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