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SCIENTIFIC METHOD = The common steps that scientists use to gather information and answer questions

The knowledge obtained when scientists answer one question often generates other questions or is useful in solving other problems

Step 1: Identify a Problem (Purpose) * A question or situation that

you want to investigate.“The purpose of this experiment

is to…”

Step 2: Gather Information * Research your problem

Step 3: Make a Hypothesis (If….then statement)

* Proposed solution or educated guess.

If I put gas in the car, then the car will start.

If I get a new battery, then the car will start.

•A Hypothesis is an explanation for a question or a problem that can be formally tested

• Not a random guess!

•If – Then statement

•If I __________________, then _______________ happens

•If I smile more, then people will be nicer to me.

Step 4: Test your Hypothesis (Experiment) *.Design a repeatable experiment.

(Variables/Controls)

Step 5: Collect & Analyze the Data * Record data from the

experiment in data tables & display in a graph.

Step 6: Form a Conclusion *State whether the data supports

or rejects the hypothesis & why.

Control: a standard that the data/results will be compared to in the experiment.

Variables: part of the experiment that is tested; it does change

Independent Variable

Factor in the experiment

that changes. (Tested)

ConstantsVariables that do notchange in the

experiment.

Dependent VariableFactor in the

experiment that is observed or measured that happens as a result of the independent variable. (Final Results)

QuantitativeData that is in the

formof numbers,

graphs, &Measurements.

QualitativeData that is in the

formof observations.

Theory An explanation or model backed by

results obtained from many tests or experiments.

Most logical explanation for events that occur in nature.

Powerful, time-tested concepts that make useful & dependable predictions about the natural world.

Theory of Relativity

Theory of Evolution

Theory of Plate Tectonics Big Bang Theory

Law Rules that describe the

behavior of something in nature.

Theories that are accepted over time by the scientific community.

Laws support facts. Principles are similar to laws.

Laws of Motion Law of Universal Gravitation

Laws of Planetary Motion

Ethics Study of moral values about

what is good or bad. Science can not answer

whether or not something is ethical.

Honest science should NOT be biased.

The Metric System A global, standard system of

measurement “International System of

Units” or SI Based on decimals (by 10’s) Used by all scientists

Distance from one point to another point.

English Units: Inches, Feet, Yards, Miles

Metric Unit: Meters

Instrument: Meter Stick

The amount of space that a substance occupies.

English Units: Teaspoons, Tablespoons, Cups, Quarts, Pints, Gallons, etc.

Metric Unit: Liters

Instrument: Graduated Cylinder

GraduatedCylinder

* Most Accurate

Florence Flask

Erlenmeyer Flask

Beaker

Height

Length

Width

Volume = length x width x height

Cubic centimeters (cm3 or cc)

Displacement: placing an irregularly shaped object into a known volume of water & measuring the change

in the level of water.

5 mL 10 mL

Volume = 10mL – 5mL

= 5mL

The amount of matter in a substance.

English Units: Slugs

Metric Unit: Grams (Kilograms)

Instrument: Triple Beam Balance

Measurement of how fast atoms are moving.

English Units: Fahrenheit

Metric Unit: oCelsius (oC)Kelvin (K) K = 273 +

temperature in oC

Instrument: Thermometer

Gravity’s effect on a mass.

English Units: Pounds

Metric Unit: Newtons

Instrument: Scale

Amount of mass in a certain amount of volume.

Measured in g/mL

Water’s density is 1 g/mL

Density =mass

volume

Process of changing one unit into another unit by using conversion factors.

Examples: changing km to cm, mL to L, or mg to g

Kilo-Kilo- HectoHecto--

Deka-Deka- Deci-Deci- Centi-Centi- Milli-Milli-

kk hh dada dd cc mm

10001000 100100 1010 11 0.10.1 0.010.01 0.0010.001

Number Looks Number Looks SmallerSmaller

mm

LL

gg

Number Looks Number Looks BiggerBigger

Metric PrefixesMetric Prefixes

TerraTerra--

Giga-Giga- MegaMega--

Micro-Micro- Nano-Nano- Pico-Pico-

TT GG MM nn pp

TrilliTrillionon BillionBillion MillioMillio

nnMillionMillion

ththBillioBillionthnth

TrillionTrillionthth

Other Metric PrefixesOther Metric Prefixes