CH 0 Understanding Science

​Understanding Science

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What do you think of when you

hear the word "science?"

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​Key Concepts

• ​What is Science inquiry?

• ​How do scientific laws and scientific theories differ?

• ​What is the difference between a fact and an opinion?

Vocabulary

• Science

• Observation

• Inference

• ​Hypothesis

• Prediction

• ​Technology

• ​Scientific Theory

• ​Scientific law

• ​Critical Thinking

​What is Science?

​Science is the investigation and exploration of natural events and of the new information that results from those investigations.

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​For thousands of years, men and women of all countries and cultures have studied the natural world and recorded their observations.

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​People use science in their everyday lives and careers.

​For example: Firefighters, sports, hair products, preparing foods, electronic devices, etc.

​Branches of Science

​The study of Earth, including rocks, soils, oceans, and the atmosphere.

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Earth Scientists may ask questions like:

• ​How do different shorelines react to tsunamis?

• ​Why do planets orbit the sun?

• ​What is the rate of climate change?​

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​https://youtu.be/Ck_e4CRM82Y

Earth Science:

Life Science

​The study of living things (Also known as biology).

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​Biologists can ask questions like:

• ​Why do some trees lose their leaves in the winter?

• ​How do birds know which direction they are going?

• ​How do mammals control their body temperature?

​https://youtu.be/6v8djXa-IPQ

​Physical Science

​The study of matter and energy. It includes both physics and chemistry.

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​Physicists and chemists ask questions like:

• ​What chemical reactions must take place to launch a spaceship into space?

• ​Is it possible to travel faster than the speed of light?

• ​What makes up matter?

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​https://youtu.be/PUZkE1vIvIA

Open Ended

What are some things that you will be learning in science class this year?

​Scientific Inquiry

​When scientists conduct scientific investigations, they use scientific inquiry.

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​Scientific inquiry is a process that uses a set of skills to answer questions or to test ideas about the natural world.

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​There are so many kinds of scientific investigations and there are many ways to conduct them. The series of steps used in each investigation often varies.

Multiple Choice

Science is a ________

• Process of discovery

• Collection of facts

• Complete study of the world

• understanding of all living things

​Ask Questions

​One way to begin scientific inquiry is to observe the natural world and ask questions.

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​Observation is the act of using one or more of your senses to gather information and taking note of what occurs.

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​Inference

​After observations, you make an inference based on the observations.

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​An inference is a logical explanation of an observation that is drawn from prior knowledge or experience.

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​You can decide to investigate further and develop a hypothesis and a method to test it.

​Hypothesize

​A hypothesis is a possible explanation for an observation that can be tested by scientific investigations.

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​A hypothesis states an observation and provides an explanation.

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​For example: More of the riverbank eroded this year because the amount, the speed, and the force of the water increased.

​Predict

​When state a hypothesis, they often use it to make predictions to help test their hypothesis.

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​A prediction is a statement of what will happen next in a sequence of events.

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​Scientists make predictions based on what information they think they will find when testing their hypothesis.

Multiple Choice

A _______ is a statement of what will happen next in a sequence of events.

• Inference

• Hypothesis

• Prediction

• Question

Multiple Choice

A ________ is a possible explanation for an observation that can be tested by scientific investigations.

• Inference

• Prediction

• Question

• Hypothesis

​Testing a Hypothesis

You often test whether your predictions are true.

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​Confirmed prediction = Supported hypothesis

​If your prediction is not confirmed then your hypothesis may need modification.

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​There are several ways to test a

​hypothesis, these are four possible ways:

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• ​Design an experiment

• ​Make a model

• ​Gather and evaluate evidence or research

• ​Collect Data/Record observations

​Analyze Results

​After testing your hypothesis, you analyze your results using various methods.

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• ​Graph results

• ​Classify information

• ​Make calculations

• ​Other processes

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​Often it is hard to see trends or relationships in data while collecting it. After analyzing data, additional inferences can be made.

​Draw Conclusions

​A conclusion is a summary of the information gained from testing a hypothesis.

Multiple Choice

Often it is ______ to see trends or relationships in data while collecting it.

• Easy

• Hard

• Impossible

• Not a problem

​Communicate Results

​An important part of the scientific inquiry process is communicating results.

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​Several ways of communicating results include:

• ​Infer

• ​Summarize

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​Scientist communicate results of investigations to inform other scientists about their research and their conclusions.

​Further Science Inquiry

​After finishing an experiment a scientist must verify his or her results.

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​If the hypothesis is supported, the scientist will repeat the experiment several times to make sure the conclusions are the same (Also known as experimental repetition).

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​If the hypothesis is not supported then the hypothesis must be revised with the new information gained. The hypothesis can be revised and tested many times.

​Results of Science

​Results and conclusions from an investigation can lead to many outcomes, such as the answers to a question, more information on a specific topic, or support for a hypothesis.

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​Other outcomes include:

• ​Technology

• ​New materials

• ​Possible Explanations

• ​Scientific Theory or Scientific Law

Multiple Choice

​If the hypothesis is not supported then the hypothesis does not have be revised with the new information gained.

• True

• False

​Technology

​Scientists often look for answers to questions such as, "How can the hearing impaired hear better?"

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​Investigation, experimentation, and research can lead to the development of new technology.

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​Technology is the practical use of scientific knowledge, especially for industrial or commercial use.

​New Materials

​Space travel has unique challenges.

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​What are some challenges that astronauts face while they are in space?

​Challenges

• ​Oxygen

• ​Temperature

• ​Pressure

• ​Small high speed flying objects

• ​Protection against radiation

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​Today's spacesuit is a blend of different materials that protects astronauts from all of these hazards.

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​Which is a result of research.

​Possible Explanations

​Scientists often perform investigations to find explanations as to how something happens.

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​Example:

Scientists use telescopes to understand the formation of stars.

​Scientific Theory and Scientific Law

​When a hypothesis has been supported by scientific investigation many times, the hypothesis can then become a scientific theory.

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​A Scientific theory is an explanation of observations or events that is based on knowledge gained from many observations and investigations.

​Scientific Theory

​Scientists regularly question scientific theories and test them for validity.

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​A theory generally is accepted true until it is disproved.

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​Example of a scientific theory:

​The theory of plate tectonics.

​It explains how Earth's crust moves

​and why earthquakes and volcanoes occur.

​Scientific Law

​A scientific law is a rule that describes a pattern in nature.

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​A scientific law only states that an event will occur in certain circumstances.

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​Example:

​Newton's law of gravitational force.

​Its doesn't explain why objects move towards Earth when dropped, only that it will.

​New Information

​Scientific information constantly changes as new information is discovered or as previous hypothesis are retested.

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​When new facts are revealed, a current scientific theory might be revised to include the new facts, or it might be disproved and rejected.

Multiple Select

Which is a scientific theory?

• Gravitational force

• Plate tectonics

• Th Big bang

• Motion

​Evaluating Scientific Evidence

​Critical thinking is used to evaluate scientific evidence.

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​Critical thinking is comparing what you already know with the information you are given in order to decide whether you agree with it.

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​To determine whether information is true and scientific or pseudoscience, you should be skeptical and identify facts and opinions.

Science can not answer all questions

​Questions that deal with opinions, beliefs, values, and feelings can not be answered through scientific investigation.

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​Example:

​Are comedies the best kind of movie?

​Safety in Science

​Always use safe lab practices when doing scientific investigations.

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​If you have questions about potential hazards, use of equipment, or meaning of safety symbols, ask your teacher.