1. Ch. 1 - The Nature of Science
Defining Science
Problem-Solving
Scientific Method
Experimental Design

2. A. Defining Science Life Science the study of living organisms
Earth Science
the study of Earth and space
Physical Science
the study of matter and energy
chemistry & physics

3. B. Problem-Solving 1. Identify the problem. What do you know?
What do you need to know?
2. Plan a strategy.
Look for patterns.
Break the problem into smaller steps.
Develop a model.

4. Identify - Plan - Execute - Evaluate
B. Problem-Solving
3. Execute your plan.
4. Evaluate your results.
Did you solve the problem?
Is your answer reasonable?
Identify - Plan - Execute - Evaluate

5. C. Scientific Method Hypothesis - testable prediction
Theory - explanation of “why”
based on many observations & experimental results
Scientific Law - prediction of “what”
describes a pattern in nature

6. THEY ARE NOT SET IN STONE!
C. Scientific Method
Theories and laws are well-accepted by scientists, but...
THEY ARE NOT SET IN STONE!
They are revised when new information is discovered.

7. C. Scientific Method 1. Determine the problem. 2. Make a hypothesis.
3. Test your hypothesis.
4. Analyze the results.
5. Draw conclusions.

8. C. Scientific Method 1. Determine the problem.
When the Titanic sank, what happened to the water level on shore?
2. Make a hypothesis.
The water level rose.
The water level dropped.
The water level stayed the same.

9. C. Scientific Method 3. Test your hypothesis. 4. Analyze the results.
How could we test our hypothesis?
4. Analyze the results.
What happened during our test?
5. Draw conclusions.
Was our hypothesis correct?
Is further testing necessary?

10. D. Experimental Design
Experiment - organized procedure for testing a hypothesis
Key Components:
Control - standard for comparison
Single variable - keep other factors constant
Repeated trials - for reliability

11. D. Experimental Design Types of Variables Independent Variable
adjusted by the experimenter
what you vary
Dependent Variable
changes in response to the indep. variable
what you measure

12. D. Experimental Design Hypothesis:
Storing popcorn in the freezer makes it pop better.
Control:
Popcorn stored at room temp.

13. D. Experimental Design Single variable: Storage temperature Constants:
Popcorn brand
Freshness
Storage time
Popper

14. D. Experimental Design Independent Variable: Storage temperature
Number of unpopped kernels

15. Measurement I. Units of Measurement Number vs. Quantity
SI Base Units & Prefixes
SI Prefix Conversions

16. A. Number vs. Quantity
Quantity - number + unit
UNITS MATTER!!

17. B. SI Units Quantity Base Unit Symbol Length meter m Mass kilogram kg
Time
second s
Temp
kelvin K
Current
ampere A

18. B. SI Units Prefix Symbol Factor mega- M 106 kilo- k 103 deci- d 10-1
centi- c
10-2
milli- m
10-3
micro- 
10-6
nano- n
10-9
pico- p
10-12

19. C. SI Prefix Conversions
1. Find the difference between the exponents of the two prefixes.
2. Move the decimal that many places.
To the left
or right?

20. C. SI Prefix Conversions=
532 m = _______ km
0.532
NUMBER
UNIT
NUMBER
UNIT

21. C. SI Prefix Conversions
Symbol
Factor
mega- M
106
kilo- k
103
deci- d
10-1
centi- c
10-2
move left
move right
milli- m
10-3
micro- 
10-6
nano- n
10-9
pico- p
10-12

22. C. SI Prefix Conversions
0.2
1) 20 cm = ______________ m
2) A = ______________ mA
3) 45 m = ______________ nm
4) 805 dm = ______________ km 32
45,000
0.0805