Unit 1 Notes
Lesson 1 – What is science?
- Science - is the systematic study of natural events and conditions. It can be broken into 3 groupings:
1. Life science (Biology) – “bio” = living, “ology” = study of  the study of living things
2. Earth science (geology) – “geo” = rock  study of rocks, or the surface and interior of the
earth
3. Physical science – combination of physics and chemistry to study how non-living matter and
energy works
- Science is always changing, always improving, and always being examined to see if it truth or fallacy. In
order to be accepted within the community consensus, science MUST be* testable* and *reproducible.*
- The evidence used to support scientific claims MUST be empirical evidence. Empirical evidence – Is
observable and measurable. It is:
- gained by the senses; includes factual data (ex: numbers, colors, textures); must be re-testable; &
may include instruments
- Empirical Evidence is not: an inference – assumption based off an observation, but without proof; a
hunch or idea; a personal experience or conviction; an opinion; Ex. Santa Claus
- A real scientific explanation – provides a description of how a process in nature occurs. It is based on
empirical data  observable and measureable; If it can’t be tested, it is not scientific. It must include
logic, and be re-testable.
- A real scientific explanation follows the scientific method
- The Scientific method- are step to follow to conduct an experiment
1. Ask a question
2. Gather empirical data/ make observations
3. Create a hypothesis
4. Test the hypothesis
5. Analyze new data
6. Validate your hypothesis
- Traits of Scientists
1. Observational skills- notice details. Can be observed with senses or through tools. Ex. – that
desk is black
2. Curiosity – wanting to know something about something. Ex. – why do flowers smell nice?
3. Creativity – being original. Thinking of an idea no one else has. Ex. The Wright Brothers,
Thomas Edison
4. Logical thinkers – being able to think through information and make a conclusion.
Ex. Cookies are good, milk is good, put them to together and obviously AMAZING!!
5. Skeptical thinkers – you don’t believe everything you hear. Repeating observations and
experiments yourself. Ex. Don’t believe me about gravity, jump and see what happens
6. Objective thinkers - the ability to set aside personal feelings, moods, beliefs, to evaluate
something. Ex. You are judging an art show, and you know your best friend’s piece is in it
Pseudoscience Vs Science
- Pseudoscience – “pseudo” = false  false science
- Does not use the accepted scientific method
- Evidence may be very vague
- May lack measurements
- Some lack the ability to be tested at all
- Supported by personal beliefs
- Claim that results not proven false , must be true
- Ask you to disprove it
- Explanations don’t change with new evidences
Science
- Logic based
- Has observable, testable data
- Based on empirical evidence
- Reproducible
- Explanations not proven false are
continually tested
- New conclusions are based on new
evidences
Pseudoscience
- Is a belief or practice that is based on
incorrectly applied scientific methods
- Support by faulty logic
- Claims cannot be tested
- Claims to be supported by scientific
evidence, but isn’t really
Ex. The aliens built the pyramids
- Both Science & Pseudoscience:
-
Involves topics related to the natural world
Sound logical
Can use technical terms
Claims to be supported by Empirical evidence
Unit 1- Lesson 2- Scientific Knowledge
- Choosing methods – in order to address specific questions, scientist must plan specific and unique
investigations including using a variety of tools and materials.
- Tools available
1. Creativity allows scientists to examine their situations and choose which tools they need
2. Ex. We couldn’t see cells without a microscope or the rings of Saturn without a telescope
3. Tools are only useful if the scientist can read the data they provide
- By subject under study
1. Experiments – controlling different variables in precise conditions
Ex. Growing bacteria in certain environments
2. Field study – observing surroundings. Instead of controlling variables, they try to understand
how they work and correlate to each other. Ex. How a blue jay build her nest
- Accepted theories are supported by evidence
- A theory – is a system of ideas that explains many related observations and supported by a lot of
evidence acquired through scientific investigation
- Not to be confused with:
- Hypothesis – an educated guess, not an explanation for a single fact.
Ex. The extinction of the dinosaurs
- Law – proven to be true. Ex. Newton’s law
- Incorporating new evidence – more evidence was found to back it up, while it still has not been negated
 Considered a theory and accepted as true, but has not actually been proven!
- Who to believe?
- The most reliable science information has been checked and re-checked, beware of people out to
make money.
- Take it to the bank
o Scientific laws are true
o Theories may be well-supported, but there is are reason they are still theories and not laws
o Do your own research!
Unit 1 – Lesson 3 – Scientific Investigations
- An experiment – is an organized procedure to study something under a controlled condition. It is used
to investigate the natural world
- Uses observations – the process of gaining information through the senses
- Hypothesis – an idea or explanation that can be tested and leads to a scientific investigation
- Can be made after your own observations or after someone else’s ****Must be TESTABLE***
- Variables – any factor that can change in an experiment - Used to prove the hypothesis true or false
- Independent variable – deliberately changed – it what causes the change in the outcome of the
experiment
- Dependent variable – is change due to the independent variable – the result of the experiment
- accurate data  must keep all the variables the same and ONLY change ONE
- Observations and Data – are information and measurements gathered by experimentation that can be
used in calculating and reasoning
- used to examine the relationship between the Independent Variable and the Dependent
Variable
- The Scientific Method is used to study any aspect of the natural world including human society
- Different situations require different methods but is ALWAYS used in physical science
- Control – is part of an experiment that is identical to the experimental group, except the Independent
Variable is not manipulated
- A controlled experiment has only ONE Independent Variable.
- should not show changes with any of the Dependent Variable
- Repetition and Replication of an experiment is repeating an experiment, or doing someone else’s
experiment.
- conclusions are verified through replication and data becomes more accurate and more precise
- replication eliminates the results occurring by chance or error
- Characteristics of GOOD scientific experiments
1. Observations are well documented and share supporting evidence
2. Variables are as controlled as possible
3. Repeated and replicated by you and others
4. Undergo peer review and stand up to questions
- Evaluating the quality of scientific experiments
- Is it in a Journal? Is it in a science book written by scientists? Is it on a government or
academic approved website? Is it Biased – slanted information based on an individual’s point
of view
Unit 1 – Lesson 4 – Science and Society
- Science and decision making
Science  discoveries Decisions about our lives
- Community - local water is tested and regulated to make sure bacteria levels are not too high
- State - regulate not just drinking water, but public access to swimming and fishing
- Nation - Environmental Protection Agency makes rules of how and where water can be used
- International - regulated share bodies of water among countries
- Science and Politics
- Political, Social, and economic affairs affects what science studies, therefore science affects
politics, society, and economics Ex. Space Race
- Interactions between science, society, and economics
- Where there is a need Ex. H1N1, polio, AIDS
- Prioritizes the need Ex. After the outbreak of Polio
- Science and economics – fuel each other, effect each other Ex. Life saving improvements 
longer life  longer people work  the more money they make  the more they buy things 
increases the economy