Notes – Nature of Science
Goal of Science
• Goal of Science
• The main goal of science is to understand the world around us
and propose explanations for what is observed
Nature follows “rules” – the natural laws – scientists want to
understand how and why by asking questions and making
observations and testing their ideas
Science- It’s Everywhere!
• There are many types of science!
• Everything you see deals with science in some way!
• Science involves asking questions and finding out answers just
‘because’ or to make life better!
• The word science comes from the Latin word scire which means
“to know”
• Not all questions are solved in the same way!
• The beginning is to figure out FACTS
• facts -truths about nature
• facts are not science- they have to relate and work together
•“Science is built up with facts as a
house is with stones, but a
collection of facts is not science,
any more than a heap of stones is
a house!!”
Jules Henri Poincare
GOAL of Science =
UNDERSTAND THE WORLD AROUND US
Since we live in the world- we might as well figure it out
and UNDERSTAND it!
Besides – what better way to get to know
the Creator than to understand His
creation!
2 Types of Science
1. Pure Science
• Gathering new info just to do it
• Adds to body of knowledge (NOT USED for
anything purposeful-just is knowledge!)
2. Technology (Applied Science)
• Practical use of information
• It is APPLIED to something – solves problems
to make life better!
3 Branches of Science
1. Life Science (7th grade)
- studies living things
2. Earth Science (8th grade)
- studies the earth, atmosphere, weather, space
3. Physical Science (9th grade)
- studies matter & energy of non-living things (chemistry &
physics)
LIFE SCIENCE
- deals with living things
- Examples
zoology – study of animals
botany - study of plants
genetics – study of DNA of organisms
ecology - study of organisms & their relationship to the environment &
each other
anatomy - study of structure of living things
microbiology - study of small living things bacteria & viruses
Earth Science
• -studies the earth, its atmosphere, weather & space
• Examples:
- meteorology – study of the weather
- geology – study of the earth
-astronomy - study of the universe
-hydrology– study of fresh water
-seismology – study of earthquakes
-paleontology- study of fossils
-oceanography – study of the oceans
Physical Science
• - study of matter & energy of non-living things
• - EVERYTHING is either matter or energy
• Chemistry – study of matter and how it changes
• -matter: anything that has mass & volume
• Physics
-study of the different forms of energy and the forces that
affect matter
• Some branches blend:
• -biochemistry- study of chemical makeup of living things
• - geophysics – study of the forces that affect the Earth