Science Skills

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Chapter 1

• Science Skills
• 1.1 What is Science
• 1.2 Using a Scientific Approach
• 1.3 Measurement
• 1.4 Presenting Scientific Data

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1.1 What is Science?

• Science is a system of knowledge and the methods
  you use to find that knowledge.
• Science begins with curiosity and often ends with
  discovery.
• Technology is the use of knowledge to solve
  practical problems.
• How is a telephone an example of both science and
  technology?

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Branches of Science
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The Big Ideas of Physical Science

• Space and Time The four dimensions (Length,
  width, height and time).
• Matter and Change Matter has mass and volume
  and can change forms.
• Forces and Motion Forces cause changes in
  motion.
• Energy Energy can be transferred from one form
  to another.

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Step by Step

• Scientific Method is an organized plan for
  gathering, organizing, and communicating
  information.

• Make Observation
• Ask Question
• Develop Hypothesis
• Experiment
• Analyze Data and Draw Conclusions
• Hypothesis is supported or not supported
• Develop Theory

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Variables

• Manipulated variable (independent) is the
  variable you control and causes a change in
  another.
• Responding variable (dependent) is the variable
  that changes in response to the manipulated
  variable.
• Controlled experiment is an experiment which only
  one variable, the manipulated variable, is
  changed at a time.

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Theory

• A Scientific Theory is a well tested explanation
  for a set of observations or experimented
  results.
• Theory of Relativity
• Theories are never proven.

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Obey the Law

• A Scientific Law is a statement that summarizes a
  pattern found in nature.
• Newtons Law of Gravity
• Has been verified over and over again.

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Models

• A Model is a representation of an object or
  event.
• It can be of a large object such as a car or
  solar system.
• It can be of a small object such as a cell or
  atom.

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Measurement

• Scientific Notation is a way of expressing a
  value as a product of a number between 1 and 10
  and a power of 10.
• Used for very large or very small numbers.
• 3x108 300,000,000
• 3x10-8 .00000003
• 3 coefficent
• 8 or -8 exponent

Try Scientific Notation
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Adding and Subtracting

• When adding and subtracting scientific notation,
  you MUST have the same exponent.
• 1.00 x 103 1.00 x 102
• Express all numbers with the highest power of
  ten.
• 1.00 x 103 .100 x 103 1.10 x 103

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Multiplication and Division

• Rules for Multiplication in Scientific Notation
• 1) Multiply the coefficients
• 2) Add the exponents (base 10 remains)
• Example (3 x 104)(2x 105) 6 x 109

• Rules for Division in Scientific Notation
• 1) Divide the coefficients
• 2) Subtract the exponents (base 10 remains)
• Example (6 x 106) / (2 x 103) 3 x 103

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SI Units
Prefix Symbol Multiply By

• Length meter (m)
• Mass kilogram (kg)
• Volume liter (L)
• Weight Newton (N)
• Temperature Kelvin (K)
• Time seconds (s)
• Energy Joule (J)

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Limits of Measurement

• Precision is 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 is the closeness of a measurement to the
  actual value of what is being measured.
• Thermometer is an instrument used to measure
  temperature.

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Line Graph

• A line graph is useful for showing changes that
  occur in related variables.
• The manipulated variable is plotted on the x-axis
  and the responding variable is plotted on the
  y-axis.

R E S P O N D I N G
Manipulated Variable
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Proportions

• A Direct Proportion is a relationship in which
  the ratio of two variables is constant.
• On a line graph the plot is represented by a line
  with a constant slope.
• Sloperise/run

• An Inverse Proportion is a relationship in which
  the product of two variables is a constant.
• An a line graph the plot is represented by a
  curved line.

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Bar Graph

• A bar graph is used to compare a set of
  measurements, amounts, or changes.

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Circle or Pie Graph

• A circle graph is a divided circle that shows how
  a part or share of something relates to the
  whole.
• Percentage of the whole.

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Peer Review

• A Peer Review is a process in which scientists
  examine other scientists work.
• Peer review encourages comments, suggestions,
  questions, and criticism from other scientists.