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Chapter 1 The Nature of Physical Science

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Section 1 Science and Scientists

Section 2 Scientific Methods

Section 3 Safety in Science

Concept Map


Section 1 Science and ScientistsChapter 1

Bellringer

Suppose that you are cooking a bag of popcorn in the microwave. After a couple of minutes of cooking, however, the popcorn still hasn’t popped. Why did this happen? What steps could you take to help locate the problem?

Write your answers in your Science Journal.



What You Will Learn

• Methods of scientific investigation include research, observation, and experimentation.

• The work of scientists benefits society in a number of ways.

• Scientists work in all kinds of jobs.



Starting with a Question

• Science is the knowledge obtained by observing natural events and conditions in order to discover facts and formulate laws or principles that can be verified or tested.

• Asking a question is often the first step in the process of gathering knowledge.



Investigation: The Search for Answers

• Scientific progress is made by asking meaningful questions and conducting careful investigations.

• Three methods of investigation are research, observation, and experimentation.



Applying the Answers

• The answers gained from scientific investigations can be applied in many areas of our lives.

• Science helps save lives by making automobiles safer.



Applying the Answers, continued

• Science helps save resources by inventing ways to recycle more materials.

• Science helps protect the environment by finding ways to reduce the use of harmful chemicals.



Scientists Everywhere

• Any person who asks questions and investigates how things work could be called a scientist. Scientists work in many different places.

• Some examples of jobs that use science are a meteorologist, a geochemist, an ecologist, a volcanologist, and a science illustrator.


The Nature of Physical ScienceChapter 1

Physics


Section 2 Scientific MethodsChapter 1

Bellringer

List several possible ways that a boat can be propelled forward. Then, describe a way to test which of these methods of propulsion is the most efficient.

Write your answers in your Science Journal.



What You Will Learn

• Scientific methods are based on six steps, which may be followed in different ways based on the kind of question being asked.

• Scientific investigations begin with a question and proceed by forming a hypothesis and then testing it.

• Scientists use a variety of methods to analyze and report their data.



What Are Scientific Methods?

• Scientific methods are a series of steps followed to solve problems.

• The six steps used in scientific methods are asking a question, forming a hypothesis, testing the hypothesis, analyzing the results, drawing conclusions, and communicating results.



What Are Scientific Methods?, continued

• Scientists may use all of the steps or some of the steps during an investigation. They may even repeat some of the steps or do the steps in a different order.

• How scientists choose to use the steps depends on what works best to answer their question.



Scientific Methods



Asking a Question

• Asking a question is often the first step in using scientific methods.

• Asking a question usually results from making many observations.



Asking a Question, continued

• Observation is the process of obtaining information by using the senses.

• Asking a question helps scientists focus the purpose of an investigation.



Forming a Hypothesis

• After scientists ask a question, their next step is usually to form a hypothesis.

• A hypothesis is a possible explanation or answer to a question.

• A good hypothesis is a testable idea that leads to scientific investigation.



Hypothesis



Testing the Hypothesis

• After scientists form a hypothesis, they usually test the hypothesis to find out if it is a reasonable answer to their question.

• A controlled experiment compares the results from a control group with the results from experimental groups. A controlled experiment is a good way to test a hypothesis.



Testing the Hypothesis, continued

• The factors that are kept the same between the groups are called controlled parameters.

• The one factor that changes between the groups is called a variable parameter.

• Data are any pieces of information acquired through observation or experimentation.



Analyzing the Results

• After scientists test a hypothesis by performing an experiment, they usually analyze their results.

• Analyzing results by using tables and graphs helps scientists understand relationships between the data.



Analyzing the Results, continued

• Analyzing data from repeated tests can help scientists determine if their data are accurate and reproducible.

• Data are reproducible when you get similar data from many tests.



Drawing Conclusions

• After scientists analyze their results, they usually draw conclusions about whether their hypothesis was supported.

• Valid conclusions can only be obtained with reproducible data.



Drawing Conclusions, continued

• Data are considered reproducible when scientists get similar data from many repeated tests.

• Reproducible data helps scientists make sure that the results of their experiment were not an accident.



Communicating Results

• After drawing conclusions, scientists often communicate their results.

• When scientists communicate their results, it allows others to continue the investigation.

• Results can be communicated through scientific papers, presentations, and the Internet.


Section 3 Safety in ScienceChapter 1

Bellringer

Read the Safety First! section on pages [xxvi-xxix]. Then, make a two-column table. In the first column, list the types of clothing that you should always wear in the lab. In the second column, list the types of clothing that you should never wear in the lab. Create this table in your Science Journal. Refer to this table when planning what to wear to school on days that you might be working in the lab.



What You Will Learn

• You can take responsibility for your own safety in the laboratory.

• Following directions, taking safety precautions, and following proper cleanup procedures help keep you safe.

• If an accident happens in the laboratory, first make sure that you are safe and then tell your teacher about the accident.



Keeping Yourself Safe

• Take responsibility for your own safety when working in a science lab.

• Avoid accidents by being aware of what is going on around you.

• Report all accidents, no matter how minor they may seem, to the teacher.



Elements of Safety

• Recognize and understand the safety symbols that scientists use for particular dangers involved in performing an experiment.

• Always read directions before beginning a lab activity and then follow the directions exactly.



Elements of Safety, continued

• Neatness is important when conducting scientific investigations.

• Clear the work area of unnecessary objects and clean up any spills as soon as they happen.

• Use all of the safety equipment needed to perform an experiment.



Elements of Safety, continued

• Goggles, gloves, and aprons are examples of protective safety equipment.

• Clean the work area after finishing an experiment and wash your hands thoroughly.



Responding to Accidents

• Learning to cope with accidents is one way to take responsibility for your safety.

• Make sure that you can locate and use the first-aid supplies and special safety equipment in your science lab.



Responding to Accidents, continued

• If an accident occurs, first make sure that you are safe. Then, tell your teacher about the accident.

• If an injury requires immediate attention, the teacher may perform first aid.



Responding to Accidents, continued

• First aid is emergency medical care for someone who has been hurt or who is sick.

• Do not perform first aid unless you know the proper first-aid procedures that must be followed for the type of accidental injury that has occurred.


Chapter 1 The Nature of Physical Science

Use the terms below to complete the concept map on the next slide.

hypotheses

conclusions

observations

scientists

results

scientific methods

experiments

Concept Map



Concept Map

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