Basic Science Terms

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Basic Science Terms
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DOING SCIENCE

• Science starts with a question.
• Science assumes that the universe is orderly and
  can be explained.
• Science is unbiased (objective).

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Basic Science Terms

• Science
• Technology
• Branches of science
• Physics
• Theory
• Law
• Hypothesis
• Model

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Science

• The study and pursuit of knowledge about the
  natural world.

• Example
• A physicist tries to understand how the Sun gives
  us light.

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Significance of Science

• The search for knowledge adds to our
  understanding of the physical world.
• Scientists want to know!
• Science affects society by
• stimulating thought
• satisfying curiosity
• influencing views of the world
• providing knowledge necessary for new
  technological advances

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Technology

• The application of science to meet human needs.

• Example
• Designing and building solar panels for
  alternative energy automobiles

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Significance of Technology

• Put the findings of science to use
• Try to solve practical problems
• New technology often leads to new discoveries and
  the advancement of science

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Examples of Technologies that led to the
Advancement of Science

• Telescopeused to discover new planets, moons and
  stars
• Microscopeused to discover microorganisms that
  cause disease, such as bubonic plague
• Internet and computerprocessing a huge amount of
  data in a matter of seconds

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The Branches and Disciplines of Science
Natural Science
Life Science
Physical Science
Earth Science
1. Biology 2. Zoology 3. Botany
1. Geology 2. Meteorology
1. Physics 2. Chemistry
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The branches of science are separate, yet
integrated.
Physical Science
Earth Science
Life Science
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Science disciplines
meteorology
physics
paleontology
chemistry
astronomy
biology
geology
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Significance of Branches of Science

• Separate, but integrated
• Example the study of fossils requires an
  understanding of geology and biology!
• Branches of Natural Science
• Earth Science
• Life Science
• Physical science Chemistry and Physics.
• What is Chemistry?
• Chemistry is the study of matter and how it
  changes.
• What is physics?

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What is Physics?

• The study of motion, forces and energy.

• The entire universe is built upon of the
  principles revealed by a study of physics.
• -Andrew Zimmerman Jones

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Significance of Physics

• Foundation for other sciences.
• Everything around us is affected by it.
• Explains phenomena such as orbiting satellites,
  weightlessness, lightning, sonic booms, magnetism
  and energy transformations.

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Scientific Theory

• A synthesis of a large body of information that
  encompasses well-tested and verified hypotheses
  about aspects of the natural world.

• Examples
• Atomic theory explains the atom
• Plate Tectonics explains the formation of
  volcanoes, earthquakes and mountains

It represents the best explanation about a
natural phenomenon at this time
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Scientific Law or Principle

• A summarizing statement about the relationship
  of natural quantities.

• Example
• F ma is Newtons 2nd Law of Motion

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A Scientific Theory

• Is
• The current best accepted explanation about a
  phenomenon in the natural world
• Weighty
• Exhausts all current knowledge gained
• Huge deal
• Not easily replaced
• Growing body of work

• Is Not
• An opinion
• Unchanging Fact
• Hypothesis
• Trivial

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A Scientific Law

• Is
• A summary of something observed in nature
• Fact
• Often expressed as an equation

• Is Not
• An opinion
• Hypothesis
• Trivial
• A theory
• An explanation

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A Scientific Model

• Is
• A representation of something in nature or the
  real world for study
• Can be scale or real size
• Can be a computer model or a tangible model,
  mathematical model, graphic organizer, predictive
  tool

• Is Not
• An opinion
• Hypothesis
• A theory
• The real thing or event

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Significance of a Scientific Theory

• It has been extensively tested through scientific
  investigation and never disproven
• It grows slowly through contributions from many
  investigators.
• Can be replaced if new evidence is discovered
• Is this a strength or a weakness?

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Significance of a Law

• A law summarizes, does not try to explain
• Sometimes is represented by an equation

explanation
vs.
F ma
Newtons Theory of Motion
Newtons 2nd Law of Motion
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Scientific Hypothesis

• An educated guess that can be tested.

• Example

If the mass on a cart is increased, then the
carts rate of acceleration will decrease given
the same force.
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Significance of a Scientific Hypothesis

• Drives the scientific process
• Has not been proved
• Can be adjusted and retested depending on the
  outcome of the first test

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SCIENTIFIC MODEL

• A representation of an object or event that can
  be studied so that the real object or event can
  be understood.

• Examples
• A globe
• Computer models for hurricanes

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Significance of Models

• A model can be tested by comparing its
  predictions to actual observations in the real
  world.
• Can use scientific method by changing one
  variable to see how it affects the other
  variable(s).
• A close match does not necessarily mean that the
  model is the only true model or the only one
  that would work.

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Theory vslaw/hypothesis/model

• Theory is an explanation that has been proved
  through testing
• Law is a summary (often expressed as an equation)
• Hypothesis is an question or educated guess that
  can be tested (but has not been tested)
• A model is a representation of something that can
  be used to study it.

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Scientific Theory

• A synthesis of a large body of information that
  encompasses well-tested and verified hypotheses
  about aspects of the natural world.
• An explanation that evolves over time
• Tested, but never disproven.
• Sometimes replaced if new evidence is discovered

Example
Atomic theory explains the atom
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Scientific Law or Principle

• A general hypothesis or statement about the
  relationship of natural quantities that has been
  tested repeatedly and has not been contradicted.
• Summarizes
• Sometimes is represented by an equation

Example
F ma is Newtons 2nd Law of Motion
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Scientific Hypothesis

• An educated guess that can be tested.
• A reasonable explanation
• Has not been proven
• Requires testing

Example
If the mass on a cart is increased, then the
carts rate of acceleration will decrease given
the same force.
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Identifying Variables in a Scientific Hypothesis
The three variables are underlined.
Independent variable
Dependent variable
If the mass on a cart is increased, then the
carts rate of acceleration will decrease given
the same force.
Control variable
The if statement shows independent variable, the
then statement shows the dependent variable.
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Variables

• Explain how the dependent and independent
  variables are different.

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Scientific Method

• Each table is responsible for writing the steps
  of the scientific method.
• List steps on paper provided

http//www.youtube.com/watch?vGUQUqV0_PTcfeature
related
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related
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Science TermsSection 1.4

• Everyone take one sheet of loose leaf and cut as
  shown.
• Label each panel formed with the following terms
• Fact
• Theory
• Law or Principle
• Hypothesis
• Define each term. Learn how each term is
  different. Work with your table members.