The Nature of ScienceIntegrated Science

Unit One

I. Science is…A. Characteristics *1. the systematic study of the structure &

behavior of the physical & natural world through observation & experiment

2. focused on the natural world3. relies on evidence4. testable5. involves the scientific community6. ongoing & changeable 7. creative8. beneficial to others9. limited

B. 3 main domains of scientific thinking1. Science is a body of knowledge

a. facts, concepts, theories, laws, definitions

2. Science is a set of methods/processesa. observing, measuring, estimating,

inferring, predicting, classifying, experimenting, concluding

3. Science is a way of knowinga. based on evidence, changes over time,

creativity plays a role, background knowledge is influential

C. Natural Science has 3 main areas of focus1. Life Sciences

a. studies living things & their processesb. ex: Zoology, Botany, Anatomy

2. Physical Sciencesa. studies matter & energyb. ex: Chemistry, Physics

3. Earth Sciencesa. studies the Earth & atmosphereb. ex: Geology, Meteorology, Astronomy

II. Science is not…A. Misconceptions about science

1. not able to solve all problems/questions

2. not 100% free of values, opinions & bias

3. not based on faith, belief or opinions

4. theories are not tentative hunches

5. not based on claims of supernatural

phenomena

6. doesn’t seek “truth” or “facts”

a. goal = to come as close to understanding the reality of the natural world as we can

III. Scientific MethodsA. Scientific thinking

1. Theory *a. well-tested explanation that unifies a broad range of

observations & hypothesesb. usually the dominant view of the scientific community

1) if well tested, clear and consistent, repeatable & backed by evidence

c. new evidence & technology may allow revision or replacement

2. Scientific law *a. description of an observed phenomenon in nature that

can be testedb. does not explain what happens or why it occursc. supported by evidence & may inspire further experiments

B. How scientists work1. Make observations2. Ask questions & investigate to find answers 3. Plan experiments, collect data & confirm results4. Use critical thinking to logically solve problems 5. Incorporate technology

a. technology = applying science to practical purposes

6. Use mathematic equations to describe events7. Use models to demonstrate ideas too small, too

big or too complex to study firsthand 8. Use scientific methodology to organize thinking9. Use special measurements & tools

C. Scientific Methodology1. Ask a question

a. research what’s already known2. Form a hypothesis

a. predict what outcome may be3. Conduct experiments4. Collect & analyze data5. Draw conclusions

a. support, reject or modify hypothesis6. Share results with others

D. Controlled experiments1. tests in which variables that can affect the

outcome are controlled other than what is being tested

2. Main components1) Independent variable - single factor being tested2) Dependent variable - the result of the test

a) changes in response to indep. variable3) Control group - version of experiment used as a

standard for comparison4) Constants - unchanged factors kept the same in

all test versions a) do not impact results & help ensure only the

indep. variable has caused the result`

E. Scientific Measurement1. Uses the Int’l System of Units (SI system)

a. consist & universalb. based on metrics – uses units of 10c. quantifies observations

2. uses base units – derived by taking a single measurementa. length, mass, time, temperature, amount of

a substance, electric current, light intensity3. uses derived units – combinations of base units

a. area, volume, pressure, force, speed, etc.4. uses prefixes w/ units for larger or smaller amounts

5. Converting between smaller & larger SI measurementsa. move the decimal

F. Organizing Data1. Data = information collected

a. may be quantitative – numbers, amounts1) ex: 5 cm of rain fell

b. may be qualitative – characteristics1) ex: color, texture, preferences

c. while experimenting, data tables are used1) collect, organize info for researcher2) ex:

d. To share results, graphs are used *1) visual representation of data collected

2) major typesa) bar – compares similar events/itemsb) line – shows change during experimentc) pie – shows parts of a wholed) scatter plot – show correlation between two

variables

3) Qualities of a good grapha) Titleb) Labels on X & Y axesc) Scaled) Evenly spaced unitse) Keyf) Actual amount above bar or in pie wedgeg) Neat & colorful – distinguish bars, wedges,

multiple lines from each other

G. Expressing numbers in science1. Scientific Notation *a. a way to express large or small numbers by

reducing 0s to exponents (powers of 10)b. powers of 10 ex: 1000 = 103; 100,000 = 105; 0.01 = 10-2

c. written as product of a # & a power of 101) ex: 3500 = 3.5 x 103, 0.0254 = 2.54 x 10-2

2. Significant Figuresa. the digits which give useful information about the accuracy of a measurementb. show precision about measurements