Ecology Unit 1

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Ecology Unit 1

• What is Science?

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Ecology Unit 1 Vocabulary (vocab section of
notebook)

1. Scientific Method
2. Control
3. Variable
4. Independent Variable
5. Dependent Variable
6. Evidence

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• Science is the process of asking questions and
  seeking their answers to better understand the
  natural world.
• Science can be separated into 3 major fields

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Life Science

• Biology (life)
• Zoology (animals)
• Botany (plants)
• Ecology (ecosystems/environment)

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Earth Science

• Geology (earth)
• Meteorology (atmosphere)
• Astronomy (space)

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Physical Science

• Chemistry (matter)
• Physics (forces and energy)

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Important Science Skills

• Two of the most important procedures/skills in
  all branches of science are OBSERVATION and
  INFERENCE.

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Observation

• Something we can sense (touch, see, taste, smell,
  hear)
• Mr. Mount looks nice today.

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Inference

• A conclusion or prediction we make based on an
  observation(s).
• He must have a hot date tonight.

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• What are some observations you can make about
  this room? Mr. Brownrigg? Mr. Mount?
• What are some inferences you can make about them?

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The Scientific Method

• The scientific method is an organized,
  step-by-step approach to problem solving in
  science
• There are 5 steps when you break it down to its
  simplest form.

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Step 1 Question ?

• The 1st step is to formulate a question based on
  observations.
• Figure out what it is you want to know.
• Research to find out if other studies have been
  done on your question.
• Many research tools are available (scientific
  journals, books, periodicals, news media, and the
  internet)

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Step 2 Hypothesis

• After observing and researching your question you
  need to form a hypothesis.
• Best guess/explanation as to the reasons for your
  observations.

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Step 3 Experiment

• Design an experiment to test your hypothesis.
• Experiments must be fair (control, independent
  variable, dependent variable)
• Experiments must also be repeatable.

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Step 4 Collect Data

• Data is information.
• Record observations during your experiment.
• When you record this information it makes it
  easier to stay organized and also to repeat your
  experiment later.

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Step 5 Conclusion

• When all of your data is collected you need to
  come up with a conclusion.
• A conclusion is where you decide if your
  hypothesis was correct (supported) or not.
• If it was not supported then you can test it
  again, or form a new one and design a new
  experiment.
• Sometimes new questions come up during an
  experiment that can lead to the whole process
  starting again.

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Theory

• A scientific theory is a detailed explanation of
  a question that has withstood repeated testing.
• Scientist use theories to provide a general
  explanation to similar questions.
• Theories are often revised as technology improves
  and new observations are made.

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Using Graphs

• Graphs are used to help us organize and
  illustrate data collected during an experiment.
• There are 3 main kinds of graphs
• Line graphs
• Bar graphs
• Pie/circle graphs

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Line Graphs

• Line graphs are used to show the relationship
  between two variables (independent and
  dependent).
• Many times line graphs show change over time.

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Bar Graphs

• Bar graphs are best used to show comparisons.
• In a bar graph only the y-axis (vertical) is
  quantitative (has numbers).

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Pie Graphs

• Pie/circle graphs are best used to show
  percentages.

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Being a Skeptic

• In science it is important for conclusions to be
  valid (trustworthy).
• Example 4 out of 5 dentists recommend sugarless
  gum.
• Do we actually know how many dentists were asked?
  Was it 5 or 5000?
• Which would be more valid?

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Scientific Measurements

• Many tools are used to make measurements in
  science.
• What are some examples?

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Making Precise Measurements

• Measurements in science need to be precise (as
  correct as possible).
• Which measurement is more precise? 2 cm, 3.4 kg,
  or 5.23 ml
• 5.23 ml is more precise because it shows
  measurement to the nearest .01, whereas the
  others only show to the nearest .1 and 1.

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Significant Figures

• All of the measured places and one estimated
  place are considered significant figures.
• What is the difference between measurements of
  186 grams and 186.0 grams?
• 186.0 grams is more precise because it has more
  significant figures.

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Rules for Sig Figs

• 1. All nonzero digits are significant.
• 2. Any zero located between nonzero digits is
  significant.
• 3. Leading zeros Zeros to the left of all
  nonzero digits, are never significant.
• 4. Trailing zeros Zeros to the right of all
  nonzero digits, are significant, if and only if a
  decimal point appears anywhere in the number.

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Calculating using Sig Figs

• When making calculations answers must be rounded
  off to the number of significant figures found in
  the least precise measurement.
• Example To find the volume of a box that is
  12.82 cm long, 2.13 cm wide, and 1.86 cm high.
• 12.82 X 2.13 X 1.86 50.790276
• Answer must be rounded to 3 sig figsso 50.8 cm3