Physical Science

• Science is a method of exploring nature and discovering the order within it.

• Physical science analyzes the nature and properties of energy and nonliving matter.

Measurement

• Understanding measurement will help us collect data during labs and make accurate conclusions.

• The metric system is used in science class.

• Units must be appropriate for what is being measured.

International System of Units

• The SI units provide conformity for those who use them.

• Some of the more familiar include– Meters to measure

length– Grams to measure mass– Liters to measure

volume

Converting Metric to Metric

• To the standard unit you can attach a prefix:– kilo

– hecto

– deca

– deci

– centi

– milli

Practice

• Mass Practice

– http://www.mathsisfun.com/measure/metric-mass.html

• Volume Practice– Displacement: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DGf5R6WDeo

– Formula: http://science-notebook.com/measure02-vol.html

• Length Practice– http://www.wisc-online.com/Objects/ViewObject.aspx?ID=abm4202

Significant Figures

• Sig figs are the number of digits we know with confidence plus one that is an estimation.

• Rules for sig figs:– Zeros within a number are significant (4001)– Zeros that set the decimal are not significant

(4000)– Trailing zeros are significant (4.00)

Practice of Sig Figs

Scientific Notation

• A way of writing numbers that are too large or too small to be written otherwise.

1.4 Scientific Method

• A way to gain, organize and apply new knowledge.– Observe

– Question

– Hypothesize

– Predict

– Test Prediction

– Draw a Conclusion

Parts of an Experiment

• Scientific experiments should be controlled.

• These experiments should also include:– Independent variable

– Dependent variable

– Control group

– Constants

– Multiple Trials

Theories and Laws

• A law is a hypothesis that has been tested over and over again and has not been disproved.

• Example: The Laws of Motion

• A theory is a collection of facts and well tested hypotheses.

• Example: the Big Bang Theory to account for how galaxies are moving farther away from each other.