1. Chapter 1 The Nature of Science
Physical Science
Chapter 1
The Nature of Science

2. The Methods of Science What is Science? Major Categories of Science
Science is a process that uses observation and investigation to gain knowledge about events in nature.
Major Categories of Science
Life Science
Earth Science
Physical Science

3. Investigations How do scientists learn more about the natural world?
By performing investigations.
Observation
Experiments
Building a model or simulation

4. Scientific Method Organized set of investigation procedures. 6 steps
Stating the problem
Researching and Gathering Information
Forming a Hypothesis
Testing a Hypothesis
Analyze the Data
Draw a Conclusion

5. Forming a Hypothesis Hypothesis
An educated guess based on what you know and what you observe.

6. Testing the Hypothesis
Hypothesis can be tested by observation or an experiment.
Experiment tests the effect of one thing on another under controlled conditions.

7. Experiment
Variable—is a factor that can cause a change in the results of an experiment.
Experiment usually contains at least 2 variables.
Dependent variable—a factor that changes according to changes in the other variables.
Independent variable—factor that as it changes effects the measure of another variable.
Experiment usually contains at least 2 variables.

8. Experiment cont’
Constant—a variable that does not change when other variables change.
Control—standard used for comparison of test results in an experiment.

9. Draw Conclusion
Based on the analysis of your data, you decide whether your hypothesis is supported or unsupported.
If hypothesis is unsupported by you data, you must reconsider your hypothesis and possibly revise it also.

10. Being Objective
Objective—existing independently of perception or an individual’s emotion/personal bias.
Bias—occurs when a scientist’s expectations change how the results of an experiment are viewed.

11. Scientific Theories and Law
Scientific Theory—is an explanation of things or events based on knowledge gained from many observations and investigations.
Scientific Law—is a statement about how things work in nature and that seems to be true all the time.
Example: Gravity.

12. Technology Technology—is the application of science to help people.
What is an example of technology used in science?

13. Standards of Measurement
Standard—exact quantity used for comparison.
International System of Units (SI) standards—universally accepted and understood by scientists throughout the world.

14. International System of Units
Each type of SI measurement has a base unit…
Quantity Measured
Unit
Symbol
Length
meter m
Mass
kilogram kg
Time
second s
Electric Current
ampere A
Temperature
kelvin K
Amount of Substance
mole
mol
Intensity of Light
candela cd

15. Base Units Length—straight-line distance between two points.
meter (m)
Mass—the quantity of matter in an object or sample.
kilogram (kg)

16. Derived Units Derived Units—made from combinations of base units.
Volume—amount of space taken up by an object.
Cubic meter
Density—is the ratio of an object’s mass to its volume
Density= mass
volume

17. SI Prefixes Common SI Prefixes Prefix Symbol Multiplying Factor Kilo-
1,000
Deci- d
0.1
Centi- c
0.01
Milli- m
0.001
Micro-
Nano- n

18. Converting Between SI Units

19. Limits of Measurement Precision—a gauge of how exact a measurement is
Significant figures—are all the digits that are known in a measurement , plus the last digit that is estimated.
Accuracy—closeness of a measurement to the actual value of what is being measured.

20. Measuring Temperature
What do instrument do you use to measure temperature?
Thermometer
3 different scales for temperature
Fahrenheit
Celsius
Kelvin

21. Converting Temperature Formulas

22. ºF= ______ ºC
2. 20ºC = ______ ºF
ºF = _______ K

23. Assignment
Pg 28 & 29
Write Vocab
1.2
1.3
Reviewing Content
#’s 1-4