Observations and Variables

Science has many branches. What is Science? Science has many branches. Biological science is the science of ________ _________. Physical science is the science of __________ ______________. Earth science is the science of the Earth, the _____________, and ____________. Science is the knowledge obtained by _______________ natural events and conditions in order to discover facts and formulate laws or principles that can be ____________________.

OBSERVATION = Using your __________________(facts) about your universe. Two Types QUALITATIVE OBSERVATIONS: tell about quality: shape, color, size (no numbers), odor, location. QUANTITATIVE OBSERVATIONS: includes a measurement (always a number, but NOT all numbers…)

___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ Observation Examples The whiteboard is rectangular. The whiteboard is long.   The whiteboard is longer than the desk. The whiteboard is 4.3 meters long. The whiteboard is in room 152. ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________

Forming a Hypothesis HYPOTHESIS: __________________ A hypothesis is a possible answer to a question based on observations that can be tested. ***Uses the information researched to help form the hypothesis****

Testing the Hypothesis EXPERIMENT: Doing something to test the hypothesis. Must be repeatable and have… _________________: things that a scientist wants to remain constant ______________ ____________: the one that is changed by the scientist. In an experiment there is only one independent variable. ______________ ___________: the one that changes because of the change in the independent variable.

Find the Variables How fast does a candle burn? Question Independent Variable Dependent Variable Controlled Variables How fast does a candle burn? Does a certain fertilizer make a plant grow bigger?

Opinions and Inferences NOT part of the scientific method. We try to avoid them! OPINION: _______________________________________ INFERENCE: making a __________________ based on circumstantial evidence instead of on direct observation. Examples… 1) The teacher poured water into beaker B. 2) The teacher poured a liquid into beaker B.

For the picture, write at least 2 observations and 2 inferences: