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Unit 1 Science Skills

This document provides an overview of key concepts in the physical sciences. It defines science as a system of knowledge gained through observation and discovery using the scientific method. The scientific method involves making observations, asking questions, forming hypotheses, conducting experiments, analyzing data, and developing theories or laws. The document also discusses branches of science, variables in experiments, types of graphs, scientific notation, units of measurement, and limits of precision and accuracy in measurements.

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Jasmine Dana
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33 views

Unit 1 Science Skills

This document provides an overview of key concepts in the physical sciences. It defines science as a system of knowledge gained through observation and discovery using the scientific method. The scientific method involves making observations, asking questions, forming hypotheses, conducting experiments, analyzing data, and developing theories or laws. The document also discusses branches of science, variables in experiments, types of graphs, scientific notation, units of measurement, and limits of precision and accuracy in measurements.

Uploaded by

Jasmine Dana
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Physical

Science

Unit 1:
Introduction
Chapter 1
What is Science
Science is a system of
knowledge and the
methods you use to find
that knowledge.

Science begins with


curiosity and often ends
with discovery.
What is Science?
Generally scientists believe that
the universe can be described by
basic rules and these rules can
be discovered by careful,
methodical study.
Science vs. Technology
Technology – the application of
science
Science and technology are
interdependent. Advances in
one lead to advances in the other
Branches of Science

Physics: The study Chemistry: The


of Forces and study of Matter
Energy and its changes
What is the Scientific Method?
Scientific method refers to the techniques for
investigating phenomena, acquiring new knowledge,
or correcting and integrating previous knowledge
It’s an organized plan for gathering, organizing, and
communicating information.
Everyone can use the scientific method
The goal of any scientific method is to solve a
problem or to better understand an observed
event
How Science is conducted
Science is an investigation, which starts with
observations leading to inferences.
An observation is any information collected with the
senses.
An inference is conclusions or deductions based on
observations.
Practice
Observations:
• I hear people screaming
• I smell cotton candy, popcorn, and
hamburgers
• I see a lot of people
Inference = ?
Basic steps of scientific method
1. Make an observation
2. Ask a question
3. Form a hypothesis
4. Test hypothesis
5. Analyze data/draw conclusion
6. Develop theory
Scientific Method Steps 1-3
1. Begins with an observation
(ex. I see smoke in the distance)

2. that leads to a question.


(ex. what’s causing the smoke)

3. Form a hypothesis – a possible answer


that you can test.
(ex. Some one is burning leaves.)
Scientific Method Step 4
A good
Conduct an experiment tests
Experiment only one variable
at a time.
No experiment is
a failure.
Variables
Variable – anything that can
change in an experiment
Independent variable – what you
change. (manipulated)
Dependent variable – what changes
because of the independent variable.
(responding)
Control-what you keep the same
Qualitative vs Quantitative
Qualitative –
describes with
words.
Quantitative –
describe with
measurements
Scientific Method Step 5
Data DOES NOT
support hypothesis
Analyze data then you need to revise
the hypothesis and
retest

Data supports
hypothesis than
additional testing is
needed before
developing a theory
Scientific Method Step 6
Is an explanation that
has been tested by
Scientific repeated observations.
Theory Are always being
questioned and
examined.
To be valid, a theory
must continue to pass
each test.
Scientific Theory (cont.)
A theory must explain
observations simply and
clearly.
Experiments that
illustrate the theory
must be repeatable.
You must be able to
predict from the theory
Scientific Method Step 6 cont
States a repeated
Scientific Law observation about
nature.
Does not explain
why an event
happens.
Theories and Laws are not absolute
Sometimes
theories or Laws
have to be changed
or replaced
completely when
new discoveries are
made.
Scientific Model
Model is an
representation of an
object or event.
 Scientific models
make it easier to
understand things
that might be too
difficult to observe
directly
Graphs
A way of
organizing and
presenting
data.
Makes
relationships
more evident.
Line graphs
Best for displaying data that
change. (anything over time)
Numerical vs.
Numerical.
Multiple Line Graphs
Best for
comparing
multiple
values and
distributions
Best when
Bar Graphs comparing
data for several
individual
items or
events.
Numerical vs.
non-numerical
Circle Graphs (pie charts)

Best for displaying data that


are parts of a whole.
Scientific Notation
When writing very large or very
small numbers, scientists use a
kind of shorthand called scientific
notation.
This is a way of writing a number
without so many zeros.
Examples:
The speed of light is about
300,000,000 m/s
Or 3.0 x 108
The mass of a proton is
0.000000000000000000000001673
Or 1.673 X 10-24
All you do is move the decimal
850,000,000.0
850000000.0
+
= 8.5 x 10 8

0.000,000,025
0.000000025
-
= 2.5 x 10-8
Scientific Notation Examples

3.256 x 104

9.78 x 109

5.24 x 10-3

2.41 x 10-7
Scientific Notation Examples
0.007899 = ?

898745.30 = ?

0.00003657= ?

531120 = ?
Units of Measurement
Scientists use the International
System of Units (SI units) for
measurements.
When everyone uses the same
units, sharing data and results is
easier – less mistakes.
Base Units
The official SI units to measure:
Length = meter (m)
Volume = liter (L)
Mass = gram (g)
Time = seconds (s)
Temperature = Kelvin (K)
Derived Unit
derived units, are made from combinations of base
units.
Area: square meter (m2)
Volume: cubic meter (m3)
Density: kilograms per cubic meter (kg/m3) [a
measurement of mass/area]
Pressure: pascal (Pa) [a measurement of force/area]
Energy: Hertz (Hz) [a measurement of force/distance]
Electric charge: coulomb (C) [is a measurement of
current /time]
Metric Prefixes
Metric prefixes allow for more convenient
ways to express SI base and derived units.
Prefix Kilo Hecto Deca Base Deci Centi Milli

Symbol k h da d c m

meaning 103 102 101 100 10-1 10-2 10-3


King Henry - Conversions
Use the sentence “King Henry
Died by Drinking Chocolate Milk.”
to remember the order of prefixes.

Kilo Hecto Deka base Deci Centi Milli


meter
liter
gram
Limits of Measurement
Precision is a gauge of how exact a measurement is.
Precise measurements are close to each other

Accuracy is the closeness of a measurement to the


actual value of what is being measured
An accurate measure is close to the true or expected
value

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