Experimental Design Constant - a variable that does not change when other variables change.

30. Experimental Design • You are interested in how sprinting 100 meters affects heart rate in humans. • Your ___________ variable would be sprinting 100 meters. • The __________ variable would be heart rate.

31. Experimental Design • You are interested in how sprinting 100 meters affects heart rate in humans. • Your independent variable would be sprinting 100 meters. • The dependent variable would be heart rate. • You can manipulate the independent variable by having people run 100 meters. You can measure the dependent variable by measuring heart rate.

32. Experimental Design • 1. The amount of money we make at our job is (often) a function of the number of hours that we work. • Independent Variable: _______ Dependent Variable: ________

33. Experimental Design • 1. The amount of money we make at our job is (often) a function of the number of hours that we work. • Independent Variable: number of hours that we work • Dependent Variable:amount of money

34. Experimental Design • 2. How much we weigh is a function of how much we eat. • Independent Variable: ______ • Dependent Variable: ______

35. Experimental Design • 2. How much we weigh is a function of how much we eat. • Independent Variable:how much we eat • Dependent Variable:How much we weigh

36. Experimental Design • 3. Our age (often) determines the type of movie we are allowed to see. • Independent Variable: ______ Dependent Variable: _______

37. Experimental Design • 3. Our age (often) determines the type of movie we are allowed to see. • Independent Variable: Our age • Dependent Variable:type of movie

38. Experimental Design • 4. The type of job that we get is a function of the number of years that we attend school. • Independent Variable: ________ Dependent Variable: _________

39. Experimental Design • 4. The type of job that we get is a function of the number of years that we attend school. • Independent Variable: number of years that we attend school • Dependent Variable:The type of job

40. Experimental Design • 5. Lifting weights increases the breathing rate of a person. • Independent Variable: _______ Dependent Variable: _______

41. Experimental Design • 5. Lifting weights increases the breathing rate of a person. • Independent Variable: Lifting weights • Dependent Variable:breathing rate

42. Identify the independent & dependent variables 6. The temperature of the water was measured at different depths of the lake. Two things were changed in this statement. The first was the depths and the second was the temperature. Plug these into the bolded statement: The different depths causes the temperature to change. This is correct, because we know that the water temperature gets colder the deeper you go. IV: _______ DV: ________

43. Identify the independent & dependent variables 6. The temperature of the water was measured at different depths of the lake. Two things were changed in this statement. The first was the depths and the second was the temperature. Plug these into the bolded statement: The different depths causes the temperature to change. This is correct, because we know that the water temperature gets colder the deeper you go. IV: depths DV: temperature

44. Identify the independent & dependent variables 7. The amount of time you study will make a positive difference on your next test score. Two things are changed: 1. Time spent studying 2. Score on next test. The time studying causes the score on the next test to change. This is correct, because we know the longer you study for a test, the higher your grade will be IV: ____________ DV: _____________

45. Identify the independent & dependent variables 7. The amount of time you study will make a positive difference on your next test score. Two things are changed: 1. Time spent studying 2. Score on next test. The time studying causes the score on the next test to change. This is correct, because we know the longer you study for a test, the higher your grade will be IV: time studying DV: score on next test

46. Identify the independent & dependent variables 8. Lemon trees receiving the most water produce the largest lemons The ________ causes the _______ to change. • IV:______________________ DV:____________________

47. Identify the independent & dependent variables 8. Lemon trees receiving the most water produce the largest lemons The amount of water causes the size of lemons to change. • IV: amount of water • DV: size of lemons

48. Experimental Design • 9. Hypothesis: Storing popcorn in the freezer makes it pop better. • Experimental group: • Control:

49. Experimental Design Experimental group: Popcorn stored in the freezer. Control: Popcorn stored at room temp.

50. Experimental Design Constants: