The Scientific Method

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The Scientific Method
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Steps of the Scientific Method

• Make Observations
• Define the Problem (Statement of Problem)
• Search the Literature
• Form a Hypothesis
• Conduct Experiments
• Collect Data

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Steps of the Scientific Method

• Perform Calculations
• Make Tables and Graphs
• Draw Conclusions
• Check Conclusions

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What is Science, Really??
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Observations

• Qualitative
• It is light green in color
• It has a pungent odor
• It tastes sour
• It is tall
• Its leaves are waxy and smooth
• It rattles when it moves

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Observations

• Quantitative
• It is 4 cm long and 2 cm wide
• It has a mass of 3 grams
• The temperature is 22 degrees Celsius
• The leaves are clustered in groups of 5
• The plant is 28.2 cm taller than the plant to its
  left

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Chapter 1

• Section 1 What is Science?

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What Youll Learn

• Define science and identify questions that
  science cannot answer
• Compare and contrast theories and laws
• Identify a system and its components
• Identify the three main branches of science

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Vocabulary

• Science
• Scientific theory
• Scientific law
• System
• Life science
• Earth science
• Physical science
• technology

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Why?

• Science can be used to learn more about the world
  you live in.

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Learning About the World

• Science a way of leaning more about the natural
  world. It is a way of knowing.
• The what, when and how of an occurrence
• Begins with asking questions
• The right questions are very important
• Who will win the presidential campaign?
• What motivated Shakespeare to right his plays?
• Why does the portrait of Mona Lisa smile the way
  she does?

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Learning About the World

• Possible Explanations
• Only with information available at the time
• All answers are uncertain (knowledge about the
  world is limited)
• New knowledge can cause change
• The best science offers is possible explanations
• The possibility may be high or low
• The need for understanding may be small

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Possible Explanations
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Learning About the World

• Scientific Theories
• Not simply guesses or opinions.
• Not vague ideas
• Must be supported
• Observations and results
• Many investigations
• May change

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Learning About the World

• Scientific Laws
• Rules that describes patterns in nature.
• Observations leads to laws when they
  (observations) occur repeatedly.
• Stand until shown to be false
• Allow for prediction
• Tell what will occur but not how or why.
• Describe patterns

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Patterns
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Systems in Science

• A collection of structures, cycles, and processes
  that relate to and interact with each other
• Solar system
• Digestive system
• Highway system

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Systems in Science

• Classify the parts of a cafeterias system as
  structures, cycles, or processes

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Systems in Science

• Structures
• Tables
• Serving plates
• Warmers
• Ovens
• Spoons
• Forks
• Chairs

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Systems in Science

• Processes
• Preparing food
• Cooking food
• Serving food
• Washing and cleaning
• Paying for food

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Systems in Science

• Cycles
• Different jobs performed by worker
• Prepare breakfast
• Cooks breakfast
• Cleans after
• Prepare lunch
• Cook lunch
• Clean after

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Systems in Science

• Parts of a System Interact
• The time tells you where you should be
• The pencil you use to take a test interacts with
  the test
• You read a question and mark an answer. Then,
  you repeat this (a cycle).
• Parts of a Whole
• Systems are made up of other systems
• Your digestive system is part of you (a system)
• Local school system part of a state system

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The Branches of Science

• Life Science
• Earth Science
• Physical Science

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The Branches of Science

• Careers
• Life science
• Doctors
• Nurses
• dietitians
• Botanists
• Farmers
• beekeepers

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The Branches of Science

• Earth Science
• Careers
• Meteorologist (weather)
• Geologist
• Cartographer (maps)
• Volcanologist

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The Branches of Science

• Physical Science
• Careers
• Chemist
• Food
• Agriculture
• Medicine
• Metallurgy
• Biochemistry
• Physicist
• X-ray technician/technologist

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Science and Technology

• Technology the practical (applied) use of
  science.
• Engineers
• Architects
• Machinist
• Study of light vs use of light for information
  technology
• Study of materials (shark skin) for the
  development of new materials (olympics)

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Section 2

• Science in Action

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Possible Explanations
The Scientific Method
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InvestigationsQuestioning and Observing

• The Black Box
• You are provided with a box that may contain
  something
• Using the method of science, determine what is
  probably in the box
• Use
• Question
• Hypothesis
• Analysis
• Prediction
• Testing the Hypothesis
• Organizing Your Findings
• Drawing Conclusions
• Communicating your Findings

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Experiments

• Controlled Experiment
• Variables
• This thing called a constant
• may be a condition
• may be a variable
• Laboratory versus Field
• The value of Safety in Science

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Models in Science

• Model any representation of an object or an
  event used as a tool for understanding the
  natural world
• Help you visualize
• Size limitation (too big, like the universe or
  too small, like an atom
• May no longer exist
• May not have been created yet
• Assist when time may be a problem

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Types of Models

• Physical
• Those that can be seen and touched
• Globe of the earth
• Ball and stick model of a molecule
• Computer model
• Can be viewed but not touched
• Useful for long term events (weather, growth of
  ozone hole, aging of people, etc.)
• May help in prediction

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Types of Models

• Idea Models
• Concepts that describes how someone thinks about
  something
• F m x a (force equals mass times acceleration)
• Equations are very useful in describing
  phenomenon. Why?

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Making and Using Models

• The more information gathered, the greater the
  detail in the model
• Models Communicate
• Often useful when writing or speaking could cause
  confusion
• Models Test Predictions
• Think of safety design in cars
• Think of protecting the Rover when it landed on
  Mars
• Models Save Money, Time and Lives
• Better earthquake prevention in architectural
  designs
• The Joint Military Aircraft Fighter (Lockheed
  Martin)

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Limitations of Models

• They dont always match in size (solar system
  model)
• They, like theories, may change with time
• They are often far from perfect but they do help
  to offer an explanation.

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Evaluating Scientific Explanation
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Believe it or not?
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Believe it or not?
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Believe it or not?

• How do you know?
• Critical thinking combining what you already
  know with new facts given to you. The decision
  is still yours.
• In Science
• Look at and evaluate the observations made during
  a scientific investigation
• Evaluate the inferences

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Believe it or not?

• Evaluating the Data
• Descriptions
• Tables
• Graphs
• Drawings
• Equations
• Data should be specific
• Allows for greater reproducibility and validity

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Believe it or not?

• Evaluating the Data
• Take good notes ( you cant always go back and
  get the information.travel to Mars
• A journal is often useful
• Repeatability of Data
• You can get the same results
• Others can do the experiment and get the same
  results

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Evaluating the Conclusion

• Does it answer the hypothesis?
• Doe it make sense?
• Are there other possible explanations?
• More car accidents happen in the summer months
• People eat more ice cream in the summer months
• Conclusion Eating ice cream in the summer
  months increases car accidents

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End of Chapter 1