Review Lessons 1 & 2 Nature of Science

Mrs. Cajigas

Comprehensive Science 2 BCA 2013-2014

What is science?
Science is the investigation and exploration of natural events and of the new information that results from those investigations.
People use reasoning, creativity, and skepticism in their daily lives to solve problems.

Branches of Science Lesson 1-2

Biology Geology Physics

A- The study of chemistry and is physical science. B- is the study of all living things. C- The study of Earth, including landforms, rocks, soil, and forces that shape Earths surface.

Scientific Method
Observations often are the beginning of the process of science.
An observation is using one or more of your senses to gather information and take note of what occurs.

Scientific Method
A possible explanation about an observation that can be tested by scientific investigations is a hypothesis. A prediction is a statement of what will happen next in a sequence of events.

Scientific Method
When you test a hypothesis, you often are testing your predictions.
If your prediction is not confirmed, your hypothesis might need revision.

Scientific Method
The next step in a scientific investigation is to organize and analyze your data.
You must determine whether inferences can be made or conclusions drawn from the data.

An inference is a logical explanation of an observation that is drawn from prior knowledge or experience.

 If your hypothesis is supported by the data, you can repeat the experiment to confirm the results. If your hypothesis is not supported, you may need to modify it.

Scientific Method
An important step in scientific inquiry is communicating results.

Designing a Controlled Experiment

Many times, scientific investigations answer the questions: who, what, when, where, or how. A variable is any factor in an experiment that can have more than one value. In controlled experiments, there are two types of variables: dependent variables and independent variables.

Designing a Controlled Experiment

The dependent variable is the factor measured or observed during an experiment. The independent variable is the factor that you want to test. It is changed by the investigator to observe how it affects a dependent variable.

Designing a Controlled Experiment

(cont.)

How do independent and dependent variables differ?

Designing a Controlled Experiment

(cont.)

Constants are the factors in an experiment that remain the same.

Designing a Controlled Experiment

A controlled experiment has two groupsan experimental group and a control group.
(cont.)

The experimental group is used to study how a change in the independent variable changes the dependent variable. The control group contains the same factors as the experimental group, but the independent variable is not changed.

Lesson 3 LR2
Which is a factor in an experiment that remains the same? A. constant B. dependent variable

C. independent variable
D. variable

Lesson 3 LR3
Which contains the same factors as the experimental group, but does not have the independent variable changed?
A. constant B. control group C. controlled experiment D. variable

Which term refers to the investigation and exploration of natural events and of the new information that results from those investigations? A. inference B. reasoning C. science D. skepticism

Which term refers to the factor that you test in an experiment? A. constant

B. control group
C. dependent variable D. independent variable

Which describes a pattern or an event in nature that is always true?

A. critical thinking
B. hypothesis C. scientific law D. scientific theory

Which term describes a possible explanation about an observation that can be tested by scientific investigations? A. hypothesis

B. inference
C. observation

D. prediction

Which term refers to the factor measured or observed during an experiment?

A. constant
B. dependent variable C. experimental group D. independent variable

Smithers thinks that a special juice will increase the productivity of workers. He creates two groups of 50 workers each and assigns each group the same task (in this case, they're supposed to staple a set of papers). Group A is given the special juice to drink while they work. Group B is not given the special juice. After an hour, Smithers counts how many stacks of papers each group has made. Group A made 1,587 stacks, Group B made 2,113 stacks.

Bart believes that mice exposed to radio waves will become extra strong (maybe he's been reading too much Radioactive Man). He decides to perform this experiment by placing 10 mice near a radio for 5 hours. He compared these 10 mice to another 10 mice that had not been exposed. His test consisted of a heavy block of wood that blocked the mouse food. he found that 8 out of 10 of the radio waved mice were able to push the block away. 7 out of 10 of the other mice were able to do the same.

What are some characteristics of good scientific investigations?

Experiments should be verified through repetition and replication. Before a report is published in a scientific journal, it should undergo a peer review by scientists not involved in the investigation.

How is repetition different from replication?

There are two ways that scientific investigations can be retested. First, the scientist who conducted the original investigation can repeat the study. Second, other scientists can replicate the investigation.
Repetition- when an activity is repeated by the same person.

Replication- occurs when an activity is repeated by a different person.

Visual Summary
Scientific investigations can be conducted in a ___________ or in the _______. The _________ of an experiment must be testable. In an experiment the variable that scientists plans to change is the ___________ variable. The results of an experiment are the _________ collected. If your classmate repeats an experiment that you have already conducted, that is an example of ___________. One way that the quality of scientific information is evaluated is that it is reviewed by ___________.

Lesson Review
A ________ is tested in an experiment. In an experiment, the ________ variable is the one that scientists manipulate on purpose. The ________ is/are the result(s) obtained from an experiment. What is a basic requirement that a scientific hypothesis must have? Where are the most experiments done? Explain the benefits of this choice.

Lesson Review cont.

What is the difference between repetition and replication of an investigation? Write a list of at least five scientific methods.