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