Science
The systematic study of natural events and conditions. There are 3 areas: life, Earth, and physical.
What is science?
What are some parts that make up scientific investigations?
Biology (living things), geology (study of Earth), and physical (nonliving matter).
What are the studies of the three branches of science called?
Scatter plot: shows possible relationship between sets of data.
Bar graph: display/compares data in a number of separate categories
Circle graph: shows how each group of data relates to all the data.
What are some types of graphs?
What is measurement and what system do we use for science?
Includes observations, measurements, and data to support and evaluate scientific explanations. Tools are used to gain this accurately.
What is empirical evidence?
Independent: Deliberately manipulated
Dependent: Changes as a result of manipulated variable(s).
What is the difference between independent variables and dependent variables?
A description of a specific relationship under given conditions in a natural world (what happens).
What is a scientific law?
Pattern of data that shows relationship between variables studied in an experiment.
What is a trend?
Prefixes (meter to kilometer) and scientific notation (a x 10b).
What can we use to make very large/small measurements easier to work with?
It provides description of how a natural process occurs. It is based on data and observations. It must fit available data and be modified if data doesn't fit the description.
What is a scientific explanation?
1) define problem 2) form hypothesis 3) plan investigation 4) identify variables 5) collect/organize data 6) analyze data 7) draw conclusions
What are the steps of the scientific method?
A well-supported explanation of nature (explains how).
What is a scientific theory?
Linear: Relationship between independent and dependent variables can be shown in a straight line. Nonlinear: Relationship can't be shown in a straight line.
What is the difference between a linear and nonlinear graph?
Accuracy: Description of how close a measurement is to the true value of the quantity measured.
Precision: Exactness of a measurement (how repeatable).
What is the difference between accuracy and precision?
Curiosity, creativity, careful observations, logic, skepticism, and objectivity (unbiased).
What qualities are involved in scientific work?
Representation of an object or process that allows scientists to study in detail, conduct experiments, and make observations.
What is a scientific model?
New evidence is found or a better way of explaining old evidence is made.
How do scientific ideas change?
Direct: As the value of 1 variable increases the other variable increases as well (upward sloped line).
Inverse: Value of 1 variable goes down as the other goes up (downward sloped line).
What is the difference between a direct and inverse relationship?
Models: Shows structure of object, system, or concept. (Ex. physical (represents physical structure of an object or system Ex. scale, life-size), mathematical (uses different forms of data to represent the way a system/process works), and conceptual (represents how parts of a system are related/organized)).
Simulations: Use models to imitate the function, behavior, or process of whatever the models represent.
What are models and simulations?
A belief or practice based on incorrectly applied scientific methods that are based on faulty logic, vague/no measurements, claims that can't be tested, or personal experiences. Results can't be reproduced and explanations don't change.
What is pseudoscience?
Well documentation, supporting evidence, controlled variables, repeated, and peer reviews.
What are qualities of good scientific investigations?
Fieldwork: Can observe the natural world
Laboratory: Can work in a controlled environment with many tools.
What are some advantages of fieldwork and laboratory work?
A representation of an object or process that allows scientists to study something in greater detail. There are physical (drawn/built) and mathematical (can predict results of changes in system).
What is a model and what kinds are there?
To test designs in a controlled environment and in a safer, cheaper way.
How are simulations used?