Nature of Science
- Scientific Inquiry
- Science, Technology, & Society
Scientific Inquiry
• Tables, Charts, Graphs
• The Scientific Method
• Repeated Experimentation, Statistics, and
Unbiased Conclusions
• Models and Predictions
• Schema and Relationships
• Lab Safety
Types of Data
• Quantitative Data (Quantity): numerical
data that can be represented using various
types of graphs. Can you give me an
example?
• Qualitative (Quality): non-numerical,
verbal descriptions. Can you give me an
example?
Variables
• Variables are factors that affect the
outcome of an experiment.
• the INDEPENDENT variable (manipulated
variable) is the variable that the scientist
chooses to control.
• the DEPENDENT variable (responding
variable) is the variable that changes in
response to the independent variable.
Example:
• Identify the independent and
dependent variable in the
experiment.
The effect of Drop Height on Bounce Height of a Rubber Ball
Height of Drop (cm)
5
10
15
20
25
30
Height of Bounce (cm)
4
6
11
13
16
21
Types of Graphs
• LINE GRAPH
• Scatter Plot
– Line of Best Fit
• Bar Graphs
• Histograms
• Pie Charts/Circle
Graphs
Types of Graphs
• Line Graph
• SCATTER PLOT
– Line of Best Fit
• Bar Graphs
• Histograms
• Pie Charts/Circle
Graphs
Types of Graphs
• Line Graph
• Scatter Plot
– Line of Best Fit
• BAR GRAPHS
• Histograms
• Pie Charts/Circle
Graphs
Types of Graphs
• Line Graph
• Scatter Plot
– Line of Best Fit
• Bar Graphs
• HISTOGRAMS
• Pie Charts/Circle
Graphs
Types of Graphs
• Line Graph
• Scatter Plot
– Line of Best Fit
• Bar Graphs
• Histograms
• PIE CHARTS/
CIRCLE GRAPHS
Sample Question #1 and #2
1. What is the relationship of bounce
height to drop height for the
Rubber Ball? For any given drop
height the ball will bounce
approximately
a. 45% as high as drop.
b. 50% as high as drop.
c. 65% as high as drop.
d. 78% as high as drop.
2. Based on the data table listed which
variable is the Independent
Variable?
a. Height of Bounce
b. Height of Drop
c. Average Bounce Height
d. Trial 1
The Effect of Drop Height
on Bounce Height
Height
of
Drop
(cm)
Height of Bounce
(cm)
Trial Trial Trial
#1
#2
#3
Average
Height of
Bounce for
all Trials
(cm)
5
4
3
2
3
10
6
6
5
5.6
15
11
12
11
11.3
20
13
14
14
13.7
25
16
15
16
15.7
30
21
20
21
20.7
Sample Question #3 and #4
3. How many players on
the team have a
batting average
between .300 - .399?
a. 1
b. 5
c. 7
d. 9
4. Approximately how many
players are on the team?
a. 15
b. 25
c. 30
d. 35
Sample Question #5 and #6
5. If the same ball used in the
experiment were to be dropped
from a height of 40 cm what
would you expect the approximate
height of the bounce to be?
a. 20 cm
b. 30 cm
c. 38 cm
d. 44 cm
6. If the ball were to be dropped
from 18 cm, which of the
following would be the best
approximation of its bounce
height?
a. 8 cm
b. 10 cm
c. 13 cm
d. 18 cm
Sample Question #7 and #8
7. Who is the 3rd largest land
8. Approximately how much of the land
owner in the state of Nevada?
in Nevada is owned by the federal
government?
a. State Lands
a. 74%
b. US Dept of Agriculture
b. 12%
c. US Dept of Defense
c. 87%
d. US Dept of Interior
d. 2%
The Scientific Method
• There is not ONE Scientific Method and it is NOT a
•
•
•
•
•
•
sequence of steps to be completed.
OBSERVATION – see some phenomena in nature
HYPOTHESIS – a testable statement to explain the
observations
PREDICTION – if the hypothesis is true, a statement
describing the results of an experiment
EXPERIMENT – to test hypothesis and prediction
ANALYSIS & CONCLUSION
PEER REVIEW
Science Processes are Dynamic and
interactive:
Sample Question #1
1. In her laboratory journal, Kayla enters the
following information: “Some mold growth
was seen on the agar plate that was streaked
with bacteria three days ago. Bacterial
colonies were observed on the plate, but the
area surrounding the mold did not show any
bacteria.” Which of the following describes
Kayla’s journal entry?
a. Prediction
b. Observation
c. Conclusion
d. Hypothesis
Sample Question #2
2. Observe the following
diagram, which is taken from
one of Charles Darwin’s
notebooks. The words “I
think” can be seen at the top
of the page and a branching
diagram is shown.
