DISCOVERY SCIENCE

Describes nature through careful observation and data collection

Observation vs. Inference• Observation – the use of the senses (hearing and

vision) to gather and record information about processes.

• Inference – a logical conclusion based on the observation.

Observation Vs InferenceObservation Vs Inference Observation Vs InferenceObservation Vs Inference

SCIENTIFIC METHODSCIENTIFIC METHOD

PROBLEM

COLLECT INFORMATION

HYPOTHESIS

EXPERIMENT

RECORD DATA

CONCLUSION

PROBLEMPROBLEM- - the question to solvethe question to solve- what do we want to - what do we want to knowknow

Research

- learn as much as you can about the subject - what other experiments have already been

done?

ExperimentExperiment

Definitions

- Independent or Explanatory Variable: The variable you are manipulating.

-Dependent or Response Variable: The variable that you are measuring.

-Extraneous Variables: Other outside variables that you try to eliminate by using a controlled experiment.

-Experimental Group: The group getting the treatment

-Control Group: The group that is not getting the treatment

Why use a control group?

• To minimize the extraneous variables and only test one variable.

• Heat, Light, Moisture, Soil content might all affect plant growth but we only want to test the effect of heat.

• Need to control the others.

Does fertilizer

make a plant grow at a

faster rate?

Identify the Independent Variable, Dependent Variable, and Extraneous Variables, Control Group and Experimental Group

for the following question:

Does an electric motor turn faster if you increase the voltage?

Identify the Independent Variable, Dependent Variable, and Extraneous Variables for the following question:

Also create a graph and label the axis for this experiment

Record DataRecord Data

Qua Quanntitativetitative Qua Quallitativeitative

Quantitative

• Data that can be measured on a continuous scale

• Usually read with instruments• Examples:– Height (5’9” or 175 cm)– Distance– Growth

Qualitative

• Data that is non-numerical or is not on a continuous scale

• Categories• Examples:– # of male versus females– Colors of petals

Conclusion – Provides evidence that

supports or rejects the hypothesis.

Conclusion continued

• Use conclusions to develop new technology or processes to improve human life.

• Technology: The application of scientific knowledge for functional purposes.

• An experiment was designed to investigate the effects of soap pollutants on the heartbeat of pond water perch

• Two populations of perch were grown. Both populations had water with the same mineral content, were supplied with identical amounts of plant pellets for food, received the same amount of light and had their body temperature maintained at 20 degrees C.

• Every two hours perch from both populations were selected and their heartbeats were monitored. Group A had soap pollutants administered 10 minutes before the heartbeat was counted. Group B was given nothing

Scientific Terminology

What is a scientific Fact?

Scientific Terminology

• Scientific Fact: an objective and verifiable observation. Something that has been tested so many times there is no need to test anymore.

• Example: Plants need light to grow.

Scientific Terminology

What is a scientific hypothesis?

Scientific Terminology

• Scientific hypothesis: A tentative explanation for an observation, phenomenon, or scientific problem that can be tested by further investigation.

• Example: Squirrels will react to an intruder by running up a tree.

Scientific Terminology

What is a scientific theory?

Scientific Terminology

• Scientific theory: Theories are intended to be an accurate, predictive description of the natural world. Explain natural phenomena and predict new ones.

• Example: Gravitational Theory, Atomic Theory, Biological: Theory of Evolution, Germ Theory, Chromosomal Theory of Inheritance, and Cell Theory

Scientific Terminology

What is a scientific Law?

Scientific Terminology

• Scientific Law: considered universal and invariable facts of the physical world. A law is an analytic statement, usually with an empirically determined constant.

• Example: Laws of Thermodynamics, PV=nRT, E=mc2