Scientific Models

A SCENARIO Your teacher would like to teach you about volcanoes. To help you learn more about volcanoes, your teacher suggest using baking soda, vinegar, and clay. How can this help you learn about volcanoes.

Your Teacher Has Asked You to Construct a Model. A model is a description, picture, or idea about something that cannot be viewed directly. It is a representation of an object or system.

Why do Scientist use models? Models helps us understand the natural world. Models helps us understand the natural world. Models aid scientist in explaining or analyzing an object, system, or concept in detail. Models aid scientist in explaining or analyzing an object, system, or concept in detail. Models can be used to represent things that are too small or even too large to completely see. Models can be used to represent things that are too small or even too large to completely see.

Physical Models Physical models are models that you can touch. Physical models are models that you can touch. Model airplanes, cars, dolls Model airplanes, cars, dolls Physical models often look like the real thing but have limitations.

Mathematical Models A mathematical model is made up of mathematical equations and data. Scientist can use mathematical models to make more accurate predictions. Time / s Distance from start / m

Conceptual Models Conceptual models are composed of many hypothesis. Each hypothesis is supported through scientific methods. Conceptual models are composed of many hypothesis. Each hypothesis is supported through scientific methods. Some conceptual models are systems of ideas and others make comparison with familiar things to help illustrate or explain an idea. Some conceptual models are systems of ideas and others make comparison with familiar things to help illustrate or explain an idea. Example: The big bang theory is an explanation of the structure of the universe. Example: The big bang theory is an explanation of the structure of the universe.

Let’s Take A Look At What We Know Science involves use of observations and inferences. An observation is information that is known because it has been seen or experienced directly. WHAT’S NEW?????? Some observations have been made so many times that they are accepted as always being true. This is called a scientific law.

Scientific Law Explains what will happen, but not why. Explains what will happen, but not why. An example is gravity. The law of gravitation is a statement about the observation that all objects attract each other. The law doesn’t say WHY objects attract each other, only that they will. An example is gravity. The law of gravitation is a statement about the observation that all objects attract each other. The law doesn’t say WHY objects attract each other, only that they will.

A theory is a hypothesis that has been tested many times and still explains the observations. A theory is a hypothesis that has been tested many times and still explains the observations. People once thought that comets were clouds of dust. People once thought that comets were clouds of dust. After some observations, a scientist theorized that comets were more like dirty snowballs. After some observations, a scientist theorized that comets were more like dirty snowballs. When Haley’s comet passed by, more observations and tests supported that theory. When Haley’s comet passed by, more observations and tests supported that theory. Scientific Theory

How are scientific laws affected by new theories? How are scientific laws affected by new theories?

Scientific laws aren’t affected because scientific theories are explanations for new observations. Scientific laws are descriptions of patterns in nature, they do not offer explanations!

If a scientific law were developed in one country would it apply in a different country?

YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! Scientific laws apply everywhere. Scientific laws are different from legal and political laws, which apply only to specific countries.

Review What are models and why do we use them? What are models and why do we use them? Can you name and describe some types of models? Can you name and describe some types of models? What are predictions and inferences? What are predictions and inferences? Scientific theory and scientific law, are they the same or different? Explain. Scientific theory and scientific law, are they the same or different? Explain.