Chapter: The Nature of Science

Chapter: The Nature of Science

Table of ContentsTable of Contents

Section 3: Models in Science

Section 1: What is science?

Section 2: Science in Action

Section 4: Evaluating Scientific Explanation

A. Learning About the World1. Science is a way of learning more about

the natural world. 2. Scientists want to know

why, how, or when something occurred.

3. Learning process usually begins by keeping your eyes open and asking questions about what you see.

What is science?What is science?

B. Asking Questions

1. Science can attempt to answer many questions about the natural world, but some questions cannot be answered by science.

2. Science cannot help you find the meaning of a poem or decide what your favorite color is. Science can’t tell you what is right, wrong, good, or bad.


C. Possible Explanations

1. Science can answer a question only with the information available at the time.


C. Possible Explanations 2. As new information becomes available,

explanations can be modified or discarded and new explanations can be made.


D. Scientific Theories 1. A scientific theory is an attempt to explain a

pattern seen repeatedly in the natural world.

2. Theories are not just guesses or opinions. Theories in science must be supported by observations and results from many investigations. They are the best explanations that have been found so far.

11What is science?What is science?

D. Scientific Theories

3.Theories can change. As new data are found, scientists evaluate how the new data fit the theory.

4. Sometimes the new data do not support the theory. Then scientists can change theory to fit the new data better.


E. Scientific Laws1. A rule that describes a pattern in nature is a

scientific law. 2. For an observation to become a scientific law, it

must be observed repeatedly. A law helps you predict what will happen. For example, gravity exists or how it works.


3. A law, unlike a theory, does not attempt to explain why something happens. It simply describes a pattern.

F. Systems in Science

1. A system is a collection of structures, cycles, and processes that relate to each other and work together.

2. For example, your stomach is a the structure, or one part of, your digestive system.




4. Your school is a system with structures such as the school building, the tables and chairs, you, your teacher, the school bell, your pencil, and many other things.

3. You can find systems in other places besides science.


5. Your school day also has cycles. Your daily class schedule and the calendar of holidays are examples of cycles.



6. In a system, structures, cycles, and processes work together. 7.Your daily schedule

influences where you go and what time you go. The clock shows the teacher when the test is complete, and you couldn’t complete the test without a pencil.


G. Parts of a Whole

1. All systems are made up of other systems.

For example, the human body is a system—within human body, there are other systems.


G. Parts of a Whole

2. Scientists often break down problems by studying just one part of a system.

3. A scientist might want to learn about how construction of buildings affects the ecosystem. Because an ecosystem has many parts, one scientist might study a particular animal, and another might study the effect on plant life.


H. The Branches of Science

1. Science often is divided into three main categories, or branches—Biology, Earth science, and physical science. Each branch asks questions about different kinds of systems.


I. Biology

1.The study of living systems and the ways in which they interact is called Biology.

2. Biologist can study living organisms, where they live, and how they interact.


I. Biology 3. People who work in the health field, like a

doctors and nurses, know a lot about the Biology. They work with systems of the human body.

4. Some other examples of careers that use biology include biologists, zookeepers, botanists, farmers, and beekeepers.


J. Earth Science 1.The study of Earth systems and the systems in

space is Earth science. It includes the study of nonliving things such as rocks, soil, clouds, rivers, oceans, planets, stars, meteors, and black holes.


K. Physical Science

1. The study of matter and energy is physical science.

2. Matter is anything that takes up space and has mass. Energy is the ability to cause change in matter.


3. All systems – living and nonliving – are made of matter.

K. Physical Science

4. Physical science can be divided into two general fields—chemistry and physics.

5. Chemistry is the study of matter and the interactions of matter and physics is the study of energy and its ability to change matter.


L. Science and Technology

1.Technology is the practical use of science in our everyday lives.

2. Engineers apply science to develop technology.


3.The study of how to use the energy of sunlight is science. Using this knowledge to create solar panels is technology.

11Section CheckSection Check

Question 1

A rule that describes a pattern in nature is known as _______.

A. a scientific theoryB. a scientific lawC. a scientific hypothesisD. a scientific rule


Question 2

Studying how the sun makes energy is science. Putting this knowledge to use in making solar panels, however, is called _______.

A. philosophyB. solar scienceC. technologyD. the scientific method


Question 3

Which of the following questions cannot be answered by science?

A. How old is the sun?B. How do volcanoes erupt?C. Should we be kind to strangers?D. Why is the sky blue?

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Chapter: The Nature of Science