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What is Science?. What is Science?. Science : Process that produces information about nature Steps: Observation & Experimentation Why: Apply the results to the real world Why: Better understand our world Information gathered by the “Scientific Method”. Scientific Method. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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What is Science?• Science: Process that
produces information about nature
• Steps: Observation & Experimentation
• Why: Apply the results to the real world
• Why: Better understand our world
• Information gathered by the “Scientific Method”
Scientific Method• Defined: Series of
steps to collect information and solve problems
1) Observation2) Hypothesis3) Experimentation4) Data Analysis5) Conclusion6) Replication
Observation and Hypothesis• Observe the living world
– Example: Very little plant life on a forest floor
• Hypothesis: tentative explanation– If…then statement– Example: If there are tall
canopy trees blocking sunlight, then few plants will grow near the ground.
Experimentation• Experiment will test your
hypothesis• Two parts to an experiment
o 1) Control group: patch of land with the large canopy trees
o 2) Experimental group: patch of land w/o canopy trees
• Caution! Two groups must differ by only 1 factoro Independent variable: factor
you are testing (Ex: Presence of the canopy trees)
o Dependent variable: factor you measure (Ex: growth of the plants)
Here is a well designed setup
Control Group Experimental Group
6 hours sun/day 6 hours sun/day8cm rain/month 8cm rain/month
Grazing animals Grazing animals60⁰ temp 60⁰ temp
Large canopy trees Patch of open land
Here is a poorly designed setup
Control Group Experimental Group
6 hours sun/day 4 hours sun/day8cm rain/month 8cm rain/month
Grazing animals Grazing animals60⁰ temp 80⁰ temp
Large canopy trees Patch of open land
Data Collection
• Collect data to either support/not support your hypothesis– No hypotheses are proven after 1 experiment
• Data and Results: Plants on the ground grew almost 1m taller w/o the canopy trees
Conclusion & Replication• Your findings would be
shared and duplicated by others
• Develop a THEORY (hypothesis that has been tested and continually supported)
• Theories and hypotheses change based on new information
Quick Review• Science tries to explain the
natural world• Science is made through
observation and experimentation• Science is continually changing
based on new information
Farmer Bob wants to test his new fertilizer to help his crops grow better. He sections off two large areas of his field. In section A, he waters his crops as usual but adds no fertilizer. In section B, he waters his crops as usual and also adds his experimental fertilizer. After 1 growing season, he records the growth of the crops.
Name the control group _________________________________________________Name the experimental group ____________________________________________Name the independent variable __________________________________________Name the dependent variable ____________________________________________
Section A
Section B
Chemical added to the crops
Growth of the crops
The United States military wants to see if soldiers with only 4 hours of sleep can operate at the same level as those who normally get 7 hours of sleep. One hundred solders are allowed to only sleep for 4 hours a night and another hundred are allowed to sleep for 7 hours a night. During the day, the soldiers are tested for marksmanship on the firing range.
Soldiers with 7 hours sleep
Soldiers with 4 hours sleep
Amount of sleep given
Name the control group _________________________________________________Name the experimental group ____________________________________________Name the independent variable __________________________________________Name the dependent variable ____________________________________________Score on the firing range
The city of Los Angeles wants to know if there is a connection between physical fitness and air pollution. Fifty volunteers from the mayor’s office agree to be tested. First, they are asked to ride a stationary bike for 1 hour in a pollution-free air chamber. A week later, the 50 volunteers return and are again asked to ride a stationary bike for 1 hour in a chamber filled with air pollutants common to Los Angeles. Their heart rates are monitored throughout the 1 hour bike rides.
Volunteers who breathed common polluted air
Volunteers who breathed clean air
Quality of air breathedHeart rates
Name the control group _________________________________________________Name the experimental group ____________________________________________Name the independent variable __________________________________________Name the dependent variable ____________________________________________