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Introduction to Science

Introduction to Science. The Scientific Method. Science or Non-Science? (20 mins ). Acupuncture Astrology (all forms: Zodiac, Chinese etc) Astronomy Biology Chemistry Creationism Economics Feng Shui Geography Geology

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Introduction to Science

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  1. Introduction to Science The Scientific Method

  2. Science or Non-Science? (20 mins) • Acupuncture • Astrology (all forms: Zodiac, Chinese etc) • Astronomy • Biology • Chemistry • Creationism • Economics • Feng Shui • Geography • Geology • Graphology (study of handwriting to determine character) • Homeopathy (medicine made from miniscule quantities of substances) • Mathematics • Phrenology (study of skull structure to determine character) • Physics • Politics • Traditional • Chinese Medicine • Zoology • DO: • Draw a venn diagram with two circles – one labelled science and one ‘non-science’ • Put each of the subjects on the left in the diagram according to whether they are science, non-science or somewhere in between • DISCUSS: • Discuss/argue over any disagreements with your neighbour • WRITE: • What are the characteristics of the things you have called science? • What about the non-science?

  3. The scientific-method - COPY The scientific community Prediction Refuted Observation Hypothesis/Theory Prediction Experiment Prediction Confirmed

  4. Observation(annotate diagram, DO NOT COPY) • A scientist (or other nerd) observes something unusual/unexpected • The scientist (or other nerd) says: • ‘Oooh, that’s funny!’ • This is the most important phrase in science • The scientist (or other nerd) begins to think • For Example: • In the late 1400s, Copernicus observing the motions of the sun/planets did not think that the model of the Earth being at the centre of the universe could explain them.

  5. Hypothesis(annotate diagram, DO NOT COPY) • The scientist (or other nerd) attempts to develop an explanation of the observation • This is called a hypothesis • A good hypothesis can be tested by experiment • This requires a great deal of imagination – science is a creative subject!!!! • For Example: • Copernicus developed a new theory that the Sun was at the centre of the universe

  6. Prediction(annotate diagram, DO NOT COPY) • The scientist (or other nerd) develops a prediction based on the theory that can be used to test it • For Example: • Copernicus predicts that if the planets are moving around the Sun, then the size of Venus should appear to change as sometimes it is closer to Earth in its orbit and sometimes further away

  7. Experiment(annotate diagram, DO NOT COPY) • The scientist (or other nerd) designs and conducts and experiment to test this prediction. • For Example: • Copernicus pointed his instruments at the sky and measured the apparent size of Venus at different points throughout the year.

  8. Confirmation/Refutation(annotate diagram, DO NOT COPY) • If the results of the experiment are as predicted, this supports (but does not prove) the theory • Over time the theory gets refined as more study takes place • If the results do not match the predictions, maybe the theory is wrong, maybe the prediction is wrong, maybe the experiment is wrong • Time for more sciencing • For Example: • Copernicus found that the size of Venus did appear to vary, providing support for his theory.

  9. The Scientific Community(annotate diagram, DO NOT COPY) • Scientists (and other nerds) do not sit on their own in darkened rooms all day (yes, even me Nick!) • Scientists are part of a community • Other scientists have other ideas • They will check your experiments themselves to see if you are right – this is called PEER REVIEW – if they can’t find anything wrong, this supports your theory • They may not want to admit they were wrong and find other ways to undermine your work • This may sound unscientific but arises because we are human (yes, even me Nick!) • For Example: • Copernicus operated in an environment where the church was very powerful. His findings went against the teachings of the church, causing trouble for him and making people very reluctant to accept his ideas.

  10. To Do: • Pick a subject from the ‘Science’ part of your Venn diagram and give examples of each of the steps of the scientific method in action • Pick a subject from the not-science side. Explain why it doesn’t count as science. Are there any sciencey aspects to it? • Pick a subject from the overlap, try and decide whether it is or isn’t science. • Once finished, go online and research other models of the scientific method (there isn’t a single version) and make notes. Find other case studies that show the scientific method in action.

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