1. Nature of Science
What is Science?

2. What IS science?

3. What IS NOT science?

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

5. Science-
a body of knowledge that explains the natural world

6. 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

7. To Sum it up… CONPTT!

8. 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

9. 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.

10. Examples of science?

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

12. Examples of non-science/ pseudo science?

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

14. CONPTT Statements

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. 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..

18. 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."

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

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

21. 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

22. 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?

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

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

25. Example: Title: Describing the Data Trial Variable 1 Variable 23 4 5
AVERAGE

26. 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.

27. 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.

28. COMMUNICATE results!
Communicate- share or exchange information

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

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

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

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

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

34. 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?

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

36. 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?

37. Bug Repellant!

38. 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?

39. # of Bug Bites!

40. 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?

41. Hours of sleep

42. 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?

43. Exam scores

44. 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