Intro Science

8/8/2019 Intro Science

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Introduction to ScienceIntroduction to Science

Which way to

Science Hall?

Follow

me.


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How to Catch an AlligatorHow to Catch an Alligator


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How to Catch an AlligatorHow to Catch an AlligatorTo catch an alligator, you will need the following tools:

a blanket, a pillow, binoculars, a matchbox, and tweasers.Then, of course, you have to go where the alligators are -

probably a swamp. When you get there, you should put

your blanket down on the shore of the pool where the

alligators are and go to sleep. After a while the alligatorwill come and climb upon the blanket and lie down beside

you and go to sleep too. You, of course, having gone to

sleep earlier, will wake up first. Noticing the alligator you

will take your binoculars, look at him through the wrongend which will diminish his size. Once you nave him cut

down to size, you can use y our tweasers to put him in the

matchbox. Now you have your alligator.

....Essay penned by a gifted child


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Avenues for mans thinking andAvenues for mans thinking and

knowing:knowing: religion (based on faith)religion (based on faith)

philosophy (based on logical reasoning)philosophy (based on logical reasoning)

literature (interpretation of the worldliterature (interpretation of the world

expressed through verbal communication)expressed through verbal communication)

art (interpretation of the world expressedart (interpretation of the world expressed

through production or arrangement ofthrough production or arrangement ofcolors, forms, movements, sounds or othercolors, forms, movements, sounds or other

elementselements

science ?science ?


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SCIENCESCIENCE

Write a definition ofWrite a definition ofsciencescience on the back ofon the back of

your student information sheet.your student information sheet.

Discuss and compare your definition ofDiscuss and compare your definition ofsciencescience with a neighbor.with a neighbor.

Revise your definition ofRevise your definition ofsciencescience..

Form a fourForm a four--square with classmates,square with classmates,discuss the meaning ofdiscuss the meaning ofsciencescience, and revise, and revise

your definition ofyour definition ofsciencescience..

Turn in your information sheet.Turn in your information sheet.


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True or False?True or False?

The work of scientists is to prove theories.The work of scientists is to prove theories.

FalseFalse


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WHAT IS SCIENCE?WHAT IS SCIENCE?

(or what does a scientist do?) observing (collecting data)observing (collecting data)

formulating hypothesesformulating hypotheses

predictingpredicting

conducting experimentsconducting experiments

interpreting data (drawing conclusions)interpreting data (drawing conclusions)

developing theoriesdeveloping theories

applying knowledge to solve problemsapplying knowledge to solve problems


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Important Features of ScienceImportant Features of Science

alternate interpretationsalternate interpretations

revisabilityrevisability

selfself--correctioncorrection

inferencesinferences

verificationverification

repeatabilityrepeatability

level of certaintylevel of certainty


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Alternate Interpretations andAlternate Interpretations and

R

evisability of ScienceR

evisability of Science Explanation of position of Earth in theExplanation of position of Earth in the

universe:universe:


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R



universe:universe:

Ptolemy (2nd century Greek astronomer andPtolemy (2nd century Greek astronomer andgeographer): Observing the movement ofgeographer): Observing the movement of

heavenly bodies, Ptolemy concluded that Earthheavenly bodies, Ptolemy concluded that Earth

is the center of the universe.is the center of the universe.


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R



universe:universe:

Ptolemy (2nd century Greek astronomer andPtolemy (2nd century Greek astronomer andgeographer): Observing the movement ofgeographer): Observing the movement of

heavenly bodies, Ptolemy concluded that Earthheavenly bodies, Ptolemy concluded that Earth

is the center of the universe.is the center of the universe.

Copernicus (1473Copernicus (1473--1543), a Polish astronomer,1543), a Polish astronomer,

observing the movement of heavenly bodies,observing the movement of heavenly bodies,

concluded that Earth is not the center of theconcluded that Earth is not the center of the

universe.universe.


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Revisability of ScienceRevisability of Science

Aristotle (384Aristotle (384--322 B.C.) observed rats emerging322 B.C.) observed rats emerging

from hay and rags in corner of barn and concludedfrom hay and rags in corner of barn and concluded

that the rats (living) arose from the hay and ragsthat the rats (living) arose from the hay and rags(nonliving). He thought that flies could be(nonliving). He thought that flies could be

produced by first killing a bull, then burying itproduced by first killing a bull, then burying it

with its horns protruding from the ground. Flieswith its horns protruding from the ground. Flies

emerged from one of the horns sawed off severalemerged from one of the horns sawed off severaldays after burial. Aristotles interpretation wasdays after burial. Aristotles interpretation was

that life may arise from the nonliving (theory ofthat life may arise from the nonliving (theory of

spontaneous generation).spontaneous generation).


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Revisability of ScienceRevisability of Science

Experimentation which discreditedExperimentation which discredited

spontaneous generation was conducted by:spontaneous generation was conducted by:

Francesco Redi (Italian) 1668Francesco Redi (Italian) 1668Spallanzani (Italian) 1700sSpallanzani (Italian) 1700s

Louis Pasteur (French) 1862Louis Pasteur (French) 1862


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Experiments discrediting theory

of spontaneous generation

late

1700s

1862

1668


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Science is revisable and selfScience is revisable and self--

correcting.correcting. Be prepared during our next class meetingBe prepared during our next class meeting

to cite additional examples of theto cite additional examples of the

revisability and selfrevisability and self--correction of science.correction of science.


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Alternate Interpretations ofDataAlternate Interpretations ofData

and Revisability of Scienceand Revisability of Science

Interpretation of data (statistics) regardingInterpretation of data (statistics) regarding

the incidence of chromosome anomalies:the incidence of chromosome anomalies:

e.g. Down syndromee.g. Down syndrome


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Conflicting theoriesConflicting theories

(Alternate interpretations)(Alternate interpretations)

Explanations of the extinction of dinosaursExplanations of the extinction of dinosaurs

collision of a large meteorite with Earthcollision of a large meteorite with Earth

(catastrophism)(catastrophism)

gradual climatic changes with overcompetitiongradual climatic changes with overcompetitionby mammals (gradualism)by mammals (gradualism)


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What inferences(s) do you drawWhat inferences(s) do you draw

from observing the following:from observing the following: your classmate wears a UNC sweatshirtyour classmate wears a UNC sweatshirt

a damaged car parked at the curba damaged car parked at the curb

broken tree limbs in a neighbors yardbroken tree limbs in a neighbors yard

Inference: interpretation based on indirect evidence


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Science is based on empiricalScience is based on empirical

evidenceevidence.. Empirical evidence can be observed andEmpirical evidence can be observed and

measured.measured.


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Types of Scientific StudiesTypes of Scientific Studies

descriptive science:descriptive science: explores phenomenaexplores phenomena

by collecting data through observationsby collecting data through observations

without experimentationwithout experimentation experimental science:experimental science: exploresexplores

phenomena through controlledphenomena through controlled

experimentationexperimentation


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Examples of descriptive scienceExamples of descriptive science

Darwins observations led to theDarwins observations led to the

development of a theory of evolutiondevelopment of a theory of evolution

(evolution by means of natural selection).(evolution by means of natural selection).


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Examples of experimentalExamples of experimental

sciencescience Refer to descriptions of experimentsRefer to descriptions of experiments

conducted by Redi, Spallanzani, andconducted by Redi, Spallanzani, and

Pasteur.Pasteur.


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Variables in ExperimentalVariables in Experimental

ScienceScience independent variable: condition which isindependent variable: condition which is

manipulated by the investigator and whichmanipulated by the investigator and which

may be present in multiple levels with onemay be present in multiple levels with onelevel being a controllevel being a control

dependent variable: condition which isdependent variable: condition which is

counted or measured in the experimentcounted or measured in the experiment confounding variables: condition which areconfounding variables: condition which are

not controlled and may affect results of thenot controlled and may affect results of the

experimentexperiment


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Identify variables as indicated:Identify variables as indicated:

Redis experimentRedis experiment

independent variable:independent variable:

dependent variable:dependent variable:

confounding variables(s):confounding variables(s):


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independent variable: type of covering on jarindependent variable: type of covering on jar

dependent variable:dependent variable:



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independent variable:type of covering on jarindependent variable:type of covering on jar

dependent variable: number of maggotsdependent variable: number of maggots



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independent variable: type of covering on jarindependent variable: type of covering on jar

dependent variable: number of maggotsdependent variable: number of maggots

possible confounding variables(s): temperature,possible confounding variables(s): temperature,

humidity, size of jar, type of meat, sizehumidity, size of jar, type of meat, size

of meat,of meat,


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HypothesesHypotheses

Science proceeds by postulating and testingScience proceeds by postulating and testing

hypotheses.hypotheses.

Hypotheses are tentative explanations ofHypotheses are tentative explanations ofobserved phenomenaobserved phenomena

Purpose of scientific experimentation is toPurpose of scientific experimentation is to

test hypotheses.test hypotheses.


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Compare an hypothesis with aCompare an hypothesis with a

theorytheory hypothesis: tentative explanation ofhypothesis: tentative explanation of

observed phenomenonobserved phenomenon

theory: explanation which is supported bytheory: explanation which is supported bymany experimental events and evidencemany experimental events and evidence


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Science is a way of thinkingScience is a way of thinkingmuch more than it is amuch more than it is a

body of knowledge.body of knowledge.Carl SaganCarl Sagan


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SCIENCESCIENCE

Review your previous definition ofReview your previous definition ofsciencescience

and modify or change the definition basedand modify or change the definition based

on what you have learned in thison what you have learned in thispresentation.presentation.


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CREDITSCREDITS

Slide #11 presented with permission ofSlide #11 presented with permission of

Sinauer Associates,Inc.Sinauer Associates,Inc.

Slide images presented with permission ofSlide images presented with permission ofBenjamin/Cummings Publishing CompanyBenjamin/Cummings Publishing Company

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Intro Science