The words “I think” represent a
permanent documentation of
one of Darwin’s
a. Hypotheses
b. Questions
c. Observations
d. Laws
Repeated Experimentation, Statistics,
and Unbiased Conclusions
• Accuracy is the correctness of a measured or
•
calculated quantity to its actual (true) value. In
scientific investigations, oftentimes the accuracy of
the experiment is presented as a percent error
through the following equation:
• Precision is the degree to which repeated
measurements of the same quantity yield the same
or similar results (often referred to as reproducibility
or repeatability of the measurement).
Describe these Dartboard shots in
terms of accuracy and precision.
Describe these Dartboard shots in
terms of accuracy and precision.
Neither
precise nor
accurate
Precise, not Accurate, not Precise and
accurate
precise
accurate
Repeated Experimentation allows
Scientists to be precise and accurate.
• Consider: If you were trying to determine
how long it takes for an egg to fall from
10 m above the ground, which would
allow for you be more accurate and
precise, allowing you time the fall once or
allowing you to time multiple trials and
average the results.
Sample Question #1 and #2
1. A student measures the length of a pendulum three times.
The measurements were 1.42 meters, 1.43 meters, and
1.45 meters. The actual length of the pendulum was 1.89
meters. What can be said about these measurements?
a. the measurements are accurate
b. the measurements are precise
c. the measurements are both accurate and precise
d. the measurements are neither accurate nor precise
2. What makes a scientific explanation different from a nonscientific explanation?
a. scientific explanations are based on assumptions
b. scientific explanations are predictable
c. scientific explanations cannot be changed
d. scientific explanations are testable
Sample Question #3 and #4
3. Students conduct a laboratory investigation to determine the
acceleration due to Earth’s gravity (g). They calculate g to be 8.0
m/s2. The actual (true) acceleration due to Earth’s gravity is 9.8
m/s2. What is the percent error for their experiment?
a. 7.0%
b. 15%
c. 18%
d. 23%
4. In August 2006, the International Astronomical Union removed
Pluto’s status as a planet and named it a dwarf planet. What
prompted the reclassification of Pluto?
a. A new telescope introduced in 2006 allowed scientists to see a better
view of Pluto.
b. Scientists based their decision on known data from Pluto and other
objects in the solar system.
c. A manned mission to Pluto provided evidence to make it a dwarf planet.
d. Scientists were biased to make the solar system have ten planets.
Sample Question #5 and #6
5. Scientists publish the details of important experiments so that
a. their work can be repeated.
b. their experimental procedures can be reviewed.
c. others can try to reproduce the results.
d. all of the above
6. Scientists have observed data that shows the average temperature
of the Earth has risen over the past century. However, there is a
debate among some scientists if the temperature rise is caused
by human activity or natural climate change. What is the source
of the global warming debate?
a. Errors in the data collection process.
b. Political bias among scientists and their position.
c. Different interpretations of the same data.
d. Failure of some scientists to publish their data.
Models and Predictions
• Working Models – hypothesis is refined through
•
•
•
•
experimentation and data analysis
Representational Models – maps, diagrams,
physical models, and mathematical models
Models can be changed
There is not just one correct model for a
concept.
Models can be used to make predictions, but
these predictions are not always accurate.
Sample Question #1 and #2
1. The model below is set up to show
how a lunar eclipse occurs. What
is the greatest limitation of this
model?
a. The light bulb is standing straight
up instead of tilted on an axis.
b. Comparative sizes and distances
are inaccurate
c. The shadow is being cast in the
wrong direction
d. The heat released is much less
than that released by the sun.
2. Which of the following is not a reason for using models in science?
a. Visualize objects too small, large, or distant to see
b. Predict cause and effect relationships
c. Provide a working hypothesis
d. To construct a final representation of object studied
Sample Question #3 and #4
3. If the Corn and Oats
were removed from the
food web, which of the
following will be most
affected?
a. mice and rats
b. hawks and owls
c. snakes and raccoons
d. grasshoppers and
crickets
4. Which of the following statements is false? All models
must
a. be accepted by all scientists working in field
b. be supported by experimental data
c. evolve as new data is analyzed
d. show relationships between component
Schema and Relationships
• All fields of science utilize classification schema.
