Nature of Science What is Science?

What IS science?

What IS NOT science?

Goal of Science Deals only with the NATURAL world Collect and organize information Propose explanations that can be TESTED

Science- a body of knowledge that explains the natural world

Science is… Limited to the natural world Observable Testable/disprovable Repeatable Open to change Biased (in spite of trying not to be) Made stronger when different lines of evidence support the same theory

To Sum it up… CONPTT!

Science is NOT… Based on proof (It is never a closed case.) Based on belief or faith Based on authority Decided by law or compelling speeches A search for “truth,” which means different things to different people Certain or absolute Fair

Non-science & Pseudo-science Non-science includes mysterious or supernatural forces, which cannot be discredited with evidence (based on beliefs) Pseudo-science is when a concept is claimed to have scientific support, yet does not survive scientific testing.

Examples of science?

Examples of science Physics Chemistry Astronomy Geology Paleontology Oceanography Zoology Botany Genetics Medicine

Examples of non-science/ pseudo science?

Non-science & Pseudo-science Examples Astrology Magic Supernatural Psychic experience

CONPTT Statements

Reality Check #1 Which of the following is a scientific statement, and which one is not a scientific statement? 1. Green plants will grow towards a light source. 2. Walking under a ladder will cause bad luck.

Reality Check #2 Which of the following is a scientific statement, and which one is not a scientific statement? 1. Some plants eat meat. 2. Extraterrestrial beings have visited Earth.

Reality Check #3 Which of the following is a scientific statement, and which one is not a scientific statement? 1. Green plants convert sunlight into energy. 2. With a rod, Moses parted the sea so his people could cross to the other side..

Reality Check #4 Which of the following is a scientific statement, and which one is not a scientific statement? 1. Without sunlight (or comparable artificial light), green plants will die. 2. If you are a "Scorpio", your horoscope for today is "You'll be saying 'I feel rich !' Lunar position highlights back pay, refunds, correction of accounting error."

A blueprint for experiment success. Processes of Science A blueprint for experiment success.

What is the scientific method? A method scientists use to conduct an investigation/experiment. A way to ask & answer scientific questions.

Question/Problem Ask a question about something observed that you want to explain! Why? How? What? Must be about something measurable. Measure- a standard unit used to express the size, amount, or degree of something

Hypothesis Examples? A tentative explanation that can be tested An assumption based on prior knowledge When scientist state a hypothesis, they often use predictions to help test thier hypothesis Predict- a statement of what will happen next in a sequence of events. A guess (no prior knowledge) Examples?

Experiment Tests your hypothesis. Repeat experiment! Change only one variable at a time. In order for results to be valid, conduct several tests.

Record and Analyze Data Record your data Data table Chart Graph Pictures

Example: Title: Describing the Data Trial Variable 1 Variable 2 3 4 5 AVERAGE

Record and Analyze Data Find the average of your data Data- pieces of information Graph (if possible) Graph the data to look for trends & relationships.

Conclusion Write a summary of your experiment. After your experiment, analyze your data to see if your hypothesis was accepted or rejected. If hypothesis is rejected, give possible reasons for the difference between your hypothesis and the experimental results. Use evidence to support your conclusion.

COMMUNICATE results! Communicate- share or exchange information

Is there only ONE way to DO science? NO!!!

What are variables? Any factor that can be controlled, changed, or measured in an experiment!

Independent Variables What is changed by the scientist What is being tested by the scientist

Dependent Variable What is observed What is measured The effect caused by the independent variable. The data Also called responding variables

Control Group Kept constant (the same) by scientists These allow for a fair test. Used as a COMPARISON!

Example: One chicken is injected with a growth hormone while another chicken is not injected. Both chickens are weighed after a year. Independent? Dependent? Control?

Solutions Independent: Growth hormone Dependent: Weight of Chicken Control: Chicken not injected

What is the independent variable? Scenario: Zika is spreading! A bug repellant is sprayed on one arm while the other arm is not sprayed. The number of bug bites is recorded after 2 hours. What is the independent variable?

Bug Repellant!

What is the dependent variable? Scenario: Zika is spreading! A bug repellant is sprayed on one arm the other arm is not sprayed. The number of bug bites is recorded after 2 hours. What is the dependent variable?

# of Bug Bites!

What is the independent variable? Scenario: Cooper sleeps 9 hours the night before his science exam. His twin sister, Cassidy, has the same exam and sleeps 6 hours the night before the test. Afterwards, they compare their scores. What is the independent variable?

Hours of sleep

What is the dependent variable? Scenario: Cooper sleeps 9 hours the night before his science exam. His twin sister, Cassidy, has the same exam and sleeps 6 hours the night before the test. Afterwards, they compare their scores. What is the dependent variable?

Exam scores

Theory and Law When does a scientific theory become a law? IT DOESN’T! They are two different things! A LAW DESCRIBES WHAT happens. A THEORY EXPLAINS WHY something happens. A theory is used to explain a law in many cases