Intro to Science
SCIENCE!!!
From Latin scientia,
meaning “KNOWLEDGE”
Body of knowledge about
nature
Study of the physical and natural
world through observation and
experiment.
EXPLORE NATURE and DISCOVER
order within it!
Science Around the
WORLD
Examples:
Ancient Greeks:
Earth is round & why stars move
Botany (study of plants)
Chinese:
The compass & rockets
Arabs:
Made paper, glass, metals
Italian – Galileo Galilei
Earth orbits (circles) the Sun
The Scientific Method –
A Classic Tool
The Scientific Method
Definition: An orderly method for
gaining, organizing, and applying
new knowledge
Galileo Galilei & Francis Bacon
clearly stated a special method for
doing sciences
Galileo Galilei
16th century Italian physicist who
used experiments – not just
reasoning and observation – to test
the popular notion of Earth being
the center of the universe
He tried to teach others that the
Sun is the center but people did not
believe him, he was even arrested
The Scientific Method
The Steps:
Observe
Question
Hypothesize
Predict
Test Predictions - EXPERIMENT
Draw Conclusion
1) Observe
Closely observe
the physical
world around
you
2) Question
Recognize a
question or a
problem
3) Hypothesize
A scientific hypothesis is an educated guess
of what you think will happen. It is testable.
Must, at least in principle, be capable of
being proven wrong
If there is no test for possible wrongness,
then the hypothesis is not scientific
Albert Einstein stated, “No number of
experiments can prove me right, but a
single experiment can prove me wrong.”
4) Predict
Scientists use what they know to
make predictions about whether
their hypothesis is correct.
Ex: You drop your science book on
your foot
5) Test Predictions
DO
EXPERIMENTS
to see if the
consequences
you predicted
are present
6) Draw a Conclusion
Make the simplest general rule
that organizes the hypothesis,
predicted effects, and
experimental findings
Example
Step 1: Make observations
Example: I am sick with a stomachache.
Step 2: Develop a hypothesis
Example: I am sick due to the spoiled food I
at for lunch.
Step 3: Test hypothesis through experiments
Example: Ask others who ate the same food
for lunch if they got sick.
Example Cont’d
Step 4: Develop a law
Law: Summarizes the outcome of several
experiments that occur repeatedly and
consistently.
Example: The spoiled food served at lunch
makes people sick with a stomachache.
Step 5: Develop a theory
Theory: Explanation for a why a law exists.
Example: It is the bacteria in the spoiled
food that makes people ill.
Law & Fact
LAW– This is a statement of fact meant to
describe, an action or set of actions.
Scientific phenomenon always happens
if certain conditions are present
Ex: Newton’s Laws of Motion
FACT - Something that is agreed upon
competent observers to be true
Theory
System of ideas intended to explain
something
When hypothesis passes the test of
many experiments becomes theory
NOT fixed
EVOLVE (May change as more
experiments are performed)
Grow stronger & more precise as they
evolve to include new information
EX: Darwin’s Theory of Evolution
Vocabulary
Flashcards (index cards)
Science
Scientific
method
Hypothesis
Law
Fact
Theory
Integrated
science
Write an Experiment: Bubble Gum
Observe: write an observation
Question: what is the question you are asking about
blowing bubbles with bubble gum
Hypothesize & Predict: write a hypothesis and
prediction of what the out come will be and WHY
Experiment: list MATERIALS, PRODCEDURE (steps) &
how you will measure (ex: ruler, string), DATA TABLE
(to be filled in)
Draw conclusion: write a summary of your results (what
did you find, why do you think you got the results you
did), list any errors, & any questions you still have
Controlled Experiment
An experiment in which only one variable is
tested at a time
3 types of Variables:
Independent
Dependent
Controlled
Groups: Experimental & Control
Ex: You want to test the effects of using
FERTILIZER on your flowers
Independent Variable
Part of the experiment that is
changed by scientist
“I change the Independent
variable.”
Ex: the FERTILIZER
Dependent Variable
The change that is observed
Should change because of the
independent variable
What is measured in the experiment
Ex: growth of flowers (how tall or
how many)
Controlled Variable
Variable the scientist
does NOT want to
change are controlled
Same conditions for
both groups
Ex: water, sunlight,
location
Experimental group
The group being tested using the
independent variable
Ex: the flowers WITH the
fertilizer
Control group
The group without the independent
variable. Used to compare to
experimental group
Ex: the flowers WITHOUT the
fertilizer
Types of Observations
Qualitative
Quantitative
Qualitative
QUALITY
Characteristics that you
see, smell, touch, hear
Color, texture, shape,
scent, sound
Ex: There are a bunch of
flowers blooming. They
are pink in color, round in
shape, and soft to the
touch.
Quantitative
QUANTITY – measure exactly
Things that are precisely
measured – record a NUMBER!!!
Weigh on scale, measure with
ruler, measuring cup
Ex: There are seven flowers.
They have a diameter of 1.5
centimeters
Vocabulary Flashcards
Controlled
experiment
Dependent
variable
Experimental
group
Controlled
variable
Control group
Qualitative
Independent
variable
Quantitative