Measurement & Tools of Science
Student Learning Outcomes:
Differentiate between science and non-science,
apply the scientific method, and
develop some tools for interpreting data.
1.
What is science?
2.
How is science done?
3.
What is the measurement system used in science?
4.
Why are units and equations important in science?
5.
What do graphs show?
What is science?
Science is not simply a collection of facts, but rather an objective process of
quantifying what we observe.
The outcomes of science are law
s and theories which can be used
to predict
results.
Science uses measurement and an
objective method to characterize
observed attributes of the physical world.
Question
: What are some examples of science?
How is science done?
Science is a process of
experimentation with verifiable measurements.
Each scientist must be able
to obtain the same results.
Example
: Setting Sun
Questions
:
1) What is the goal of science?
2) The scientific method is a c
ircular process. Explain
Observation
Hypothesis/Prediction
Experiment
Theory
Law
Science & Science Tools Chapter 1
2
3) What do you think happens if sc
ientists cannot obtain the sa
me results?
4) Can the scientific method be u
sed to answer all questions?
5) What is pseudoscience?
What is the measurement sy
stem used in science?
Measurements are an objective
tool which can be understood in a
ny
language, if comparabl
e units are utilized.
Standard units used in science utilize the
metric
system
.
Changing units within the metric system is a process of moving
the decimal point. Each factor of ten difference results in a single move of the decimal.
Conversions
kilometer
1 km = 103m
1 km = 1000 m
centimeter
1 cm = 10−2m
100 cm = 1 m
millimeter
1 mm = 10−3 m
1000 mm = 1 m micron
1m = 10−6 m
nanometer
1 nm = 10−9 m
Questions
:
1) How many meters are in a millimeter?
2) How many centimeters a
re in 1 kilometer?
3) How many nanometers
are in a centimeter?
There are three measurements common to defining an object's size in three
dimensional space (x, y, z).
One measurement in one dimension is a length.
Two measurements in two different dimensions determines an area
.
Three measurements in the three possible dimensions of space
determines a volume.
Science & Science Tools Chapter 1
3
Why are units and equations important in science?
Units are the description of what was measured.
Example
: 60
Conversion factors can be used to change common units to scientific units.
Common Measurement
Metric Conversion
mile
1 mile = 1609 meters = 1.609 km
inch
1 inch = 2.54
centimeters
pound
0.2248 pound = 1 Newton
Questions
:
1) A car on the freeway is traveling at 65 mph.
How many km/hr is this?
How many m/s is this?
2) A room measures 10 feet by 12
feet. How many square meters
of carpet would
be needed for this room?
Equations are shorthand for physical concepts. They show how quantities
are related.
Measurements and equations describe the universe in the most objective way
possible (quantitatively).
Examples
: Size of a desk,
F = ma
Area
Volume
Length
Science & Science Tools Chapter 1-4
What do graphs show?
Graphs show how data is related
and indicate a mathematical formula, the
equation.
Common relationships in Physical Science
Question
: What is the relationship of the graph for the information in
the following table? How would you interpret the graph?
Speed (mph) Time (sec)
15 1
28 2
47 3
62 4
78 5
Linear
Linear: Y=X
Quadratic
Quadratic: Y = X2
Inverse Square
Inverse Square: Y = 1/X2
Student Learning Outcomes:
Differentiate between science and non-science,
apply the scientific method, and
develop some tools for interpreting data.
1.
What is science?
2.
How is science done?
3.
What is the measurement system used in science?
4.
Why are units and equations important in science?
5.
What do graphs show?
What is science?
Science is not simply a collection of facts, but rather an objective process of
quantifying what we observe.
The outcomes of science are law
s and theories which can be used
to predict
results.
Science uses measurement and an
objective method to characterize
observed attributes of the physical world.
Question
: What are some examples of science?
How is science done?
Science is a process of
experimentation with verifiable measurements.
Each scientist must be able
to obtain the same results.
Example
: Setting Sun
Questions
:
1) What is the goal of science?
2) The scientific method is a c
ircular process. Explain
Observation
Hypothesis/Prediction
Experiment
Theory
Law
Science & Science Tools Chapter 1
2
3) What do you think happens if sc
ientists cannot obtain the sa
me results?
4) Can the scientific method be u
sed to answer all questions?
5) What is pseudoscience?
What is the measurement sy
stem used in science?
Measurements are an objective
tool which can be understood in a
ny
language, if comparabl
e units are utilized.
Standard units used in science utilize the
metric
system
.
Changing units within the metric system is a process of moving
the decimal point. Each factor of ten difference results in a single move of the decimal.
Conversions
kilometer
1 km = 103m
1 km = 1000 m
centimeter
1 cm = 10−2m
100 cm = 1 m
millimeter
1 mm = 10−3 m
1000 mm = 1 m micron
1m = 10−6 m
nanometer
1 nm = 10−9 m
Questions
:
1) How many meters are in a millimeter?
2) How many centimeters a
re in 1 kilometer?
3) How many nanometers
are in a centimeter?
There are three measurements common to defining an object's size in three
dimensional space (x, y, z).
One measurement in one dimension is a length.
Two measurements in two different dimensions determines an area
.
Three measurements in the three possible dimensions of space
determines a volume.
Science & Science Tools Chapter 1
3
Why are units and equations important in science?
Units are the description of what was measured.
Example
: 60
Conversion factors can be used to change common units to scientific units.
Common Measurement
Metric Conversion
mile
1 mile = 1609 meters = 1.609 km
inch
1 inch = 2.54
centimeters
pound
0.2248 pound = 1 Newton
Questions
:
1) A car on the freeway is traveling at 65 mph.
How many km/hr is this?
How many m/s is this?
2) A room measures 10 feet by 12
feet. How many square meters
of carpet would
be needed for this room?
Equations are shorthand for physical concepts. They show how quantities
are related.
Measurements and equations describe the universe in the most objective way
possible (quantitatively).
Examples
: Size of a desk,
F = ma
Area
Volume
Length
Science & Science Tools Chapter 1-4
What do graphs show?
Graphs show how data is related
and indicate a mathematical formula, the
equation.
Common relationships in Physical Science
Question
: What is the relationship of the graph for the information in
the following table? How would you interpret the graph?
Speed (mph) Time (sec)
15 1
28 2
47 3
62 4
78 5
Linear
Linear: Y=X
Quadratic
Quadratic: Y = X2
Inverse Square
Inverse Square: Y = 1/X2