1. Exploring Nature and Discovering the Order Within It
About Science
Exploring Nature and
Discovering the Order Within It

2. Brief History
Rational Thinking – trying to find out what event causes what result (cause-and-effect)
Basis of science
Replaced superstition and magic

3. Brief History Greeks Chinese and Polynesians Middle East Botany
Earth was round
Density
Water sanitation
Chinese and Polynesians
Charted stars and planets
Middle East
Developed Mathematics
How to make glass, paper, metals,
& certain chemicals

4. Modern Science Began in 16th century with Galileo
Revived Copernican view of
Sun-centered universe
Copernicus idea that sun was center, not earth was not accepted by the church and Copernicus was beheaded or imprisoned

5. Math and Science Math studies the relationship among numbers
Essential tool in science

6. Math and Science Can be used to show relationships: Direct Proportion:
As one increases, the other increases
Ex: The more you study, the better you will do in this course
The longer you run, the farther you go
Indirect Proportion:
As one increases, the other decreases
Ex: The more time you spend watching TV, the less time you have to study

7. Scientific Method Observations Problem Hypothesis Predict
Objective (using facts), not subjective (using opinions)
Quantitative (counting or measuring) and qualitative (describing)
Problem
The problem is the question we want to answer
Must be specific and testable
Hypothesis
A hypothesis is an educated prediction based on observations.
MUST BE TESTABLE.
Capable of proven wrong = principle of falsifiability
Predict
Predict consequences if hypothesis is true and false
Quantitative or Qualitative?
This flower is 6 feet tall.
This flower is yellow.

8. Scientific Method Experiment An experiment tests the hypothesis
Controlled variables—factors that are kept constant
Ex. sunlight, soil
Manipulated variable—factor that changes (only have one of these at a time)
Ex. Amount of water given
Dependent variable—factor that changes (the thing you’re measuring).
Ex. plant height

9. Scientific Method Data analysis Conclusion
Data analysis is making judgments or evaluations about the results of an experiment
Use graphs, tables, and statistics
Conclusion
A conclusion explains the results of the experiment
Tell whether or not the hypothesis was supported
Explain sources of error

10. Scientific Method Retest (OR revise hypothesis) Theory Law
Experiment is redone many times
Theory
A theory is a conclusion that is accepted by many scientists that EXPLAINS something.
Evolves over time with more evidence
Law
A law describes behavior of natural events

11. PROBLEM OBSERVATIONS HYPOTHESIS EXPERIMENT ANALYZE DATA
DRAW CONCLUSIONS
RETEST
DISCARD
THEORY
Bubble lab after this slide 11

12. Bubble Lab!

13. An Investigation of Sea Butterflies
Sea Butterfly
Shell-less snail
Brightly colored
Winglike extensions used for swimming
Hyperiella dilatata
Amphipod
Type of Crustacean
Looks like a small shrimp

14. An Investigation of Sea Butterflies
Observe:
Many amphipods were carrying sea butterflies
If an amphipod lost a sea butterfly, it would abduct another
An amphipod with a sea butterfly would swim much slower than one without; easier for predators to catch
Amphipod
Sea Butterfly

15. An Investigation of Sea Butterflies
Question:
Why did amphipods abduct Sea Butterflies?
Amphipod
Sea Butterfly

16. An Investigation of Sea Butterflies
Hypothesize:
Sea Butterflies produce a chemical to deter predators, which protects amphipods.
Amphipod
Sea Butterfly

17. An Investigation of Sea Butterflies
Predict:
This chemical could be isolated
Amphipod predators are deterred by the chemical
Amphipod
Sea Butterfly

18. An Investigation of Sea Butterflies
Experiment:
Fish (amphipod predator) were presented with:
Solitary Sea Butterflies
Solitary amphipods
Amphipod holding Sea Butterfly
Amphipod
Sea Butterfly

19. An Investigation of Sea Butterflies
Results:
Solitary Sea Butterfly
Not Eaten
Solitary amphipod
Eaten
Amphipod with Sea Butterfly
WAIT!
Could a chemical be the ONLY reason that the fish didn’t eat the Sea Butterfly…

20. An Investigation of Sea Butterflies
The fish could have not eaten the Sea Butterfly because:
Chemical Production
Feel of the Sea Butterfly in the fish mouth
The scientists did not control for these variables
Must do another experiment…

21. An Investigation of Sea Butterflies
Experiment:
Fish were fed physically identical food pellets that:
Did not have the Sea Butterfly chemical
Had the Sea Butterfly chemical
This was a controlled experiment:
Ideally designed so that only one variable changes

22. An Investigation of Sea Butterflies
Results:
Fish ate the pellets without Sea Butterfly chemical (control)
Fish did not eat pellets with Sea Butterfly chemical (experimental)

23. An Investigation of Sea Butterflies
Conclusion:
Amphipods abduct Sea Butterflies in order to use the chemical that Sea Butterflies produce to protect themselves from predators
Amphipod
Sea Butterfly
Molecule found to deter predator fish

24. Technology The Practical Use of Science
Science and Technology are different
Science: Gathering knowledge and organizing it
Technology: Uses knowledge gathered by science for practical purposes
Both Good
And Bad

25. Types of Sciences Physical Sciences: Life Sciences: Physics:
Motion, Force, Heat, Energy
Chemistry:
Atoms, Molecules
Earth Science:
Geology, Weather, Oceanography
Astronomy:
Planets, Stars, Galaxies
Life Sciences:
Biology
Molecular Biology, Microbiology,
Ecology

26. Integrated Science
The physical and life sciences are not isolated from each other – they overlap
Ex: Photosynthesis
Not just biology…
Physics: Energy
Chemistry: Bonds breaking and forming
Earth Science: Gases in the Atmosphere
Astronomy: Sun
To truly understand most topics, you need to study it using more than one type of science

27. Everything is Connected!