Chapter 1
Science Skills
Page 2
1.1 What is science?
(3:54)
Science From Curiosity
• Science - system of knowledge & methods
used to find it
• Begins w/ curiosity…ends w/ discovery
• Curiosity provides ?’s
• Observing/measuring…means to find
answers
Science and Technology
Science and Technology (1:39)
• Science / technology interdependent
– Advances in 1 leads to advances in the other
Branches of Science
Natural Science
Physical Science
•Chemistry
•Physics
Earth and Space
Science
•Geology
•Astronomy
•Life Science
•Biology
Big Ideas of Physical Science
• Space and Time
– universe age
– size
• Matter and Change
– Small amt for universe
– Volume/mass
– Atoms
• Protons, neutrons, electrons
• Forces and Motion
– Push/pull causes change
– Laws will explain
• Energy
– Many forms
– Drives motion
– Transferred/never destroyed
Sec 1.2 Using a Scientific Approach
p. 7
• Scientific Method - organized plan for
gathering, organizing, & communicating info
– Goal….to solve problem or better understand
observed event
Copy flow chart into
your notes
A Scientific Method
• Making Observations
– Observation – info that you obtain through
your senses
– Inference – conclusions drawn based on
observations
• Develop ? / problem
• Form Hypothesis
– proposed answer to ?
– testable
• Testing a hypothesis
– Manipulated (independent)
variable – changed by you
to test hyp.
– Responding (dependent)
variable – changes in
response to man. var.
– Controlled variable – factors
kept constant to test hyp.
– Control Group –setup run
w/o man.var.
• Draw Conclusions – does data support
hyp?
• Develop Theory
– Scientific Theory – well-tested explanation for
observations or experimental results
• Tells “why”
• Theories are never “proved”
• Theories may be revised or replaced
Scientific Method Rap
Scientific Laws
• Scientific law – statement
summarizing pattern found in nature
• explains “what”
• DOES NOT attempt to explain
observed pattern in nature
Scientific Models
• Scientific Models - makes easier to
understand things too hard to observe
directly
– Ex. Atomic models, models of the solar
system, cell models, etc.
The Scientific
Method (12:07)
Sec 1.3 Measurement
p. 14
• Scientific Notation – makes very
large / very small #’s easer to
work w/
–expressing value as # from 1-10 x
power of 10
• Ex. 300,000,000,000 = 3x1011
• .00000006 = 6x10-8
SI Units of Measurement
(Metric)
• Length – straight line dist.
btwn 2 pts.
–meters (m)
• Mass – amt. of matter in
object
–grams (g)
• Volume – amt. of space
occupied by object
–liters (L)
Measuring
Temperature
• 3 temp scales:
– Fahrenheit
• H2O freezes @ 32°F
• boils @ 212°F
– Celsius
• H2O freezes @ 0°C
• Boils @ 100°C
– Kelvin (SI base unit for temp)
• 0 K – lowest possible temp (= -273.15°C)
• K = °C + 273
Significant Figures
• Sig Figs are digits in a #
that contribute to its
precision.
• A calculation can only
be as precise as it’s
LEAST precise
measurement.
Sig Fig Rules
• ALL non-zero #’s are
always significant.
• Any zero btwn two sig
figs is significant.
• Trailing zeros are only
significant in the decimal
portion.
– 13.450 (this zero is a sig
fig)
– 1400 (these zeros are NOT
sig figs)
How many sig figs?
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
50.5
26.25
10,100
500
650
.050
1.0250
Limits of Measurement
• Precision – gauge of how exact a
measurement is
• Accuracy – closeness of a measurement to
the actual value
1.4 Presenting Scientific Data
p. 22
• Scientists organize data using data
tables and graphs.
Data Tables
• Relate the manipulated and responding
variables
Line Graphs
• Show changes in related variables
• Manipulated (Independent) variable is
plotted on the x-axis.
• Responding (Dependent) variable is
plotted on the y-axis.
Bar Graphs
• Often used to compare a set of
measurements, amounts, or changes.
Circle Graphs
• Show how part relates to the whole
• Entire circle represents 100%, and
slices represent percentages that make
up the 100%