Basic Science What we’ve learned so far. Riley Pennington

Table of Contents Pure and Applied Science Inferences & Fair Tests IV/DV/CV Observations & Conclusions Bar and Line Graphs Qualitative/Quantitative Statements Mean/Median/Mode Control/Experimental Groups Hypothesis/Theory

Pure Science Applied Science Pure science is whenever one is just curious about something. These kind of experiments are conducted in which to simply find the answer to something, not to really change anything in society around them. Applied science is different in the sense that it is, in fact, applied to humanity and the outside world. These kind of science experiments have more meaning and cause to the human race as apposed to pure science. Applied science is frequently used in the medical field for things like vaccines, antibiotics, and other new medicines to help humans become more immune to harmful bacteria and viruses that we are exposed to everyday.

Inferences Fair Tests An inference is basically a prediction you come up with after the experiment is finished. It is an educated prediction, based on the data you have collected. For example, if rain has been gradually increasing each month, and you ended at the month April, an inference you could possibly make is that based on the information you have, May will have an even higher increased amount of rainfall over April, and the previous months before that, since the information and data was constantly increasing each month. A fair test is exactly what it claims to be: fair. In scientific experiments, testing has to be fair or else the data is unreliable. This means that you need to only change one variable, and keep the rest constant.

The Three Variables In Science there are three variables drawn from the research question that help with the experiment: Independent Variable: This is what you change in the experiment. Dependent Variable: This variable happens as a result of what you changed. (Cause and Effect) Constant: This is the variable in the experiment that will always stay the same, or constant. Changing too many variables will result in an unreliable experiment, with false information on what you were trying to find the answer to.

ObservationsConclusions Observations are things that you notice. There are many different types of observations, some examples are as such: I notice the walls in a majority of the classrooms are basic white. I notice the door is wooden. I notice more males are wearing hats than females in the class. I notice there are computers in each classroom. Conclusions occur at the end of the experimental process. This is a summary of all of the data that you have collected. Example: My hypothesis was proven correct. More birds are in the location I observed in the spring than the winter months.

Graphing In Science When to use Bar GraphsWhen to use Line Graphs Bar graphs are used quite often in Science to show a visual of the data you have collected. Bar graphs are used when there is no time involved in the variables. Line graphs are also used quite often in science. Line graphs are the opposite of bar graphs in the sense that they are only used when time is involved. Line graphs are the most efficient way to observe a change over time.

Qualitative and Quantitative Statements (The difference) Qualitative StatementsQuantitative Statements Qualitative statements are used whenever one is not expressing something with the use of numbers. An example of this would be: My binder is blue Ciarra’s hair is brown The walls are white The table is in the shape of a rectangle. Quantitative statements are used to expressed things that have numbers involved in them. For example: It is three o’clock. My mom is 23 I have ten fingers. There are 30 students in the class.

Mean, Median, And Mode Mean: The average of a collection of numbers. (12345) The mean, or average, would be three. Median: The number in the middle of the data. ( ) 50 would be the median. Mode: The number appearing most frequently in the data set. (1,2,2,2,3,4,5) 2 would be the mode.

Groups of Science ControlExperimental A control group has nothing exposed to it. This group is used to see the difference in the experimental group. Keeping the control group the same also makes the experiment much more reliable because the data isn’t biased. An experimental group has the independent variable exposed to it. The changes are then observed, and compared to the control group. Having control and experimental groups come in handy to observe changes and the bigger the group, the more reliable the experiment will be. For example, if you test 3o people in each group as apposed to 3 in each group, the bigger group will be reliable because you will see more distinct changes within each group.

The Difference Between: HypothesisTheory A hypothesis is always involved in the scientific method steps. It is an educated guess based on either background knowledge or things that you already know. Not all hypothesis are correct, that is why they are tested. Hypothesis are more basic than theories, and to become theory must be proven true many times. Theories are hypothesis’ that have been proven true multiple times by different scientists. Some examples would be: The cell theory Theory of Evolution: Darwin Big Bang Theory Of course, all theories can still be proven wrong. They are just more truthful hypothesis. I believe, that whenever a theory is proven multiple times and always the same outcome results, it becomes law, like gravity.