9-12-14 Warm-up Make some inferences about this picture: What is happening/will happen? How is this person feeling? What observations did you base your inferences on?

The Nature of Science Objectives: Define what science is Understand different types of observations Compare and Contrast between a Law, Theory, and Prediction (Hypothesis)

What is Science? A method of asking questions to gain knowledge about the natural world.

Ever changing as we get more evidence Science is Tentative Ever changing as we get more evidence

Types of Scientific Information What is an Observation? factual data that you or someone else can see, feel, hear, smell, taste or measure. Data is concrete and absolute!!! FACT

Two Categories of Observations Indirect Observations: Someone tells you about it Direct Observations: Sensory / First hand. You see it for yourself

Two types of Data / Observations Quantitative: Deals with numbers. Is measurable and specific.

Two types of Data / Observations Qualitative: Deals with words. Properties, descriptions, interpretations

Law Law: is a tested observation that is replicated without exception. A statement describing a natural event of phenomenon. A Law tells you what will happen.

Theory Theory: is the tested outcome of a prediction. It tells you “Why” something happened.

Prediction (Hypothesis) Prediction: a proposed solution to a scientific problem based on gathered information

Occam’s Razor In science, the simplest solution is probably correct The fewer the number of steps, the better. The fewer the gaps, the better. Items without supernatural influences or bias are best.