Introduction to Science!!!!!
A. Human Qualities in Science
1. Reasoning- Observing what you see, hear, or
touch, and saying why and how an event happens.
2. Creativity- thinking beyond what is available
and trying/making something new.
3. Skepticism- not believing an explanation until a
test supports the explanation.
4. Openness- willing to accept a new explanation;
believing a theory is incorrect and must change.
What is Science Like?
• Consistent- The same event happens every time these
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•
•
•
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events occur…
Observable- can we see the event happening
Natural- is the event natural (not supernatural)
Predictable- using past similar experiences, we can
guess what might happen
Testability- can we test the event in a controlled
experiment
Tentative – Means scientific theories will change and
be revised.
How do we “DO” science?
• Science is based
off of constant
QUESTIONING
D. Safety Rules
1. Read all LAB rules, and clean up!
2. Wear safety equipment like Goggles, lab
aprons, and gloves; tie back long hair,
and no loose Jewelry.
3. Inspect electrical equipment, keep away
from Water
4. Point the mouth of containers Away from
people. Never heat substances in Closed
containers.
5. Never Smell, Taste, or Touch any unknown
chemicals. Dispose of chemicals as Mr. Ross says.
6. Report all accidents IMMEDIATELY to Mr. Ross
Which statement is scientific?
Use CONPTT to tell which one is scientific
1. Walking under a ladder causes bad luck every
time.
OR
Green plants will grow towards a light if its is placed
near the plant..
2. Green plants convert sunlight to energy
OR
The man pulled a rabbit from his hat using magic.
3. Some plants are carnivorous.
Or
Aliens have visited earth.
4. Traveling in the Bermuda Triangle will cause
ships and planes to sink and disappear.
OR
Gum loses some of its mass when you chew it.
5. Without sunlight, green plants will die.
OR
Your horoscope says you will get a lot of money
today!
6. The number of human chromosomes was
once thought to be 48, but now it is 46.
OR
We know that the earth was formed around
6000 years ago.
Scientific Method
Question
Observation
Hypothesis- an educated guess
Investigate
Record data (pieces of information)
Conclusion
Queen Of Hearts In Reading Class
Designing your experiment
B. Parts of the investigation
1. Each investigation must be systematic
2. To find an answer to your question, you will
test only one variable at a time. There are
3 types of variables.
a) Independent Variable- the single thing
you change
b) Dependent Variable- the thing that
may or may not be affected by the
independent variable.
c) Controlled Variables-factors that you
try to keep the same. Also called
constants.
3. Each study must include a Control group;
a) compare results from the experiment
to control group
4. You will change one independent variable and
measure the dependent variable.
5. Compare your results to the control group, and
make a Conclusion- what you decide the
answer to your question is.
1. Make a quick summary of your scientist’s
life. What were some of their great
achievements?
2. Which quality (or qualities) did your
scientist demonstrate most strongly?
(Reasoning, openness, skepticism, creativity)
3. How were these qualities helpful to them?
4. Which of these qualities do YOU have? Give
examples.
Ban Dihydrogen Monoxide!
-The Invisible Killer
• Dihydrogen monoxide is colorless, odorless,
tasteless, and kills uncounted thousands of
people every year. Most of these deaths are
caused by accidental inhalation of DHMO, but the
dangers of dihydrogen monoxide do not end
there. Prolonged exposure to its solid form
causes severe tissue damage. Symptoms of
DHMO ingestion can include excessive sweating
and urination, and possibly a bloated feeling,
nausea, vomiting and body electrolyte imbalance.
For those who have become dependent, DHMO
withdrawal means certain death.
Dihydrogen monoxide:
• is also known as hydroxyl acid, and is the major
component of acid rain.
• contributes to the "greenhouse effect."
• may cause severe burns.
• contributes to the erosion of our natural
landscape.
• accelerates corrosion and rusting of many metals.
• may cause electrical failures and decreased
effectiveness of automobile brakes.
• has been found in excised tumors of terminal
cancer patients.
III. Bias in Science
A. Bias
1. Science is the search for truth in nature
2. BIAS- favoring an explanation without
REAL scientific support; distorting
evidence so that results come out wrong
a) You must remove any personal
assumptions to make sure results
are not influenced (so they are
Pure TRUTH)
b) Act like an alien. Pretend you know
NOTHING
Bias can happen in graphs, conclusions, testing,
and in your observations.
Testing Bias
John challenges LeBron James to a jumping
contest. John can jump 20 inches off the
ground. LeBron takes his jump, but
stumbles and only makes it 16 inches.
John Concludes that he can jump higher
than LeBron.
What’s wrong with this?
Observational Bias
Jim has been looking for a special, maybe
extinct woodpecker in the woods for 10
years now. One day, he hears a sound in
the woods that he thinks may be the
woodpecker he’s been looking for. He
tells all his scientist friends that the
woodpecker is alive!
What’s wrong with this?
Graph Bias
Independent Variables (9/16)_
1. Ask “What are the different test groups?”
2. Then ask “What’s the first difference
between the test groups?” This is the IV
Dependent Variable
1. Ask “What do we measure at the end or
look for to make our conclusion?” This is the
DV
Controlled Variable
1. Ask “What stayed the same?” This is the CV
Practice with Variables
DeMontae wants to see which type of plastic bag is
strongest. He takes 3 plastic bags from Kroger’s, 3
from Giant Eagle, and 3 from Walmart and fills
them with weights until they break.
DeMontae finds that the The Walmart bags can hold
the most weight, averaging about 37 pounds.
Practice with Variables
Mariah likes Silly Bandz, but wants to know which
brands break more easily. She takes 10 Crazy
Bandz, 10 Silly Bandz, and 10 Zany Bandz and
stretches them until they break.
She measures how far each stretches before
breaking.
Mariah Sees that Crazy Bandz seem to stretch the
farthest before breaking.
Practice with Variables
Smokey the Bear wonders what his friends the deer
like to eat more, corn or soy beans. He takes two
bowls and fills them up with equal amounts of
corn in one and beans in the other.
Every day, Smokey weighs the bowls to see which
one has had more eaten out of it.
After 7 days, Smokey sees that the corn bowl is
always the lightest.
Practice with Variables
Mr. Ross wants to see who can jump highest, so he
has 2 students challenge him.
Student A jumps 3 times, and jumps 45
centimeters high at his best
Student B jumps 3 times, and jumps 52
centimeters high at her best
Mr. Ross jumps 1 time and jumps an amazing 64
centimeters!
E. Displaying Data
1. Line Graphs
2. Bar Graphs
3. Pie Charts/ Circle Graphs
4. Data Tables