CH 0 Understanding Science

​Understanding Science

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What do you think of when you

hear the word "science?"

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​Key Concepts

• ​What is Science inquiry?

• ​How do scientific laws and scientific theories differ?

• ​What is the difference between a fact and an opinion?

Vocabulary

• Science

• Observation

• Inference

• ​Hypothesis

• Prediction

• ​Technology

• ​Scientific Theory

• ​Scientific law

• ​Critical Thinking

​What is Science?

​Science is the investigation and exploration of natural events and of the new information that results from those investigations.

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​For thousands of years, men and women of all countries and cultures have studied the natural world and recorded their observations.

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​People use science in their everyday lives and careers.

​For example: Firefighters, sports, hair products, preparing foods, electronic devices, etc.

​Branches of Science

​The study of Earth, including rocks, soils, oceans, and the atmosphere.

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Earth Scientists may ask questions like:

• ​How do different shorelines react to tsunamis?

• ​Why do planets orbit the sun?

• ​What is the rate of climate change?​

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​https://youtu.be/Ck_e4CRM82Y

Earth Science:

Life Science

​The study of living things (Also known as biology).

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​Biologists can ask questions like:

• ​Why do some trees lose their leaves in the winter?

• ​How do birds know which direction they are going?

• ​How do mammals control their body temperature?

​https://youtu.be/6v8djXa-IPQ

​Physical Science

​The study of matter and energy. It includes both physics and chemistry.

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​Physicists and chemists ask questions like:

• ​What chemical reactions must take place to launch a spaceship into space?

• ​Is it possible to travel faster than the speed of light?

• ​What makes up matter?

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​https://youtu.be/PUZkE1vIvIA

Fill in the Blank

​Science is the investigation and __________ of natural events and of the new information that results from those investigations.

Open Ended

What are some things that you will be learning in science class this year?

​Scientific Inquiry

​When scientists conduct scientific investigations, they use scientific inquiry.

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​Scientific inquiry is a process that uses a set of skills to answer questions or to test ideas about the natural world.

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​There are so many kinds of scientific investigations and there are many ways to conduct them. The series of steps used in each investigation often varies.

Multiple Choice

Science is a ________

• Process of discovery

• Collection of facts

• Complete study of the world

• understanding of all living things

​Ask Questions

​One way to begin scientific inquiry is to observe the natural world and ask questions.

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​Observation is the act of using one or more of your senses to gather information and taking note of what occurs.

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​Inference

​After observations, you make an inference based on the observations.

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​An inference is a logical explanation of an observation that is drawn from prior knowledge or experience.

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​You can decide to investigate further and develop a hypothesis and a method to test it.

​Hypothesize

​A hypothesis is a possible explanation for an observation that can be tested by scientific investigations.

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​A hypothesis states an observation and provides an explanation.

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​For example: More of the riverbank eroded this year because the amount, the speed, and the force of the water increased.

​Predict

​When state a hypothesis, they often use it to make predictions to help test their hypothesis.

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​A prediction is a statement of what will happen next in a sequence of events.

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​Scientists make predictions based on what information they think they will find when testing their hypothesis.

Multiple Choice

A _______ is a statement of what will happen next in a sequence of events.

• Inference

• Hypothesis

• Prediction

• Question

Fill in the Blank

An _______ is a logical explanation of an observation that is drawn from prior knowledge or experience.

Multiple Choice

A ________ is a possible explanation for an observation that can be tested by scientific investigations.

• Inference

• Prediction

• Question

• Hypothesis

​Testing a Hypothesis

You often test whether your predictions are true.

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​Confirmed prediction = Supported hypothesis

​If your prediction is not confirmed then your hypothesis may need modification.

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​There are several ways to test a

​hypothesis, these are four possible ways:

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• ​Design an experiment

• ​Make a model

• ​Gather and evaluate evidence or research

• ​Collect Data/Record observations

​Analyze Results

​After testing your hypothesis, you analyze your results using various methods.

