Introduction to Science Section 1
SCSh8 Students will understand important features of the process of scientific inquiry.

Introduction to Science Section 1
EQ: What are the important features of the process of scientific inquiry?

Introduction to Science Section 1
How Science Takes Place

Introduction to Science Section 1
1-1-1 How Science Takes Place
A scientist may perform experiments to find a new aspect of the natural world, to explain a known phenomenon, to check the results of other experiments, or to test the predictions of current theories.

Introduction to Science Section 1
1-1-2 How Science Take Place, continued
• Scientists investigate.

Introduction to Science Section 1
1-1-3 How Science Take Place, continued
• Scientists plan experiments.

Introduction to Science Section 1
1-1-3 How Science Take Place, continued
• Scientists observe.

Introduction to Science Section 1
1-1-4 How Science Take Place, continued
• Scientists always test the results.

Introduction to Science Section 1
The Branches of Science
How are the many types of science organized?

Introduction to Science Section 1
1-1-5 The Branches of Science
Natural science is divided into biological science, physical science and
Earth science.

Introduction to Science Section 1
1-1-6 The Branches of Science
• science: the knowledge obtained by observing natural events and conditions in order to discover facts and formulate laws or principles that can be verified or tested

Introduction to Science Section 1
1-1-7 The Branches of Science, continued biological science: the science of living things
• botany, ecology

Introduction to Science Section 1
1-1-8 The Branches of Science, continued physical science: the science of matter and energy
• chemistry: the science of matter and its changes physics: the science of forces and energy

Introduction to Science Section 1
1-1-9 The Branches of Science, continued earth science: the science of the
Earth, the atmosphere, and weather
• geology, meteorology

Introduction to Science Section 1
1-1-10 The Branches of Science, continued pure science: the continuing search for scientific knowledge

Introduction to Science Section 1
1-1-11 The Branches of Science, continued
• technology: the application of science for practical purposes

Introduction to Science Section 1
Scientific Laws and Theories
What are scientific theories, and how are they different from scientific laws?

Introduction to Science Section 1
1-1-12 Scientific Laws and
Theories
Theories explain why something happens, laws explain how something works.

Introduction to Science Section 1
1-1-13 Scientific Laws and
Theories
• law: a descriptive statement or equation that reliably predicts events under certain conditions

Introduction to Science Section 1
1-1-14 Scientific Laws and
Theories
• theory: a system of ideas that explains many related observations and is supported by a large body of evidence acquired through scientific investigation

Introduction to Science Section 1
1-1-15 Scientific Laws and
Theories, continued
• Experimental results support laws and theories.

Introduction to Science Section 1
1-1-16 Scientific Laws and
Theories, continued
Scientific theories are always being questioned and examined.

Introduction to Science Section 1
1-1-17 Scientific Laws and
Theories, continued
To be valid, a theory must:
• explain observations
• be repeatable
• be predictable

Introduction to Science Section 1
1-1-18 Scientific Laws and
Theories, continued qualitative statement: describes something with words

Introduction to Science Section 1
1-1-19 Scientific Laws and
Theories, continued quantitative statement: describes something with mathematical equations or numbers

Introduction to Science Section 1
1-1-20 Scientific Laws and
Theories, continued
• Theories and laws are always being tested.
• .

Introduction to Science Section 1
1-1-21 Scientific Laws and
Theories, continued model: a representation of an object or event that can be studied to understand the real object or event

Introduction to Science Section 1
1-1-22 Scientific Laws and
Theories, continued
Scientists use conceptual, physical, and computer models to study objects and events.