THE NATURE OF SCIENCEChapter 1

1. METRIC SYSTEM

Length: Measured in Meters, Centimeters, and Millimeters

Mass: Measured in Grams and Kilograms

Volume: Measured in Liters and Milliliters

Temperature: Celsius

2. WHAT IS SCIENCE?

Give me your definition

SCIENCE IS…

Observing, Organizing and Analyzing experiments to gain evidence and recognize patterns

SCIENCE IS…

Learning and understanding the NATURAL world only

SCIENCE IS…

A process that is constantly changing– Open-minded– Skepticism

“The only certainty in science is uncertainty”

SCIENCE IS…

Based on curiosity and leads to discovery

WHAT DO WE USE IT FOR?

To help explain our world

To help predict what is to come

To make our lives better with the help of technology

3. THE METHOD OF SCIENCE

Scientific Methodology (or “Scientific Method”)– A series of “steps” that test a

scientific question about an event

OBSERVATION

Noticing and describing events in a careful way

Ask questions that nobody else has

4. FORM A HYPOTHESIS

Before a hypothesis we have inferences– A logical interpretation based on

what you know

This can lead to a hypothesis– Scientific explanation for a set of

observations that CAN BE TESTED!

– In the form of an “If/Then” Statement

BACK TO A HYPOTHESIS

Best definition: Testable prediction

Statement: Caffeine may cause sleeplessness in students

Hypothesis: IF sleeplessness in students is related to caffeine, THEN students who intake a high amount of caffeine will have a higher chance to not fall asleep.

DIY

Chlorophyll may be important for food production in plants.

Environmental temp. may affect animal metabolism.

Chocolate may cause pimples

5. EXPERIMENTATION

An experiment involves changing variables, or something that changes.

An experiment where you change one variable is known as a controlled experiment

Why would we want to change one thing?

VARIABLES

Independent Variable– The variable that you specifically change

Dependent Variable– The variable that you observe and record

data off of

Control Group– The part of the experiment that gets the

independent variable

6. COLLECT THAT DATA

Any records of the experiment or observations made in the experiment is known as Data

You need the right tools to do the job

Look out for possible errors

7. DRAWING CONCLUSIONS

The evidence from the experiment is used to support, refute, or revise the hypothesis.– It does not prove it

Usually, a new experiment is created to help strengthen the results

After multiple tests, a valid conclusion can be draw

9. ECOLOGY

The interactions between species and the environment

CYTOLOGY

The study of cell structure and function

GENETICS AND HEREDITY

The study of DNA and how it is passed from generation to generation

MICROBIOLOGY

The study of microscopic organisms and their infectious diseases

BOTANY

The study of plants

ZOOLOGY

The study of animals

ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY

The study of structure and function of an organism’s body

10. TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE Technology is the use of science

to make our lives easier and increase our knowledge of the natural world

Advances in science lead to advances in technology and vice-versa

COMMUNICATION

Vital to modern science

Scientists share their findings through articles– This allows peer review to happen

where others can test and evaluate the findings

This can then spark others to build upon the original experiment

SOCIETY AND SCIENCE

People want answers and that’s where science comes into play

To use science involves understanding the limitations and how it affects society

Science only explains natural matters and does not use ethical or moral viewpoints

BIAS

A particular preference or point of view that is personal, rather than scientific

11. EVERYDAY THEORIES

“I’ve got a theory” or “That’s just a theory”

It is not a scientific theory

This common theory is more like a hypothesis

SCIENTIFIC THEORIES

Well-tested explanation that brings together a board range of observations

Can help make accurate predictions about new situations

Theories are not proof just well explained and is the dominant view with scientists

EXAMPLE

Cell Theory– Statements about all cells

(Broad/General)

– All living things are made out of cells

– Prediction: If something is living, then you assume you would find it to be made out of cells

THE LAW

A phenomenon which is always true

Very Narrow

Well-established

Theories do not become laws but rather explain laws

GRAVITY

Law: Everything that has mass also has gravity

Theory: Explains the movement of objects in the universe

OPINION V.S FACT

Personal beliefs as a result of interpreting the facts

A truth known by actual experience or observation in nature

12 AND 13. STEM AND LEAF PLOTS See handout for vocabulary

13. CHARACTERISTICS OF LIFE This class is known as Biology– It means study of life

So what makes things living and nonliving?

No one characteristic can solve this but we have a list of common characteristics that can help us decide

WE NEED A BLUEPRINT

All life is based on a universal genetic code

This code is called DNA– Contains the information needed

to live, grow, and reproduce

DEVELOPMENT

Every organism has a pattern of growth and development

RESPONSE NEEDED

Organisms detect and respond to stimuli from the environment

Stimulus: Signal to which an organism responds

REPRODUCTION

They produce new organisms

Sexual Reproduction– Cells from two parents unite and

form the first cell of a new organism

Asexual Reproduction– Single organism produces

offspring identical to itself

STABLE INTERNAL ENVIRONMENT The inner body environment is

constant even though the outside may not be

This is known as Homeostasis

USE ENERGY

All organisms need materials and energy to grow and develop

The build up and break down of the energy in the body is known as metabolism

CELLS

Organisms are composed of one or more cells

AS A GROUP, WE EVOLVE

Over generations, groups of organisms change over time

Evidence from comes from the fossil record, to the features of proteins to sequences in the DNA