• This allows scientists to identify patterns within a
•
•
data set, allows for extrapolation, and facilitates
communication of results within the framework
of a defined classification system.
Classification schema can be changed to allow
for addition of newly discovered items and
relationships
Examples of Schema – domains of life, periodic
table, electromagnetic spectrum
Sample Question #1
1. Keys are used by biologists to
accurately classify unknown
organisms such as the
unidentified female mosquito
shown in the diagram
below. These keys are
designed to categorize
organisms according to
structural characteristics. The
key shows various
characteristics used to identify
the difference between
Anopheles, Deinocerites, Culex,
Psorophoro and Aedes
mosquitoes.
According to the key, which
characteristic distinguishes a
male from a female mosquito?
a. antennae
appearance
b. palp length
c. leg scales
d. abdomen points
Sample Question #2 and #3
2. Which group of terms is in the correct order from the most general
to most specific when classifying organisms?
a. kingdom, phylum, genus, species
b. species, phylum, genus, kingdom
c. genus, species, kingdom, phylum
d. phylum, kingdom, species, genus
3. The geologic cross sections below represent bedrock from different
areas in Earth.
Organizing information in a meaningful way, such as grouping these
cross sections, is an example of
a. classification
b. prediction
c. observation
d. measurement
Sample Question #4 and #5
4. A student is given a set of objects and is asked to
construct a classification scheme to explain the
relationship between the objects. A classification system
should be based on
a. Interpretations
b. Observations
c. Hypotheses
d. Inferences
5. Which statement best illustrates a classification
system?
a. A glacier melts at the rate of one meter per year.
b. Ocean depths are measured by using sonar.
c. Snowfall predictions for winter storms vary.
d. Stars are grouped according to their color.
Sample Question #6
6. Which property was probably used to classify the
substances below?
Group A
Group B
Group C
Water
aluminum
water vapor
Gasoline
ice
air
Alcohol
iron
oxygen
a. Abundance within the Earth
b. Specific heat
c. State (phase) of matter
d. Chemical composition
Lab Safety
• Lab safety is about common sense
• If chemicals are used in the laboratory,
Materials Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
should be posted or kept in a clearly
marked binder
• Science Investigations are safe when
performed with proper precautions
Sample Question #1 and #2
1. What is the correct procedure to follow if a chemical is
spilled?
a. Move away from the spill and advise the teacher of the spill.
b. Immediately begin cleaning the spill with cloth or paper towels.
c. Immediately splash large amounts of water on the spill.
d. Immediately pour any available dry product, such as sand, on the
spill.
2. Which of the following is a correct laboratory procedure?
a. Place heated glassware on countertops away from the edge.
b. Hold dissecting specimens tightly in your hand when cutting with
a scalpel.
c. Wear protective gloves when handling live or dead organisms.
d. Pour excess chemicals back into the original container.
Sample Question #3 and #4
3. At your laboratory station, you find chemicals from which
the label has been removed. Which of the following should
you do?
a. Look inside in order to identify the chemical.
b. Sniff the chemical to help identify it.
c. Carefully dispose of the bottle in the trash.
d. Alert your teacher and do not handle the chemical.
4. In the laboratory, a piece of electrical equipment needed
for the experiment has a frayed wire. Which of the
following should you do?
a. Use the equipment if sparks are not shooting from the
wire.
b. Ensure the equipment is turned off and alert your
teacher.
c. Repair the frayed wire and then use the equipment.
d. Test the voltage in the wire using a multimeter.
Sample Question #5 and #6
5. You are working with chemicals and/or biological
specimens in your science laboratory. Which of these is
best for you to do before leaving the laboratory?
a. Rinse hands with water.
b. Wash hands with soap and water.
c. Treat hands with antibacterial lotion.
d. Wipe hands with paper towels.
6. If you are hurt (cut, burned, etc.), you should
a. Immediately notify the school nurse.
b. Immediately notify your lab partners.
c. Immediately notify your teacher.
d. Contact the doctor after school.
Sample Question #7 and #8
7. A chemical that you are using in a laboratory experiment
has the following safety label.
This chemical should NEVER be used or dispensed near
a. An open door
b. Another student
c. An electrical outlet
d. An open flame
8. Your and your lab partner have developed a scientific hypothesis and presented
the idea to your teacher. Your teacher likes your idea and has now asked you to
develop an experiment to test your hypothesis. When developing your laboratory
procedures, you should
a. Develop and include safety procedures for the experiment, which should be
checked with your teacher prior to conducting the experiment.
b. Not be concerned with developing safety procedures because your teacher has
already quizzed you on these at the beginning of the year.
c. Have an idea about what the safety concerns are while conducting the
experiment, but not list them in your experimental procedures.
d. Understand that safety is not a concern for every experiment and that safety
procedures should only be listed for experiments that involve chemicals.
