Chapter One The Nature of Science

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Chapter OneThe Nature of Science
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Section 1What is Science?

• Definiton Science is the process used
  to investigate what is
• happening around us in order
• to solve problems or answer
• questions.

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Who uses science?

• Scientists
• Engineers
• Doctors, nurses, and all professions in the
  medical field
• Soldiers
• Computer designers and programmers
• The list goes on and on
• But most importantly

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YOUuse scienceevery day!
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Science is the process used to investigate what
is happening around us in order to solve problems
or answer questions.

• We often see something and wonder How does that
  work? or Why does that do that?
• How would you go about answering those questions?

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Science is the process used to investigate what
is happening around us in order to solve problems
or answer questions.

• Scientists observe, investigate, and experiment
  to find answers.
• Scientists also use prior knowledge to predict
  what will occur in investigations.
• Technology is the application of science to make
  products or tools that people can use.

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What is Science?

• Where can you find science or its results?
• Is science important in your life?
• Why should you study science?

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Communication in Science

• Thousands of scientific journals and magazines
  report the results and conclusions of experiments
  every year.
• You can also keep scientific data and results in
  a Science Journal.

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Skills that are commonly used in science

• Observing
• Measuring
• Comparing and Contrasting
• Inferring
• Interpreting Data
• Drawing Conclusions
• Communicating your ideas in a journal

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Ways to summarize data from an investigation

• Use tables, graphs, and charts
• Make models
• And if you have access to a computer
• Use a word processor
• Use a database
• Use an electronic spreadsheet

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Why might it be important to keep a Science
Journal?
Scientists usually need to repeat experiments and
all the conditions must be the same. Describing
the experiment in your Science Journal can
help you repeat the experiment. Also, you can
write down results, problems, and questions
for future consideration.
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Section 2 - Doing Science

• You just realized you lost your house keys. What
  would you do to find them?
• You just bought a new video game and you are very
  anxious to start playing it. You have seen your
  friend play the game. What would you do?

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Remember Science is the process used to
investigate what is happening around us in order
to solve problems or answer questions.

• Scientists use scientific methods - ways or steps
  to follow ( a process), to solve problems.
• These methods are based on observation, prior
  knowledge, and research, and experimentation
  (investigation).

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How do scientists go about doing science?

• Scientists use scientific methods ways, or
  steps to follow, to solve problems.
• But what are those steps?

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Steps scientists follow to solve scientific
problems

• Identify the problem

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Methods scientists use to solve problems

• Descriptive Research
• Answering a scientific question by making
  observations about the question
• The process of descriptive research
• State the research objective.
• Describe the research design or how you will
  carry out your investigation.
• What are some questions to think about when
  planning an investigation?

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When planning an investigation you should
consider

• How will the investigation be carried out?
• What instruments will be used?
• How much time will be allowed for the experiment?
• How will we record the data collected?

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Methods continued

• Eliminate bias, or expected results.
• 4. Select the best materials for the
  investigation.
• a. A model represents things that happen
  too slowly, too quickly, or are too big,
  small, dangerous or expensive to observe
  directly.
• b. Scientists around the world use a
  system of measurements called the
  International System of Units to make
  observations.

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Methods continued

• 5. Design data tables, or ways to accurately
  record results and observations.
• Analyze your data and figure out what your
  results mean.
• Draw conclusions.

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Methods continued

• Experimental research design
• Answering a scientific question by observation of
  a controlled situation.
• 1. Form a hypothesis, which is a prediction that
  can be tested.

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Methods continued

• 2. Plan the experiment.
• a. Independent variable the factor in the
  experiment that is changed.
• b. Dependent variable the factor in the
  experiment that is being measured.
• c. Constants variables that stay the same.

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Methods continued

• 3. Use a control
• - A sample that is treated like the other
  experimental group except that the independent
  variable is not applied to it.
• 4. Conduct several trials of the experiment.
• 5. Analyze your results and draw conclusions.

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Doing Science

• What are some possible reasons that data are
  different than expected?
• Why is it important to have a control sample when
  conducting experimental research?

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Section 3Science and Technology

• Remember
• Technology is the application of science to
  make useful products and tools, such as computers.

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Science and Technology

• Scientific discoveries lead to new products that
  influence your lifestyle in areas such as

Entertainment
Convenience
Health
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Science and Technology

• Science provides information that people use to
  make decisions.
• However, science cannot decide whether the new
  information is good or harmful, moral or immoral.

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Science and Technology

• What new scientific discoveries have you used?
• It is the task of science to answer questions and
  provide information, but not to decide whether
  the new information is good or harmful. Can you
  think of some examples where science has provided
  information or advancements that people have use
  in a harmful way?

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Chapter 1The Nature of Science

• Try to remember
• To be an informed consumer, you must know the
  facts.
• Science will help to explain those facts.
• Technology will use those facts to find ways to
  make useful products.

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Chapter 1The Nature of Science

• The End