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The Nature of Science

The Nature of Science. What is Science? How do scientists work?. Goal of Science. To understand the world around us EX . Does life appear from non-living matter? To explain events by making predictions EX . Life doesn’t appear from non-living matter. To investigate predictions

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The Nature of Science

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  1. The Nature of Science What is Science? How do scientists work?

  2. Goal of Science • To understand the world around us • EX. Does life appear from non-living matter? • To explain events by making predictions • EX. Life doesn’t appear from non-living matter. • To investigate predictions • EX. Setting up an experiment to see if life comes from non-living matter, or from living things

  3. Video: How scientists work

  4. How could you use the scientific method in your daily life? • One example to make a friend: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0xgjUhEG3U

  5. Observations- Gathering evidence • It all starts here! • Using 5 SENSES to gather information • Quantitative: • Observation using numbers and measurement • EX. Twenty-four people have iPhones in this classroom. • Can you make a quantitative observation in this classroom? • # of desks, students, length of desk, etc.. • Qualitative: • Observation that doesn’t involve numbers • EX. I don’t see people get flustered using their iPhones. • Can you make a qualitative observation in this classroom? • The lab tables are black, walls are white, etc…..

  6. Inferences- Interpreting the Evidence • INTERPRETATION based on observation and prior knowledge or experience • EX. iPhones are the easiest smartphones to use. • Observation = Most smartphones I see are iPhones. • Prior knowledge = My iPhone is easy to use. • Can you make an inference about one of your observations? • The lab tables are black because they are made of coal. • Observation = lab tables are black • Prior knowledge = coal is black

  7. Hypothesis- Explaining the Evidence • The answer to a BURNING QUESTION! • Only useful if it can be tested! • Evidence must be gathered and tested. • Example: • Question = Does ozone gas affect the growth of plants? • How would we measure growth? • Height, number of leaves, number of flowers • Hypothesis = If plants are exposed to ozone gas, then they will show more growth. • We now must set up a controlled experiment to test our hypothesis!!!! • What is the process called that scientists use? • SCIENTIFIC METHOD!

  8. The Scientific Method • State the problem or write a question(the burning question) • Form a hypothesis (answer to burning question based on observations and prior knowledge) • Design a controlled experiment • Only ONE variable is tested at a time • All other variables must be kept the SAME • Collect organized data • Analyze data • Form a conclusion (Was your hypothesis correct?) • Peer evaluation (Can your experiment be retested and always get same results?)

  9. LET’S SEE HOW IT WORKS!

  10. The Scenario • A group of scientists would like to know the affects of ozone on plant life. • They set up several “mini” ecosystems in separate domes to conduct their experiment. • Each dome receives a different amount of ozone and one dome receives none.

  11. Setting up a Controlled Experiment

  12. Variable: Things that can be manipulated or changed by scientist during experiment A controlled experiment tests ONE variable, while the others must stay the same Examples from video clip: Sunlight, water, type of soil, type of plant, ozone gas Independent Variable: Manipulated (CHANGED) by scientist Variable that is being tested I am testing INDEPENDENT Example from video clip: Ozone gas is being tested Dependent Variable: Changes in response to the tested variable The “things” the scientist is measuring DEPENDENT-DATA, DEPENDENT-DATA, DEPENDENT-DATA Example from video clip: Plant height, leaf count, rate of photosynthesis Important Terms- What are variables

  13. Important Terms- What makes it a controlled experiment? • Controlled Variables: • Things that must be kept constant during experiment • If altered, can affect results and be used to show error in experiment. • Examples from video clip: • Sunlight, amount of water, type of soil, type of plant • Control Group: • Experimental setup that does not receive the variable that is being tested • All other groups are compared with the results of this group to see if there is any change to the test subject • Often called the “standard for comparison” • Example from video clip: • Dome without ozone gas • NO ozone gas

  14. Let’s practice!!

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