Unit 1 Lesson 2 Scientific Knowledge Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company 1

Unit 1 Lesson 2 Scientific Knowledge Florida Benchmarks SC.6.N.2.2 Explain that scientific knowledge is durable because it is open to change as new evidence or interpretations are encountered. SC.6.N.3.1 Recognize and explain that a scientific theory is a well-supported and widely accepted explanation of nature and is not simply a claim posed by an individual. Thus, the use of the term theory in science is very different than how it is used in everyday life. Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company 2

Unit 1 Lesson 2 Scientific Knowledge Florida Benchmarks SC.6.N.3.2 Recognize and explain that a scientific law is a description of a specific relationship under given conditions in the natural world. Thus, scientific laws are different from societal laws. SC.6.N.3.3 Give several examples of scientific laws. LA.6.4.2.2 The student will record information (e.g., observations, notes, lists, charts, legends) related to a topic, including visual aids to organize and record information and include a list of sources used. Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company 3

Explain That! What are some types of scientific explanations? Unit 1 Lesson 2 Scientific Knowledge Explain That! What are some types of scientific explanations? Examples of scientific explanations are theories, models, and laws. A scientific theory is a well-supported explanation about the natural world. Plate tectonics is an example of a scientific theory. Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company 4

What are some types of scientific explanations? Unit 1 Lesson 2 Scientific Knowledge What are some types of scientific explanations? A scientific model is a representation of something in the natural world. Models can be computer programs, mathematical equations, physical representations, and maps. Models can give scientists a better sense of the past or of objects that would be difficult to study. Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company 5

What are some types of scientific explanations? Unit 1 Lesson 2 Scientific Knowledge What are some types of scientific explanations? How does a model of Earth help scientists to visualize past events, such as the breakup of Pangaea? Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company 6

What are some types of scientific explanations? Unit 1 Lesson 2 Scientific Knowledge What are some types of scientific explanations? A scientific law is a basic principle of nature that always occurs under certain conditions. Laws tell scientists what to expect. They are eternal and unavoidable. Laws can be stated in many ways, including as equations or descriptions. Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company 7

Unit 1 Lesson 2 Scientific Knowledge Bending the Law The law of gravity states that the attraction between two masses gets greater the larger the masses are and the closer they are. Albert Einstein proposed that large objects can bend space. Gravity is the result of smaller objects “falling” down this warped space. Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company 8

Consider the Source What makes good scientific knowledge? Unit 1 Lesson 2 Scientific Knowledge Consider the Source What makes good scientific knowledge? The best scientific theories and models are those that can adapt to explain new observations. Scientific knowledge often is incomplete. As new evidence is presented, theories change. The goal of science is to explain as much as possible and be open to change. Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company 9

What makes good scientific knowledge? Unit 1 Lesson 2 Scientific Knowledge What makes good scientific knowledge? How did new scientific knowledge change the theory of light? Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company 10

What makes a good source? Unit 1 Lesson 2 Scientific Knowledge What makes a good source? Government, university, and nationally recognized research institutions usually are reliable sources. Publications that are more than a few years old are unreliable sources of information. Information made by those trying to sell a product often is unreliable. Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company 11