Science, Technology and Society
• Science, technology, and society influence
one another in both positive and negative
ways
• Resource Consumption and Society
• Science and Ethics
• Scientific Knowledge builds on previous
knowledge
How has Science, Technology,
and Society Influenced one
another in a POSITIVE way?
How has Science, Technology,
and Society Influenced one
another in a NEGATIVE way?
Is there always a right or wrong
answer to any question about
science?
We often think about how
society affects science and
technology, but how can science
and technology affect society?
Sample Question #1 and #2
1. When deciding whether or not to implement a new technology the
affected society must always
a. weigh the costs and benefits of the new technology.
b. make a decision based on what the majority of the people in the specific
sector of society says.
c. use the most cost effective form of technology available to them at the
time.
d. run sufficient safety tests on the technology to make sure that no
organisms will be harmed.
2. Science, technology, and society affect each other in both positive and
negative ways. One example of the positive influence of science on society
was the discovery of antibiotics. This same discovery, however has led to
negative consequences. Which of the following best describes the negative
affect that antibiotics has had on society?
a. The extensive use of antibiotics has led to the evolution of dangerous resistant strains
of bacteria.
b. The extensive use of antibiotics has caused several forms of new cancers to develop.
c. The use of antibiotics in consumer products has led to increased obesity in humans.
d. The increased use of antibiotics caused an over-abundance of medical professionals.
How do Countries vary in ecological
impact?
• What are hidden costs?
• What are consumptive patterns?
• What is sustainability?
• What is the greenhouse effect?
• What is the difference between a
renewable resource, non-renewable
resource, and limiting resource?
• What is a ecological footprint? (US citizen
24 acres)
Ecological Footprint Quiz
• http://www.myfootprint.org/
Sample Question #1, #2 and #3
1. Which of the following would be considered a non-sustainable practice?
a. using solar energy
b. mining for gold
c. recycling glass
d. eating red meat once a week
2. The average human consumes 2000 kcal of food. What is the approximate
equivalent of this in kilowatts? (hint: 1.0 kwatts is equivalent to 13,543
kcal)
a. 0.02 kilowatts
b. 0.2 kilowatts
c. 2.0 kilowatts
d. 20 kilowatts
3. Compared to a hunter/gatherer society, energy consumption in an
industrial society is
a. 5 times higher
b. 15 times higher
c. 50 times higher
d. 100 times higher
Ethics and Science
• What’s the difference between morals and
ethics?
• How should/do ethics and science relate
to one another?
• How do emotions relate to all these
concepts?
Sample
Question
#1
1. The accompanying graphic is from a study of the distribution of ethical
issues in APS publications from 1996 through 2004. According to the
graphic, the major ethical infraction during that time was:
a. Conflicts of Interest
b. Plagiarism
c. Authors Disputes (disputes and conflicts over who qualifies for
authorship)
d. Redundant Publications (republishing of a part or parts of an already
published article)
Sample Question #2, #3 and #4
2. “That which is known and has been developed in science based on
cumulative knowledge collected from historic times up to and including
present day” serves as the definition of:
a. scientific law
b. scientific enterprise
c. scientific theory
d. scientific ethics
3. The knowledge gained through scientific discovery is:
a. amoral
b. immoral
c. moral
d. all of the above
4. Of the following, which one would constitute scientifically unethical
behavior? A scientist:
a. purposely releases a virus which causes sterility in individuals with
genetic disorders
b. discovers a methods to successfully clone mammals, including humans
c. publishes information describing which radioactive substances are
deadliest to humans
d. realizes s/he made an error in experimental design, then makes public
this error
Science is a Process
• What does this quote
mean?
“If I have seen further
[than certain other
men] it is by standing
upon the shoulders of
giants.“
~Sir. Isaac Newton~
True or False
• Scientific Laws or Theories do not change.
– FALSE
• Science is purely objective.
– FALSE
• Scientific Knowledge is unchanging.
– FALSE
• Scientific discoveries are always a result of
planned experiments
– FALSE
Sample Question #1
1. Which statement below would best describe the
process of science?
a. Scientists are objective and free of prejudice.
b. Scientists generally discover new ideas without the
help of others.
c. Scientific ideas evolve or change over time.
d. New ideas in science generally result of planned
experiments.