Science Rosalind Franklin Albert Einstein Charles DarwinMad Scientist

Science

Rosalind Franklin

Albert Einstein Charles DarwinMad Scientist

What does science mean to you

???

Science is a way of knowing about the natural world

using a process

designed to reduce the chance of being misled

Science is NOT just the accumulation of facts

Science does NOT “prove” something to be true…

It is a process used to find the most probable answer

Science is limited to the physical world

• Must be observable – measure, count, or manipulate

• Not intended to answer “right or wrong” questions – that is for philosophy, ethics, and

religion

• Does not deal with supernatural

An example of the 8 Stepsin the Process of Science

Everyone uses science; scientists just use it consciously and follow some basic rules.

You come home one night,

flip on the light switch,

and nothing happens.

1. OBSERVATION

The light doesn’t turn on

2. QUESTION

Why didn’t the light turn on?

3. LITERATURE REVIEW

Find out what lights require to function and what can

cause them not to function.

4. MULTIPLE HYPOTHESES

What are all the possible answers (hypotheses) to

the question?

H1: A fuse was blown

H2: The lamp is unplugged

H3: The light bulb is burned out

You need to think of many hypotheses to avoid jumping to a conclusion

5. DEDUCTIONSFor each hypothesis, determine what

evidence (data) would be required to refute or support the hypothesis?

1) If the power is out to the house, then

Examples:

no appliances will work



2) If the lamp is unplugged, then

Examples:

the light will work when the lamp is

plugged in



3) If the light bulb is burned out, then

Examples:

it will rattle when shaken

6. TESTS/ EXPERIMENTS

Conduct tests to collect actual data

Examples:

1)Turn on the other appliances

2)Make sure lamp is plugged in

3) Shake the light bulb & listen for rattle

7. TENTATIVE CONCLUSIONS

Which hypotheses were supported by the actual data?

H1 refuted -Other appliances worked

H2 refuted -Lamp was plugged in

H3 supported-Bulb rattled when shaken

Tentative Conclusion: Light bulb was burned out

Test H3 again by trying a functioning

light bulb in the lamp!

8. PEER REVIEWSubmit your report to a scientific

journal that is peer-reviewed, meaning that your methods, data, tentative conclusions will be scrutinized by

scientists whose reputation is at stake if they allow your report to be

published.

Science: The Process

1. Observation. Ex. The light doesn’t turn on



2. Question. Ex. Why didn’t the light turn on?




3. Literature Review. Ex. Read about light failures

1. To come up with some possible ideas that can be tested to find out why the light didn’t turn on.

Science: The Process1. Observation. Ex. The light doesn’t turn on



4. Multiple Hypotheses. Ex. Light bulb burned out, light not plugged in, power cord broken, switch broken, power failure….

1. HYPOTHESIS: a statement that might be true; will be tested by the scientific method.




4. Multiple Hypotheses. Ex. Light bulb burned out, etc.

5. Deductions. Ex. Will rattle if shaken, etc.

1. An possible observation that would support an hypothesis, an expected result






6. Tests. Ex. Shake bulb and record sound; etc.

1. Often involves measurements, observation, recording data

2. Compare expected results to actual results by collecting data during tests







7. Tentative Conclusions. Present hypotheses not falsified by testing.







7. Tentative Conclusions.

8. Peer Review. Submit to peer-reviewed journal. This creates scientific information.

The Scientific Method

1. Observation

6. Tests5. Deductions

4. Multiple Hypotheses

3. Literature Review

2. Question

7. Tentative Conclusions

8. Peer Review

Some Definitions

Hypothesis = a possible explanation for an observed phenomenon

= a possible answer to a question– Must be able to generate testable deductions

Theory = conceptual framework that explains a variety of observations, is supported by

experimental evidence and is capable of predicting new phenomena

= as sure as science ever gets

–Not “just a guess,” as used in everyday language

The nature of scientific proof

• Hypotheses cannot be PROVEN• There are no absolute proofs• Hypotheses are accepted, not

proven, when an hypothesis withstands rigorous testing, especially over time

Hypothesis or theory?• In common everyday language,

people use the word “theory” when they technically mean “hypothesis”– “My pet theory about why my

brother keeps getting speeding tickets is….”

Examples of theories?

– Theory of relativity– Theory of evolution by natural

selection– Theory of plate tectonics

Science: The Rules

1. Maximize Sample Size. In general, larger sample sizes give more accurate results

2. Representative Sample. Use random or systematic sampling.

3. Controlled Study. Use whenever you ask a question concerning what caused something to happen.

Experiments

• A way to test an hypothesis• Variables: factors that affect

observations or experiments• Controlled experiment: one in

which the variables are taken into account

Controlled StudiesControlled studies are based on comparing a control group to an experimental group. Both groups are treated identically except for the one variable (or factor) being tested for in the study. This factor is changed for the experimental group. If an effect is seen in the experimental group but not the control group, that indicates that the factor changed is likely the cause of the effect.

MEALWORM MYSTERY

• A student conducted 4 experiments to determine how mealworms respond to light and moisture.

• All variables except light and moisture were held constant from experiment to experiment.

• For each experiment, 12 mealworms were placed in the center of a box and then their positions were recorded 24 hours later.

EXPERIMENT 1

QUESTION: Are mealworms attracted to light?

mealworm

QUESTION 2: Are mealworms affected by moisture?

Answer? You can’t tell; it could be either or both

EXPERIMENT 2

QUESTION: Are mealworms affected by light?


Answers?

They are affected by light; we don’t know about moisture

EXPERIMENT 3



Answers?

With just this experiment, it seems they didn’t move

EXPERIMENT 3



Using the information from the other 2 experiments…

Answers?

Yes and Yes (despite attraction to light, they avoided wet

THE EXPERIMENTS1 2

3

QUESTION: Which variables affect mealworm movement based on the above experiments (note that movement may be either toward or away from something)? A. Light but not moisture. B. Moisture but not light. C. Both light and moisture. D. Neither light nor moisture. E. Can’t tell.

mealworm

Without the controlled experiment we would know nothing!

So, what is environmental science, after all this?

• the systematic study of our environment and our place in it

• integrates biology, chemistry, geography, agriculture, and more

For the quiz• Be able to list and apply the 8

steps in the process of science• Be able to list and apply the 3

rules of science• Be able to define terms discussed

Documents

Science Rosalind Franklin Albert Einstein Charles DarwinMad Scientist