Lesson 1-1

Nature of Science

QUESTIONSCommunicate

ObserveDefine scope of a Problem

Form a testable Question

Research the known

Clarify an expected Result

Examine Results

Perform Experiments(repeat to verify)

Reflect on Findings

What is Science?

What do we “DO” When we’re performing

science ?(share ideas)

an organized process for investigating the world around us

Two Main Branches of Physical Science

Chemistry

Physics

Types of Scientific Knowledge

• Observations (empirical data)– Qualitative = description without numbers– Quantitative = description using measurements and numbers

• Inferences: ideas, intuition, understanding - based on data

• Hypothesis: A testable “If, Then, Because” prediction

• Theory A scientific theory represents a hypothesis, or a group of related hypotheses, which has been confirmed through repeated experimental tests, and best explains all data and predicts future activities.

• A well substantiated explanation which best explains the scientific data.

• Scientific Law – Description of how natural phenomenon will occur under certain

circumstances

An Experiment: Testing the Hypothesis• Problem – a question to answer or problem to solve

• A “Hypothesis” – an “If, Then, Because” prediction of future events– Based on existing knowledge and observations– Which can be tested in an experiment

• An “Experimental Control” the situation as you originally observed it Manipulated Variable(s) is (are) absent or at lowest level Compare results from treatment groups

• One or more variables or treatments (changes to the control situation)– Manipulated – what is changed by the scientist – independent variable– Response – what is measured – dependent variable– Constants – conditions that stay the same each time the experiment is tried– Uncontrolled – conditions that cannot be controlled

• A Well Planned Experiment Has Two Possible Outcomes• Hypothesis Supported• Hypothesis Rejected

Reporting Scientific Experiments:The Scientific Method

When reporting the results of an experiment, we follow the guidelines of the “Scientific Method”

Scientific Method - PHERC• Problem• Hypothesis• Experiment• Results• Conclusion

What are some benefits of writing reports arranged in this sequence?

• Scientific Process Diagram from“An Activity Model for Scientific Inquiry”William Harwood, The Science Teacher Vol. 71, No. 1, Pg. 44- 46, January 2004