1
Intro to Science
A. What is science?
1. Science is the process of observing and
studying everything in the natural world.
B. Why do we study science?
1. To solve Earths mysteries and problems.
C.There are three major branches of science
1. Life Science
a.) Plants, animals, and all living things.
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2. Physical Science
a). Chemistry Physics
3. Earth Space Science
a.) Earths surface, weather, ocean, and space.
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D. The four major branches of Earth Space
Science
1. Geology
- The study of Earths origin, history
structure.
2. Meteorology
- The study of Earths atmosphere, weather,
climate.
3. Oceanography
- The study of Earths oceans.
4. Astronomy
- The study of the position, composition, size
and other characteristics of everything outside
of Earths atmosphere.
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The Scientific Method
A. What is the scientific method?
1. The scientific method is a systematic
approach to solving scientific problems.
B. Terms you need to know when using the
scientific method.
1. Hypothesis-
A proposed solution to a problem.
2. Theory-
A logical explanation for an event that occurs in
nature.
3. Law-
A theory that is accepted as fact over many tests.
4. Variable-
The factor being tested in an experiment.
5. Control-
An experiment run without a variable.
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The Steps of the scientific method!
1. Identify or state the problem.
2. Gather information on the problem.
3. Form a hypothesis.
4. Run the test or experiment.
5. Record analyze your data.
6. State your conclusion.
7. Repeat your experiment if necessary.
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The Metric System
A. Why do we need to learn the metric system?
1. So scientists can communicate with each
other.
2. One universal language.
B. The metric system is a decimal system.
1. Our money system is an example of a decimal
system.
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Types of Metric Measurements
A. Length
- How long or wide something is.
1. The meter (m) is used to measure length
when using the metric system.
2. How do you use the prefixes?
a.) 1000m ________1________km
b.) 100m ________1________hm
c.) 10m ________1________dam
d.) .1m ________1________dm
e.) .01m ________1________cm
f.) .001m ________1________mm
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B. Mass-
The measure of the amount of matter in an object.

1. The gram (g) is used to measure mass when
using the metric system.
2. How do you use the prefixes?
a.) 1000g ________1________kg
b.) 100g ________1________hg
c.) 10g ________1________dag
d.) .1g ________1________dg
e.) .01g ________1________cg
f.) .001g ________1________mg
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C. Volume-
is the amount of space an object takes up.
1. The liter, or cubic centimeter, (l or cm3) is
used to measure volume when using the metric
system.
2. Volume can be found three different ways,
depending on what type of substance you are
measuring.
a.) For solid square objects you multiply the
length x the width x the height of the object.
b.) For liquids use a graduated cylinder.
c.) For solid non-square objects use water
displacement.
3. How do you use the prefixes?
a.) The same as the other measurements!
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D. Density-
is the amount of mass in the space a
specific object takes up.
1. Grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm3) or grams
per milliliter (g/ml) is used when measuring
density in the metric system.
2. Density is measured by using the following
formula
mass
Density
_______________
volume
OR
g
_______________
D
cm3 or ml
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E. Temperature-
how hot or cold a substance is.
1. Temperature can be measured three different
ways.
2. When using the metric system temperature is
measured in degrees Celsius.
a.) The boiling point
100 degrees C
b.) The freezing point
0 degrees C
3. When using the standard system temperature
is measured in degrees Fahrenheit.
a.) The boiling point
212 degrees F
b.) The freezing point
32 degrees F
4. When using the Kelvin system temperature is
measured in Kelvins
a.) The boiling point
373 degrees K
b.) The freezing point
273 degrees K
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SI
Kelvin
Metric
50
400
10
45
380
9
40
360
8
35
340
7
30
320
6
25
300
5
20
280
4
15
260
3
10
240
2
5
220
1
0
200
0