Physics – The Basic ScienceTopics

•Scientific Method•Identify Variables•Scientific Attitude

•Science & Technology

Activities•Class Work

Physics – The Basic Science

• Science used to be called Natural Philosophy• Unanswered Questions --- > Answers --- > SCIENCE

Science TodayLiving things Non Living things

Biology Geology

Zoology Astronomy

Botany Chemistry

PhysicsPhysics: Nature of things --- > Motion, forces, energy, matter,

heat, sound and light

Mathematics: The Language of Science

Scientific Method

• Recognize the problem• Make an educated guess – hypothesis – about the

answer• Predict the consequences of the hypothesis• Perform experiments to test predictions• Formulate the simplest general rule: hypothesis +

prediction + experiment

Hypothesis: If _______ then _________ because______

Galileo Galilei (1564 – 1642)

Variables

• Manipulated (or Independent) Variable• Responding (or Dependent) Variable• Controlled Variables (or Controls)

• In a controlled experiment these variables must be measurable

In this experiment, which are the different variables ?

The Scientific Attitude

• Fact: Agreement of competent observers of the same phenomenon• Hypothesis: Educated guess -- > Fact if demostrated by experiment• Laws or Principles: Tested hypothesis over and over• Theory: Synthesis of a large body of information + well-tested

hypothesis about certain aspects of the natural world.

Theories undergo changes !!!

Atomic Theory

Science and Technology

• Science: Method of answering theoretical questions

• Technology: Method of solving practical problems

• Science is a way of knowing

• Technology is a way of doing

Homework

• Go to: www.pearsonsuccessnet.com

• Click on Book Student Edition and open it

• Maximize window and click “View By” tab

• Click on “Exercise Worksheets”

• Click on “Ch.1 About Science”

• Print all pages and complete the questions

• Submit homework following class