Nature of Science Pt. 1
What is 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?
Science
Which is a reliable source of information, a scientific magazine, TV show, scientific journal/publication, or a science fiction book?
A scientific journal/publication
What is the first thing you should do in the lab?
Read the instructions
This is the first step of the scientific method.
What is an observation/question?
In an experiment you have two types of groups. What are they?
The experimental group and the control group
What is a process of investigation that in one or more ways resembles science but deviates (goes against) the scientific method.
Pseudoscience
What is the term that describes observations, measurements, and other types of data that people gather to test to support and evaluate scientific explanations?
Empirical evidence
Pour a substance down the drain only if:
Your teacher tells you to
What is the variable that is changed, manipulated, or being tested?
The Independent (Manipulated) Variable
What is the variable that includes the observations or response to the changes you have made?
The Depending (Responding) Variable
What is a system of ideas that explains many related observations and is supported by a large body of evidence acquired through scientific investigation?
A theory
True or False:
The biggest difference between science and pseudoscience is that pseudoscience does not use accepted scientific methods and may be very vague or lack any measurements.
TRUE
A broken microscope slide should be discarded in a:
Sharp objects container
What is a tentative, testable answer to a scientific question?
A hypothesis
Use the same type of car for all the test runs, use the same type of tires, same driving area, same driver...These are referred to as?
Control/Constant Variables
Although theories cannot be proven true, what can cause a theory to change, modified, or rejected?
New evidence discovered
True or False:
Scientists put their guesses down as conclusions.
False.
Bensley ties on a long apron and wears a pair of plastic safety glasses. The apron keeps materials from staining his clothes. The safety glasses protect his eyes from any flying substances or splashing liquids. What rule is he following?
Wear proper safety equipment.
The amount of algae growth in lakes seems to be directly related to the number of bags of phosphate fertilizer sold by the local merchants. What is the independent variable?
The number of bags of phosphate fertilizer sold
If I use oak in my wood-stove, then it will burn longer then other woods like ash or spruce. What is the dependent variable?
The time the wood burns.
Name all 6 characteristics of a scientist.
Careful observers, skeptical, logical, curious, creative and objective.
Scientific evidence can often be a very strongly held opinion by a scientists who has done a lot of studying on a subject. Is this statement true?
False.
Terrence and Erian prepare to begin today's experiment. Terrence rolls up his sleeves so they will not be in the way. He remembers how distracting it is to be pushing them up all the time. Erian secures her long hair with a hair band, ensuring that her hair will be out of her face and away from the lab materials. What rule are they following?
Secure loose clothing and hair.
I think basketballs inflated with more air bounce higher. Rewrite this statement as a testable hypothesis.
If inflated with more air, then a basketball will bounce higher.
What is the proper format for writing a hypothesis? (Include correct placement of variables)
If ___IV___, then __DV___.