Bell work

You are asked to write a biology textbook. What would your OWN definition of “science” be?

The Methods of ScienceA. Science studies natural patterns

1. Science is classified into three main categories:Life Science

Biology “the study of life”

Many branches of Biology

Earth Science

Physical Science

2. Science explains the natural world; explanations can change over time…for example?

– Science also aims to use those explanations to understand patterns in nature and to make useful predictions about natural events.

– What are some examples of patterns that scientists use to make predictions?

3. Scientists investigate nature by observations, experimentation, or modeling

Science deals only with the natural world.

• Science must be based on evidence, not belief.

• Evidence comes from data and is constantly being re-collected to ensure its validity.

Science, Change, and Uncertainty – Despite all of our scientific knowledge, much of

nature remains a mystery.

– Almost every major scientific discovery raises more questions than it answers. This constant change shows that science continues to advance.

– Learning about science means understanding what we know and what we don’t know.

– Science rarely “proves” anything in absolute terms

– Scientists aim for the best understanding of the natural world that current methods can reveal.

B. Scientific method - organized set of investigation procedures

1. State a problem

2. Gather information

3. Form a hypothesis or educated guess based on knowledge and observation

4. An experiment with variables is a common way to test a hypothesis

5. Analyze data from an experiment or investigation

6. Form a conclusion based on data

7. Reduce bias by keeping accurate records, using measurable data, and repeating the experiment

Prepare for Lab Tomorrow

• Read over your lab

• Answer the Pre-Lab Questions

• Don’t forget your lab safety contract!!!