Nature of ScienceNature of Science

Section 1Section 1

You are a Scientist!You are a Scientist! Have you?Have you?

Looked at the colors in a Looked at the colors in a puddle of oil?puddle of oil?

Watched a fire burn?Watched a fire burn? Watched lightning bolts Watched lightning bolts

dart through the night sky?dart through the night sky?

If you have then you are If you have then you are acting like a scientist!acting like a scientist!

Scientist Cont…Scientist Cont… Scientists observe the world around Scientists observe the world around

them just as you do.them just as you do. So whenever you make an observation So whenever you make an observation

you are acting like a scientist.you are acting like a scientist. ScienceScience – ( – (scirescire) to know.) to know.

Science is more than just observing, real Science is more than just observing, real scientists:scientists: Question what they seeQuestion what they see Wonder what makes things the way they areWonder what makes things the way they are Attempt to find answers to their questionsAttempt to find answers to their questions

The Nature of ScienceThe Nature of Science

The goal of science is to The goal of science is to understand the world understand the world around us.around us.

ObservationObservation

Observation-Observation-

Using 1 or more of Using 1 or more of your senses to your senses to gather gather information.information.

InferringInferring

InferringInferring – When you explain or – When you explain or interpret the things you observe.interpret the things you observe.

Making an inference doesn’t mean Making an inference doesn’t mean guessing wildly. Inferences are guessing wildly. Inferences are based on reasoning from what you based on reasoning from what you already know.already know.

Turn to page 8 in your textbook.Turn to page 8 in your textbook. To To inferinfer is to draw a conclusion. is to draw a conclusion.

Other Scientist SkillsOther Scientist Skills PredictingPredicting – –

to tell about something before it to tell about something before it happens.happens.

ClassifyingClassifying – – to organize objects or information into to organize objects or information into

groups.groups. Making ModelsMaking Models – –

Creating representations of complex Creating representations of complex objects or processes.objects or processes.

How Scientists WorkHow Scientists Work

Scientists use special methods to Scientists use special methods to determine truths about nature.determine truths about nature. FactsFacts- are truths about nature.- are truths about nature.

Example:Example: The sun is a source of heat and The sun is a source of heat and light.light.

Using facts they have gathered, Using facts they have gathered, scientists propose explanations.scientists propose explanations.

They then run experiments to test They then run experiments to test their explanations.their explanations.

Branches of ScienceBranches of Science Life Science –Life Science –

deals with living things and their parts deals with living things and their parts and actions.and actions.

Earth Science –Earth Science – is the study of the earth and its rocks, is the study of the earth and its rocks,

oceans, volcanoes, earthquakes, etc.oceans, volcanoes, earthquakes, etc. Physical Science –Physical Science –

is the study of matter and energy.is the study of matter and energy.

Other Vocabulary WordsOther Vocabulary Words

Hypothesis –Hypothesis – an educated guess.an educated guess.

Dichotomous Key –Dichotomous Key – tool that helps scientists classify objects tool that helps scientists classify objects

or organisms.or organisms.