The Nature of ScienceThe Nature of Science

88thth grade science grade scienceVocabulary and notesVocabulary and notes

What is Science?What is Science?

ScienceScience is a way of is a way of learning about the learning about the natural world and the natural world and the knowledge gained knowledge gained while you are learning.while you are learning.

To do this a scientist To do this a scientist uses what we call uses what we call scientific inquiryscientific inquiry

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Thinking Like a ScientistThinking Like a Scientist Ask questionsAsk questions Make observations and inferencesMake observations and inferences Develop a hypothesisDevelop a hypothesis Design an experimentDesign an experiment Collect dataCollect data Make measurementsMake measurements Interpret dataInterpret data Draw conclusionsDraw conclusions Make modelsMake models Communicate with othersCommunicate with others pg. 3pg. 3

Observations and InferencesObservations and Inferences

ObservationObservation means to use one or means to use one or more of your 5 senses – sight, more of your 5 senses – sight, hearing, touch, smell, and tastehearing, touch, smell, and taste

To make an To make an inferenceinference means to means to come to a logical conclusion based come to a logical conclusion based on what you see and what you on what you see and what you already knowalready know

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HypothesisHypothesis A A hypothesishypothesis is a is a

possible explanation possible explanation for what you see for what you see happeninghappening

Your hypothesis needs Your hypothesis needs to be able to be tested to be able to be tested but will never be but will never be counted as a wrong counted as a wrong answer in classanswer in class

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EXPERIMENTSEXPERIMENTS

When planning an experiment, you need When planning an experiment, you need to consider all the factors that may to consider all the factors that may influence your outcome – these are called influence your outcome – these are called variablesvariables

In an experiment you should have at least In an experiment you should have at least 3 variables3 variables– A manipulated variableA manipulated variable– A responding variableA responding variable– A controlled variableA controlled variable pg. 4pg. 4

VariablesVariables The The manipulatedmanipulated

variablevariable is the one you is the one you will be changing. It is will be changing. It is also called an also called an independent variable.independent variable.

The The respondingresponding variablevariable is the one that is the one that will change in response will change in response to what you change. It to what you change. It is also called the is also called the dependent variable.dependent variable.

The The controlled variablescontrolled variables are everything else and are everything else and are kept same are kept same throughout the whole throughout the whole experimentexperiment

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Data and MeasurementsData and Measurements

DataData are the facts and figures gathered are the facts and figures gathered during the experimentduring the experiment

Data are very carefully recorded using Data are very carefully recorded using charts, tables, and graphscharts, tables, and graphs

Data may be Data may be qualitativequalitative (color, odor, (color, odor, sound) or sound) or quantitativequantitative (use of (use of measurements or numbers in some way)measurements or numbers in some way)

When collecting quantitatvie data, a When collecting quantitatvie data, a scientist always uses the metric systemscientist always uses the metric system

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InterpretationInterpretation

To interpret data a To interpret data a scientist identifies scientist identifies trends or patterns in trends or patterns in the collected datathe collected data

Based on the pattern Based on the pattern or trend, you then will or trend, you then will make a conclusion as make a conclusion as to whether the data to whether the data supports your supports your hypothesis or nothypothesis or not

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Models and SimulationsModels and Simulations

If a hypothesis cannot If a hypothesis cannot be tested with an be tested with an experiment, a scientist experiment, a scientist may make a model or may make a model or create a simulation to create a simulation to come to a conclusioncome to a conclusion

Both models and Both models and simulations have simulations have limitationslimitations

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Communication of ResultsCommunication of Results Once a scientist has come to a conclusion Once a scientist has come to a conclusion

supported by the data from an experiment he/she supported by the data from an experiment he/she then will communicate with others by writing then will communicate with others by writing articles in a journal, speaking at a scientific articles in a journal, speaking at a scientific meeting, or posting his/her finding on the Internetmeeting, or posting his/her finding on the Internet

After much testing and debate then a hypothesis After much testing and debate then a hypothesis may become a scientific law – this means that no may become a scientific law – this means that no matter how many times the experiment is done, matter how many times the experiment is done, the outcome will always be the samethe outcome will always be the same

If a major idea explains a large amount of If a major idea explains a large amount of information, then that becomes a scientific theoryinformation, then that becomes a scientific theory

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Lab SafetyLab Safety

As always whenever you are As always whenever you are doing a lab you must always use doing a lab you must always use safe lab practicessafe lab practices

Before every experiment be Before every experiment be aware of any safety precautions aware of any safety precautions that must be followed that must be followed

Look for safety symbols and be Look for safety symbols and be able to interpret themable to interpret them

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ActivityActivity

From your list of general safety From your list of general safety precautions decide on 10 that you feel are precautions decide on 10 that you feel are the most important. the most important.

