Chapter 1 Section 1
What is Science? Science is a method for studying the natural world. Science comes from the Latin word “scientia” which means knowledge. Science is a process that uses observation and investigation to gain knowledge about events in nature.
Categories of Science Life science deals with living things Earth Science investigates Earth and space Physical Science deals with matter and energy.
Natural World Science helps explain nature, but when we learn more about the natural world some explanations can seem incomplete or inaccurate.
Investigations Performing Investigations: Observations and Recording Data Experiments Building a model
Inquiry Process Stating the problem
Inquiry Process Gather Information
Inquiry Process Form a hypothesis
Inquiry Process Test the hypothesis
Inquiry Process The controlled conditions of an experiment contain two variables. A variable is a quantity that can have more than a single value. Example experiment: Which three fertilizers helps the plant grow bigger? What are the other causes that cause plants to grow?
Inquiry Process Dependent Variable- The variable that you watch or measure to see how it changes as a result of your changes to the independent variable. Located on the Y axis of a graph Independent Variable The variable that is changed or manipulated by the scientist Located on the X axis of a graph
Inquiry Process If you wanted to test the effect of fertilizer on plant growth, you would change the amount of fertilizer applied to the same kind of plants. The amount of fertilizer applied would be the independent variable. Plant growth would be the dependent variable.
Inquiry Process The factor that does not change is the constant. The standard by which the test results are compared is the control.
Inquiry Process Analyze data
Inquiry Process Draw conclusions or make inferences without bias
Inquiry Process Hypothesis not supported(modify hypothesis) Or Hypothesis supported(repeat test several times)
Theories A theory is an explanation that has been supported by many experiments. Theories are always subject to new experimental data and are modified to include new data.
Scientific Laws A scientific law describes a relationship in nature that is supported by many experiments. Scientists may use models (visual, verbal, or mathematical explanations of data) and theories to explain why this relationship exists.