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What is Science??
• “knowledge or a system of knowledge covering general truths or the operation of general laws especially as obtained and tested through scientific method “
-Merriam Webster Dictionary
• Latin – scire = to know; • sciens = having knowledge
What is NOT science?
• Science is based on facts and empirical evidence
• Scientific knowledge is based on conclusions from using scientific method
• THEREFORE, anything that can not be tested using the scientific method is NOT science– Opinion– Abstract thoughts/ideas– Religion– Non-repetitive events/historical events
What are the Sciences?
• Biology
• Zoology
• Botany
• Ecology
• Astronomy
• Geology
• Archaeology
• Paleontology
• Meteorology
• Chemistry
• Physics
• Physiology
• Paleobotany
• Geophysics
….and so many more!!!!!
Biology• The study of living things• “bio” – Greek (bios) for “life”• “logy” – Greek (logos) for “study”• Not just animals• Other branches within biology
– Ecology – interaction of living things with the environment and each other– Botany – study of plants– Zoology – study of animals– Entomology – study of insects– Herpetology – study of reptiles– Ornithology – study of birds– Pathology – study of diseases– Virology – study of viruses– List goes on and on and on and on and on!!!!!
The Reasons for Science
• Observations of the world
• Natural inquisitiveness
• Innate desire for knowledge
• Satiate curiosity
• Improve life
• Solve/prevent problems
• Make predictions
The Reasons for Biology
• Life is all around us
• We interact with living things
• Living things interact with us
• Understand the “why’s” and “how’s” of life
• Make predictions
• Prevent/solve problems
• Inspire
Some Famous Scientists
• Archimedes • Aristotle• Hippocrates• Galileo• Sir Isaac Newton• Leonardo Da Vinci• Charles Darwin• Albert Einstein
• Robert Hooke• Watson & Crick• Ben Franklin• Thomas Edison• Gregor Mendel• John Audubon • Marie Curie• Rosalind Franklin
How is science done?
• Scientific Method:– Observe– State a problem/ask question– Collect background information– Formulate hypothesis– Test the hypothesis – experiment– Draw conclusion– Repeat testing of the hypothesis– Publish
What’s a Hypothesis?
• NOT AN EDUCATED GUESS!!!
• Possible solution to the problem or question that is testable
A Controlled Experiment
• An experiment where only one variable is manipulated/changed
• Variable – factor that affects the outcome of the experiment
• Manipulated variable – factor that is changed (aka – independent variable)
• Responding variable – outcome of the experiment as a direct result of the manipulated variable (aka – dependent variable)
Control
• The control is the part of an experiment where the variable is not changed
• The control is necessary for comparison purposes
• Without a control, one would not know if the independent variable influenced the result of the experiment
Types of Observations/Data
• Quantitative – specific information that involves measurements– 250 kg– 30 cars
• Qualitative – information that describes characteristics such as color, relative size, texture . . . etc.– Heavy– Many cars
How is Data Analyzed?
• Use graphs– Bar– Line– Scatter plot– Histograms
• Use charts– Pie charts– Tables
Quantitative Data & Analysis Date Reg Super Premium
7/6/2011 $ 3.51 $ 3.61 $ 3.71
7/7/2011 $ 3.59 $ 3.69 $ 3.79
7/11/2011 $ 3.59 $ 3.69 $ 3.79
7/12/2011 $ 3.63 $ 3.73 $ 3.83
7/13/2011 $ 3.63 $ 3.73 $ 3.83
7/14/2011 $ 3.65 $ 3.75 $ 3.85
7/18/2011 $ 3.67 $ 3.77 $ 3.87
7/19/2011 $ 3.67 $ 3.77 $ 3.87
7/20/2011 $ 3.67 $ 3.79 $ 3.89
7/25/2011 $ 3.67 $ 3.79 $ 3.89
7/26/2011 $ 3.72 $ 3.82 $ 3.92
7/27/2011 $ 3.71 $ 3.80 $ 3.90
7/28/2011 $ 3.71 $ 3.81 $ 3.91
8/1/2011 $ 3.69 $ 3.79 $ 3.89
8/2/2011 $ 3.69 $ 3.79 $ 3.89
8/3/2011 $ 3.69 $ 3.79 $ 3.89
8/29/2011 $ 3.53 $ 3.63 $ 3.73
8/30/2011 $ 3.53 $ 3.63 $ 3.73
8/31/2011 $ 3.53 $ 3.63 $ 3.73
Conclusion
• After analyzing and interpreting the data, a conclusion must be made regarding the hypothesis
• Data can either support the hypothesis or refute the hypothesis
• Experiment is often repeated– Getting the same result increases confidence– Reduces the chance of a fluke or coincidence– Allows time for further thought and analysis of
procedures
Publish
• The conclusion is often published so others can learn from your experience.
• Others can proofread…look for errors and information you overlooked.
• Others can improve your experiment.
• If others try and get the same result, it makes your conclusion even stronger.
• Prevents “reinventing the wheel”
Science is Dynamic!
• Information or facts in science is changing!– New discoveries– Better technology– More information
• Information must be continuously monitored and tested…kept updated.
• Examples:– Pluto– Dinosaurs
Now That’s Just WRONG!!!• Sometimes hypotheses can not be tested
using experiments because of ethics.
• Ethics – the belief of right vs. wrong
• Examples:– Animal testing– Human experimentation– Stem cell research (embryonic vs. adult)– Cloning
• The alternative: find a different method such as computer simulations