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• ​Graph results

• ​Classify information

• ​Make calculations

• ​Other processes

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​Often it is hard to see trends or relationships in data while collecting it. After analyzing data, additional inferences can be made.

​Draw Conclusions

​A conclusion is a summary of the information gained from testing a hypothesis.

Fill in the Blank

List one possible way to test a hypothesis.

Multiple Choice

Often it is ______ to see trends or relationships in data while collecting it.

• Easy

• Hard

• Impossible

• Not a problem

​Communicate Results

​An important part of the scientific inquiry process is communicating results.

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​Several ways of communicating results include:

• ​Infer

• ​Summarize

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​Scientist communicate results of investigations to inform other scientists about their research and their conclusions.

​Further Science Inquiry

​After finishing an experiment a scientist must verify his or her results.

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​If the hypothesis is supported, the scientist will repeat the experiment several times to make sure the conclusions are the same (Also known as experimental repetition).

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​If the hypothesis is not supported then the hypothesis must be revised with the new information gained. The hypothesis can be revised and tested many times.

​Results of Science

​Results and conclusions from an investigation can lead to many outcomes, such as the answers to a question, more information on a specific topic, or support for a hypothesis.

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​Other outcomes include:

• ​Technology

• ​New materials

• ​Possible Explanations

• ​Scientific Theory or Scientific Law

Multiple Choice

​If the hypothesis is not supported then the hypothesis does not have be revised with the new information gained.

• True

• False

​Technology

​Scientists often look for answers to questions such as, "How can the hearing impaired hear better?"

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​Investigation, experimentation, and research can lead to the development of new technology.

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​Technology is the practical use of scientific knowledge, especially for industrial or commercial use.

​New Materials

​Space travel has unique challenges.

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​What are some challenges that astronauts face while they are in space?

​Challenges

• ​Oxygen

• ​Temperature

• ​Pressure

• ​Small high speed flying objects

• ​Protection against radiation

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​Today's spacesuit is a blend of different materials that protects astronauts from all of these hazards.

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​Which is a result of research.

​Possible Explanations

​Scientists often perform investigations to find explanations as to how something happens.

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​Example:

Scientists use telescopes to understand the formation of stars.

​Scientific Theory and Scientific Law

​When a hypothesis has been supported by scientific investigation many times, the hypothesis can then become a scientific theory.

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​A Scientific theory is an explanation of observations or events that is based on knowledge gained from many observations and investigations.

Fill in the Blank

Name one thing that can result from science investigation.

​Scientific Theory

​Scientists regularly question scientific theories and test them for validity.

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​A theory generally is accepted true until it is disproved.

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​Example of a scientific theory:

​The theory of plate tectonics.

​It explains how Earth's crust moves

​and why earthquakes and volcanoes occur.

​Scientific Law

​A scientific law is a rule that describes a pattern in nature.

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​A scientific law only states that an event will occur in certain circumstances.

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​Example:

​Newton's law of gravitational force.

​Its doesn't explain why objects move towards Earth when dropped, only that it will.

​New Information

​Scientific information constantly changes as new information is discovered or as previous hypothesis are retested.

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​When new facts are revealed, a current scientific theory might be revised to include the new facts, or it might be disproved and rejected.

Multiple Select

Which is a scientific theory?

• Gravitational force

• Plate tectonics

• Th Big bang

• Motion

​Evaluating Scientific Evidence

​Critical thinking is used to evaluate scientific evidence.

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​Critical thinking is comparing what you already know with the information you are given in order to decide whether you agree with it.

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​To determine whether information is true and scientific or pseudoscience, you should be skeptical and identify facts and opinions.

Science can not answer all questions

​Questions that deal with opinions, beliefs, values, and feelings can not be answered through scientific investigation.

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​Example:

​Are comedies the best kind of movie?

​Safety in Science

​Always use safe lab practices when doing scientific investigations.

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​If you have questions about potential hazards, use of equipment, or meaning of safety symbols, ask your teacher.