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Chapter 1, Section 1 Notes The Nature of Science

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V.

Scientific Methods organized sets of investigation procedures - pg 8 Fig 3


a. State the Problem by close observation
b. Gather Info research and gather background info about the problem
c. Form a hypothesis hypothesis is a testable explanation to a problem
d. Test the hypothesis perform an experiment AND/OR build a model and
compare it to the real world
e. Analyze data record then analyze, display in tables and graphs to communicate
f. Draw conclusions about hypothesis - if hypothesis is NOT supported, RE-form a
new hypothesis. If hypothesis is supported, RE-test the same hypothesis.
Experiments tests effect of one thing on another controlled condition. We lessen
bias by running as many trails as possible.
a. Always has at least 2 variables and a constant
b. Variables 2 things that you intentionally change to produce some effect(s).
i. Independent quantity or condition you change on purpose to produce
some effect. i.e. different amounts of water given to 5 plants
ii. Dependent quantity or condition you expect to change resulting from a
change in the independent variable. i.e. height of each of the 5 plant
resulting from differing amounts of water
c. Control It is a standard you compare your results to. i.e. a 6th plant that you give
some fixed or regular amount of water to.
Why Models in science? used to observe something that is too small, too large, or
takes too much time to see completely.
a. Examples: earthquakes and high-rise buildings, flight simulators, DNA,
continental drift
Theory vs. Law What is the difference?
a. Theory explanation of things or events based on knowledge gained from many
observations and investigations. Theories change often. More theories exist
than laws
i. Examples: evolution
b. Law statement about what happens in nature and appears to always be true all
the time under certain conditions. Laws do not change often.
i. Examples: law of gravity
Standards of Measurement
a. Standard- exact quantity that people agree to use for comparison.
b. Measurements must have a number and a unit.
i. SI- an improved version of the metric system used and understood by
scientists worldwide.
ii. SI system is based on multiples of 10 and uses prefixes to indicate a
specific multiple.
c. Length is measured using a unit appropriate for the distance between two
points.
d. Volume- the amount of space an object occupies

e. Mass- measure of matter in an object


i. Density- mass per unit of volume of a material
ii. A unit obtained by combining different SI units is called a derived unit.
f.

Time is the interval between two events; temperature is measured using a


thermometer.

VI.

Communicating with Graphs Section3


a. Graph- visual display of information or data that is used to detect patterns
b. A line graph shows a relationship where the dependent variable changes due to
change in the independent variable.
i. The scale should make the graph readable.
ii. The x-axis should always be used for the independent variable.
iii. Units of measurement must be consistent.
c. Bar graphs compare information collected by counting.
d. Circle graphs show how a whole is broken into parts.

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