What is the goal of Science?

To understand the world around us To discover To study The realm of Science is limited to strictly solving problems about the physical world. To understand the world around us To discover To study The realm of Science is limited to strictly solving problems about the physical world.

3 main branches of Science Life Earth Physical Life Earth Physical

What do scientists do?

Make observations Gather facts Propose explanations/ hypothesize Perform experiments to test their explanations Make observations Gather facts Propose explanations/ hypothesize Perform experiments to test their explanations

Scientists use an organized, systematic approach to problem solving called the scientific method

Turn to page 25 in your workbook. Look familiar? We will come back to this, but first we need to identify the difference between description and explanation.

Because description and explanation are crucial components to performing an experiment, it is important you know the difference between them.

Description Vs. Explanation

Description Tells what scientists have actually observed, an account of events that tells what happens (summary)

Description Observation is the most important skill of a scientist. It is the skill of describing scientific events. Observations can be made with all 5 senses It is not always safe to use every sense when making observations. Observation is the most important skill of a scientist. It is the skill of describing scientific events. Observations can be made with all 5 senses It is not always safe to use every sense when making observations.

Explanation A type of inference or logical guess An attempt to tell why or how something happens (significance) A type of inference or logical guess An attempt to tell why or how something happens (significance)

Description or Explanation? You decide! The scientist heated a beaker with 500 mL of water until it boiled. The water boiled because it was moving faster. The temperature of the water was 100  C when it boiled. The scientist used a stopwatch to measure how long the water took to boil. The scientist heated a beaker with 500 mL of water until it boiled. The water boiled because it was moving faster. The temperature of the water was 100  C when it boiled. The scientist used a stopwatch to measure how long the water took to boil.

Let’s Review the Scientific Method

Scientific Method A systematic approach to problem solving used by scientists

Problem What you are trying to determine Written as a question What you are trying to determine Written as a question

Independent Variable I.V. What you are testing Scientists should only choose one variable to test at a time. I.V. What you are testing Scientists should only choose one variable to test at a time.

Sample Size Sometimes it is impossible to bring all variables under control. For example, a scientist wants to know if a new drug will kill a disease, but since every patient is unique it is impossible to find two individuals who are the exact same. To overcome this, scientists often use large samples. The larger sample size the more accurate the results. Sometimes it is impossible to bring all variables under control. For example, a scientist wants to know if a new drug will kill a disease, but since every patient is unique it is impossible to find two individuals who are the exact same. To overcome this, scientists often use large samples. The larger sample size the more accurate the results.

Dependent Variable D.V. What you are measuring D.V. What you are measuring

Hypothesis Prediction that can be tested What you think is going to happen Must be written as an IF…THEN statement IF statement includes I.V. THEN statement includes D.V. Prediction that can be tested What you think is going to happen Must be written as an IF…THEN statement IF statement includes I.V. THEN statement includes D.V.

Controls Factors to be held constant during the experiment Controls should not be equipment, the I.V., or D.V. Factors to be held constant during the experiment Controls should not be equipment, the I.V., or D.V.

Figure out the Problem, I.V., D.V., and Controls to the scenario below. Your parent bought Tide detergent this week instead of Cheer because the stains from your clothes weren’t coming out all the way.

Materials List of equipment and materials needed to perform the lab.

Procedures This is the process you went through to complete the experiment. These are written so someone could also do your experiment exactly the way you did it. Procedures are numbered. This is the process you went through to complete the experiment. These are written so someone could also do your experiment exactly the way you did it. Procedures are numbered.

Results Your data organized in a chart and a graph.

Charts A table to record your data Contains columns and rows Displays more words than a graph A table to record your data Contains columns and rows Displays more words than a graph

Graphs Display your results in a way to reveal trends or patterns. X and Y axis Key/ Legend is included in most graphs. Display your results in a way to reveal trends or patterns. X and Y axis Key/ Legend is included in most graphs.

Both Charts and Graphs… Display data/ information in an organized way Compare data Reader friendly Use color, shapes, pictures Display data/ information in an organized way Compare data Reader friendly Use color, shapes, pictures

When scientists are recording their results they are looking for trends and patterns. By using mean, median, and/or mode they are able to interpret the data.

Mean The sum of a set of data divided by the number of data. Another name for mean is average Find the mean of the following: 3, 7, 22, 8 The sum of a set of data divided by the number of data. Another name for mean is average Find the mean of the following: 3, 7, 22, 8

Mode The data value that occurs most often. In each set of data below find the mode: a)25, 24, 19, 33, 26, 34, 46, 37, 33, 22 b)59, 61, 66, 66, 67, 68, 70, 70, 73, 83 c)19, 22, 23, 25, 28, 34, 35, 37, 39, 40 The data value that occurs most often. In each set of data below find the mode: a)25, 24, 19, 33, 26, 34, 46, 37, 33, 22 b)59, 61, 66, 66, 67, 68, 70, 70, 73, 83 c)19, 22, 23, 25, 28, 34, 35, 37, 39, 40

Median The middle value of a set of data. Put the data in ascending or descending order and find the middle. If there is an odd number of data, the median is the middle number. If there is an even set of data, the median is found by adding the two middle numbers and dividing by two. The middle value of a set of data. Put the data in ascending or descending order and find the middle. If there is an odd number of data, the median is the middle number. If there is an even set of data, the median is found by adding the two middle numbers and dividing by two.

Find the median 9, 17, 15, 9, 8, 12, 13, 8

Let’s take a survey on Technology With this information you will create a chart and a graph as well as finding mean, median, and mode. (Use Graph Paper!)

Conclusion A way of bringing all the data collected and results found in the experiment together to determine if your hypothesis was correct.

Bias The possibility that a scientist’s personal feelings have influenced the results. A scientist maybe trying to prove or disprove a theory and without realizing it, the scientist’s attitude may influence how the experiment is conducted or the results are interpreted. The risk is reduced when the experiment is repeated many times by different individuals. The possibility that a scientist’s personal feelings have influenced the results. A scientist maybe trying to prove or disprove a theory and without realizing it, the scientist’s attitude may influence how the experiment is conducted or the results are interpreted. The risk is reduced when the experiment is repeated many times by different individuals.