CHAPTER 1 SCIENCE IN OUR WORLD

Section 1 – Science and Scientists

SCIENCE STARTS WITH A QUESTION

Why is my reflection upside down in my spoon even though I’m holding the spoon right side up?

SCIENCE

The process of gathering knowledge about the natural world

This often starts by a question being askedWhy do I feel pain when I stub my

toe?What causes high and low tides?

INVESTIGATION

Once you ask a question, it’s time to find an answer by:

ResearchObservationExperimentation

WHY ASK WHY?

Saving Lives

Saving Resources

Saving the Environment

SCIENTISTS ARE ALL AROUND YOU

Meterologist

Geochemist

Ecologist

Volcanologist

Science Illustrator

SECTION 1-2Scientific Methods

SCIENTIFIC METHODS

The ways in which scientists answer questions and solve problems

Scientists often use the same steps

May use all of the steps or just some

MODEL OF SCIENTIFIC METHODS

ASK A QUESTION

Scientists ask a question after making observations

Observation – using senses to gather information Ex. The sky is blue, cotton feels soft

MIT Question:Only 70% of propeller energy is used to move

a boat, so how can boat propulsion systems be made more efficient?

FORM A HYPOTHESIS

Possible explanation or answer to a question A good hypothesis is testable

MIT Hypothesis:A propulsion system that mimics the way a

penguin swims will be more efficient than a propulsion system that uses propellors.

MAKE PREDICTIONS

Before a scientist tests a hypothesis, they often make predictions

What they think will happen during the test of the hypothesis

MIT Predictions:If 2 flippers are attached to the boat, then the

boat will be more efficient than a boat powered by propellers

TEST THE HYPOTHESIS

After you form a hypothesis, you must test it. Controlled experiment – compares the results

from a control group with the results from 1 or more experimental group.

The experimental groups are the same except for one factor, or Variable.

MIT TEST:They built Proteus, the penguin boat and took it

into open water to collect data. Only the flapping rate of the flippers varied between tests.

ANALYZE THE RESULTS

Data – pieces of information acquired through experimentation

Once you have your data, you must analyze them.

You must find out if your test supports your hypothesis or not.

MIT Analysis:The scientists compared Proteus’s efficiency

with the average efficiency of a propeller-driven boat. Proteus was 87% efficient.

DRAW CONCLUSIONS

At the end of an investigation, you must draw a conclusion.

Can Conclude: Support your hypothesis Does not support your hypothesis Need more information

MIT Conclusion:They did more trials and each time they found

that the penguin propulsion was more efficient, so they concluded that hypothesis was supported.

COMMUNICATE RESULTS

Communicate results accurately and honestly ensures the credibility of the scientist.

Communicate results: Report Website Journal Speech

MIT Results:They published their results in academic

papers, the internet, newspapers and science magazines.

SECTION 1-3Scientific Models

TYPES OF SCIENTIFIC MODELS

Model or Prototype – representation of an object or system

Major Types of Models: Physical – model airplanes, dolls, many drawings,

etc. Mathematical – weather map, computer models Conceptual – systems of ideas, comparing with

familiar things (big bang theory)

Models also used to represent very large or very small things (solar system and cells)

THEORY VS. SCIENTIFIC LAWS

Theory – unifying explanation for a broad range of hypotheses and observations that have been supported by testing.

Scientific Law – summary of many experimental results and observations. Laws tell you only what happens, not why it

happens.

SECTION 1-4Science and Engineering

TECHNOLOGY

Refers to the products and processes that are designed to serve our needs

Also refers to the tools and methods for creating these products and processes.

Cell phone with GPS GPS is a technology Tools used to make the phone is a technology Processes used to make the phone is a

technology

HOW DOES SCIENCE RELATE TO TECHNOLOGY

Science is knowledge of the natural world Engineering uses scientific knowledge to

develop technologies

So engineering is the process of creating technology

ENGINEERING DESIGN PROCESS

Step 1 – Ask: Identifying and Researching a Need

Step 2 – Imagine: Developing Possible Solutions

Step 3 – Plan: Making a Prototype Step 4 – Create: Testing and Evaluating Step 5 – Improve: Modifying and Retesting

Solution

TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY

Cell Phones Keep in touch Communicate

Easier

Cell Phones Require Towers Dominate Landscape

Intended BenefitsUnintended Consequences

BIOENGINEERING

Application of engineering to living things Ex. Heart bypass

Assistive Bioengineering Developed to help organisms without changing

them Hearing aid, eyeglasses

Adaptive Bioengineering Developed to help organisms by changing them

Cochlear implant, artificial heart

ADAPTIVE VS. ASSISTIVE BIOENGINEERING

SECTION 1-5Tools, Measurement, and Safety

TOOLS

Graduated Cylinder Thermometer Meterstick Balance Stopwatch Spring scale

Calculator Graph Data Computer

Measurement Analyzing

LAB EQUIPMENT

INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM OF UNITS

Metric system used by almost all countries Helps scientists share and compare their

results All units based on the number 10

CONVERTING SI UNITS

1) How many centimeters are in 10 meters?

2)How many mL are in 3.5 kL?

BASIC UNITS

Length – Meter (m) is the basic SI unit for length

Area – measure of how much surface an object has Area = length x width Units for area are km2, m2, cm2

Mass – amount of matter that something is made of Kilogram is the basic unit (kg)

Volume – amount of space something occupies Liquid – unit is liters (L) Solid – unit is cubic meters (m3)

MORE SI UNITS

Volume – amount of space something occupies Liquid – unit is liters (L) Solid – unit is cubic meters (m3)

Density – amount of matter in a given volume Density = mass/volume Unit is g/ml or g/cm3

TEMPERATURE

Measure of how hot or cold something is Fahrenheit (F) is english unit Celsius ( C ) is commonly used by scientists BUT, kelvins (K) is the SI base unit

LAB SAFETY