Scientific Problem Solving

What will we be learning? What are some steps used during scientific inquiry (steps of the scientific method)? What are the results of scientific inquiry? What is critical thinking? Why are evaluation and testing important in the design process? How is scientific inquiry used in a real-life scientific investigation? Why did scientists create the International System of Units (SI)? Why is scientific notation a useful tool for scientists? How can tools, such as graduated cylinders and balances, assist physical scientists?

What is Science? Science - is the investigation and exploration of natural events and of the new information that results from those investigations Can you give some examples of sciences?

Science Life Earth and Space Physical Biology Astronomy Physics Chemistry Anatomy Meteorology

What is Physical Science? Physical science is the study of matter and energy. Matter is made up of atoms and has both a mass and volume. Energy is the ability to do work. The branches of physical science Chemistry- the study of matter Physics – the study of energy

Measurement and Scientific Tools Measurement and uncertainty All measuring tools have some degree of uncertainty

Measurement and Scientific Tools The International System of units is the internationally accepted system of measurement Length Meters Volume Liters Mass Kilogram Temperature Kelvin or Celsius Density g/cm3 Time seconds

Metric Measurements Prefixes The metric system is a set of units based on the powers of ten Prefixes are used to change the value Prefix Symbol Factor of Base Unit kilo- K 1,000 hecto- H 100 deka- D 10 BASE m, L, g, s Meter, liter, gram, second deci- d 0.1 centi- c 0.01 milli- m 0.001

Metric Conversions Determine your starting point Count the number of jumps to the ending point Move the decimal the same number of jumps in the same direction.

Metric Conversions K H D __ d c m 1378 millimeters = ________ dekameters 45 centimeters = ________ decimeters 4 liters = ________ hectoliters 5 kilograms = ________ grams 0.32 cm = __________ m 4 mL = _________ L 0.03 hg = ___________dg 6035 mm = __________ cm

Metric Conversions Practice 2000 mg = _____ g 120 DL = _____ HL 75 mL = _____ L 480 cm = _____ m 104 km = _____ m 0.12 kg = _____ Hg 14.6 mm = _____ cm 0.0023 Dg = _____ mg

Scientific Notation 12345 = 1.2345 x 104 0.00456 = 4.56 x 10-3 Scientific Notation - is a method of writing or displaying very small or very large values in a short form Example: 12345 = 1.2345 x 104 0.00456 = 4.56 x 10-3 Exponent – the # of times the decimal was moved (+) to the left (-) to the right Base Coefficient – must be between 1 and 9

Scientific Notation 56934 = 1280 = 0.0345 = 0.0000037 =

Scientific Notation Reverse it! (+) right (-) left 2.347 x 10-3 =

Scientific Notation- Practice 56934 = 1280 = 0.0345 = 0.0000037 = 2.347 x 10-3 = 8.98736 x 104 = 3.48763 x 10-4 = 5.7654 x 105 =

Partner Share Explain in words how your would convert a number from standard notation to scientific notation

What are the “steps” of the Scientific Method? Scientific Inquiry/Scientific methods are ways in which scientists answer questions and solve problems Ask a question/ Observation Form a hypothesis Test the hypothesis Analyze results Draw conclusions Communicate results

Steps of the Scientific Method 1) Ask a Question/ Observation Observations—the results of using one or more of your sense to gather information and taking note of what occurs Qualitative – color, odor, taste, etc. Quantitative – measurements. Instruments used: Rulers, balances, stopwatches, etc.

Steps of the Scientific Method 2. hypothesis—a possible explanation that can be tested by scientific investigations The hypothesis can be used to make predictions statements of what will happen next in a sequence of events

Steps of the Scientific Method 3. Testing the Hypothesis – Experiment A controlled experiment compares the results from a control group with the results from the experimental groups. The groups are exactly the same except for one factor. That factor is the variable. Independent variable is the variable you change. Ex. Time Dependent variable changes in response to the independent variable. Ex. Distance

Steps of the Scientific Method 4. Analyze Data/Results Data is the information gathered through your experiment. All information needs to be recorded in a notebook, in a data table or other recording devices. Organizing material makes analyzing the data easier.

Steps of the Scientific Method Draw conclusions- what do the results tell you? Do they make sense? Might make inferences, or logical explanations of observations drawn from prior knowledge or experience Outcomes of experiment Data does support hypothesis Data does not support hypothesis Not enough information to tell

Steps of the Scientific Method Communicate / share results--science fair, conference, write science journal articles, exchange information on the internet

Partner Share Is there a correlation between the number of hours spent studying and the score a student gets on a weekly quiz? Independent variable? Dependent variable? Control group? Experimental group?

Scientific Inquiry Results of Scientific Inquiry Scientific theories are well-tested explanations of observations or events that are based on knowledge gained from many observations and investigations Tells you why something will occur Ex: Kinetic molecular theory Scientific laws are rules that describe repeatable patterns in nature Tells you something will occur Ex: Law of conservation of energy