1. Physical Science Basics
Physical Science Unit 1
Physical Science Basics

2. Science Terms
Pure Science: studying the world or learning new things about it
Ex. finding a new plant
Technology, or applied science: using science to improve someone’s life
Ex. Using plants to make medicine

3. Branches of Science Life Science: study of living things…biology
Earth Science: study of Earth formations and how we “fit” in the universe
Physical Science: study of matter and energy
Matter: anything that has mass and takes up space
Any solid, liquid, or gas
Energy: the ability to cause change
Motion, sound, light, heat

4. The Scientific Method
the way scientists collect information and test ideas
Problem/Question
Observations
Gather information
Hypothesis
Proposed solution (testable)
Experiment
Test with organized procedure
Record and Analyze Data
Conclusion
Answer question from step 1
Repeat

5. Law vs. Theory
Scientific Law: describes something's behavior and has been proven by many experiments
Ex. When you release an object into the air, it falls to the ground
Scientific Theory: explains WHY something behaves the way it does
Ex. The object falls to the ground because of Earth’s gravity

6. Good Experiment has several parts:
Control: something to compare your results to
Constants: parts that do not change
Independent Variable: part that the scientist changes
Dependent Variable: part that changes because of the independent variable

7. Example Group 1 (OFF): 4 mosquito bites
Ms. Rhoney wants to find out which bug spray works best: Off, Avon, or Cutter. Four students help her. These are her results:
Group 1 (OFF): 4 mosquito bites
Group 2 (Avon): 18 mosquito bites
Group 3 (Cutter): 10 mosquito bites
Group 4 (none): 28 mosquito bites

8. What should be the control? (How do we know the sprays work at all?)
What should have been kept constant?
What is the independent variable? (what did she change each time?)
 What is the dependent variable? (what changed because of the type of spray used?)
 What should be her conclusion?

9. Graph of Bug Spray Data
# of bug bites

10. Graphing
A Graph is a visual display of data

11. Circle Graph
Circle Graphs, or pie graphs show how something is broken down into parts.(usually %)

12. Bar Graph
Bar Graphs show information that has been counted.
# M&M’s

13. Line Graphs
Line Graphs are used to show trends of how data changes over time. The Independent Variable is on the x- axis and the Dependent Variable is on the y-axis.
Temperature C
Time (minutes)

14. Interpolate and Extrapolate: