G9 Chap 1.2 Nature of Science

The Nature of Science

Chapter 1.2

A body of knowledge based on the study of the natural world

• inquiry based

• develop explanations

• unbiased observations

• experimentation​

What is Science?

Law

• ​describes relationships in nature, states what will always happen

• does not explain why

• Examples - law of conservation of mass​, Newton's Laws of Motion

Theory

• explanation of natural world supported by many observations, experiments and evidence

• explains why​

• Examples - cell theory, theory of evolution​

Scientific Theory vs Law

Multiple Choice

Science is _________ based - the goal is to explain the natural world

• inquiry

• ignorance

• vaguely

• closed

Multiple Choice

Scientific _________ describes what will happen, but gives no explanation why

• theory

• law

• research

• data

Multiple Choice

Scientific _________ provides an explanation why something will happen

• theory

• law

• research

• data

Multiple Choice

Both scientific law and theories can be used to predict the behavior of the natural world

• true

• false

• Notice/observe things using the 5 senses

  • see, smell, hear, feel, taste

• ​Record data using scientific instruments (measurements)

  • beakers, rulers​, thermometer etc

Observations

The people or organisms that are being studied in an experiment

​
Examples:

• ​Amount of sleep and student grades

• ​Calories burned by baseball players

• Favorite pet toys for cats

Subjects - Selection

Multiple Select

Observations can be...(select more than 1)

• descriptions using your 5 senses

• measurements

• opinions

• guesses

Multiple Choice

The people or organisms being studied in an experiment are called

• subjects

• observations

• theories

• laws

Information that is collected, observed, generated or created

• Quantitative - ​numerical measurements

  • charts/graphs

• Qualitative - observation from senses

  • lab notes

Data Collection

Multiple Choice

Information collected from an experiment in the form of numbers

• quantitative

• qualitative

• subjects

• bias

Multiple Choice

Information collected from an experiment that describes observations using the 5 senses

• quantitative

• qualitative

• subjects

• bias

• Expand knowledge

  • constantly re-evaluate what is known

• Challenge theories

  • discuss new findings​ and info

• Question results

  • do more research​

Purpose of Science

• Test claims

  • standardized procedures

  • carefully controlled experiments

• Peer review

  • experiment results are evaluated by other scientists in the same field of study

Purpose of Science

Basic understanding of science and its process

• reasoning and critical thinking skills

• filter out false information

​

Ethics

• morals and values

• cannot do harm while conducting research

​

Scientific Literacy

Multiple Choice

Scientists continually question what is known and discuss findings

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

Scientists in the same field, who gather to review experiment results and evaluate the experiment

• testing claims

• peer review

• challenge theories

• expand knowledge

Multiple Choice

It is not important to use critical thinking or consider ethics in science

• true

• false

Pseudoscience

• Not real science because

  • Little or no research is done

    • Research is altered to justify existing knowledge

  • Does not ask new questions

  • Does not provide science-based explanations

  • Is driven by cultural or commercial goals