Write each precaution on one side of your Write each precaution on one side of your band-aid and write the reason you chose it band-aid and write the reason you chose it on the other side.on the other side.

Put your band-aids in the envelope Put your band-aids in the envelope provided and turn it in for a grade. provided and turn it in for a grade.

Once your envelope is passed back, glue it Once your envelope is passed back, glue it into your composition book on pageinto your composition book on page

|Click here for the Band-Aid Page|

Swing Time – Lab 1Swing Time – Lab 1 Question-Does the swing of a pendulum take longer for an Question-Does the swing of a pendulum take longer for an

object of greater mass?object of greater mass?

Hypothesis-Hypothesis-

Materials- stand w/clamp rulerMaterials- stand w/clamp ruler lg. paper clip 5 washerslg. paper clip 5 washers string, 50 cm long timerstring, 50 cm long timer Procedure:Procedure:

1. Tie one end of a string to a clamp on a stand. Tie the 1. Tie one end of a string to a clamp on a stand. Tie the other end to a large paper clip. Pull out one side of the other end to a large paper clip. Pull out one side of the paper clip to serve as a hook.paper clip to serve as a hook.

2. Place a metal washer on the hook, and let it hang down. 2. Place a metal washer on the hook, and let it hang down. If necessary, raise the clamp so that the bob swings freely.If necessary, raise the clamp so that the bob swings freely.

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Swing Time – Lab 1 cont.Swing Time – Lab 1 cont.

3. Pull the bob back so that the string makes an angle of 3. Pull the bob back so that the string makes an angle of about 45° with the stand. Have your partner measure about 45° with the stand. Have your partner measure the height of the bob above the table top. Record this the height of the bob above the table top. Record this height as the starting position of the bob.height as the starting position of the bob.

4. Release the bob without pushing it. Time how long it 4. Release the bob without pushing it. Time how long it takes for the bob to make 10 complete swings. (a takes for the bob to make 10 complete swings. (a complete swing is when the bob returns to its starting complete swing is when the bob returns to its starting position)position)

5. Record that time in the data table. Then divide that time 5. Record that time in the data table. Then divide that time by 10 to find the average time for 1 swing.by 10 to find the average time for 1 swing.

6. Repeat steps 3 and 4 increasing the mass on the bob 6. Repeat steps 3 and 4 increasing the mass on the bob each time by adding a washer. Make sure that you each time by adding a washer. Make sure that you always start the bob at the same height.always start the bob at the same height.

• Data Table – Height of bob ______

Number of Washers Time for 10 swings (s) Ave. time per swing (s)

1   

2 

3   

4   

5   

6   

Swing Time Data Table

Swing Time – Lab 1 ConclusionSwing Time – Lab 1 Conclusion

Results –Results – Conclusion – Conclusion – 1. Graph your results. 1. Graph your results.

2. Name the controlled variables, the 2. Name the controlled variables, the manipulated variable, and the manipulated variable, and the responding variable.responding variable.

3. Does the data support your 3. Does the data support your hypothesis? How?hypothesis? How?

4. What conclusion can you come to 4. What conclusion can you come to from this experiment?from this experiment?

ExtensionsExtensions

Activities and LabsActivities and Labs

Other Activities and LabsOther Activities and Labs Mini labs for stationsMini labs for stations

– MassMass– LinearLinear– VolumeVolume– TemperatureTemperature– MicroscopeMicroscope

Crossword puzzleCrossword puzzle Lab – Two Ears Versus Only One EarLab – Two Ears Versus Only One Ear Lab – Ball BounceLab – Ball Bounce Lab – Temperature & Humidity at Different Lab – Temperature & Humidity at Different

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