Ch. 0 - The Nature of Science

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Ch. 0 - The Nature of Science

• Defining Science
• Problem-Solving
• Scientific Method
• Experimental Design

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A. Defining Science

• Pure Science
• research that adds to the body of scientific
  knowledge
• has no practical use
• Applied Science (Technology)
• the practical application of scientific
  knowledge

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Why Pure Science?

• Michael Faraday was once asked
• Of what purpose is your science?
• Faraday Replied Of what purpose is a newborn
  child?

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A. Defining Science

• PURE
• human genetics
• polymer science
• atomic theory
• study of the human ear

• APPLIED
• DNA fingerprinting
• Lycra spandex, plastics, nanotubes
• nuclear weapons, nuclear power, space propulsion
• hearing aids

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A. Defining Science

• Life Science
• the study of living organisms
• Biology AP
• Earth Science
• the study of Earth and space
• Physical Science
• the study of matter and energy
• chemistry physics

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B. Problem-Solving

• 1. Identify the problem.
• What do you know?
• What do you need to know?
• 2. Plan a strategy.
• Look for patterns.
• Break the problem into smaller steps.
• Develop a model.

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B. Problem-Solving

• 3. Execute your plan.
• 4. Evaluate your results.
• Did you solve the problem?
• Is your answer reasonable?
• Identify - Plan - Execute - Evaluate

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C. Scientific Method

• Hypothesis - testable prediction
• Theory - explanation of why
• based on many observations experimental results
• Scientific Law - prediction of what
• describes a pattern in nature

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C. Scientific Method

• Theories and laws are well-accepted by
  scientists, but...

THEY ARE NOT SET IN STONE!
They are revised when new information is
discovered. Are used as fact even when
unexplainable !
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C. Scientific Method

• 1. Determine the problem.
• 2. Make a hypothesis.
• 3. Test your hypothesis.
• 4. Analyze the results.
• 5. Draw conclusions.

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C. Scientific Method

• 1. Determine the problem.
• When the Titanic sank, what happened to the
  water level on shore?
• 2. Make a hypothesis.
• The water level rose.
• The water level dropped.
• The water level stayed the same.

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C. Scientific Method

• 3. Test your hypothesis.
• How could we test our hypothesis?
• 4. Analyze the results.
• What happened during our test?
• 5. Draw conclusions.
• Was our hypothesis correct?
• Is further testing necessary?

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D. Experimental Design

• Experiment - organized procedure for testing a
  hypothesis
• Key Components
• Control - standard for comparison
• Single variable - keep other factors constant
• Repeated trials - for reliability

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D. Experimental Design

• Types of Variables
• Independent Variable
• adjusted by the experimenter
• what you vary
• Dependent Variable
• changes in response to the indep. variable
• what you measure

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D. Experimental Design

• Hypothesis
• Storing popcorn in the freezer makes it pop
  better.
• Control
• Popcorn stored at room temp.

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D. Experimental Design

• Single variable
• Storage temperature
• Constants
• Popcorn brand
• Freshness
• Storage time
• Popper

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D. Experimental Design

• Independent Variable
• Storage temperature
• Dependent Variable
• Number of unpopped kernels

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Density Lab Heads Up

• Inquiry Experiment
• Design Experiment- Student developed procedure
• Must be testable approved
• Process over Product!
• Graphing