Scientific Problem Solving Chapter 1 Nature of Science

Scientific Problem Solving Chapter 1 Nature of Science SC. N 1. 1, SC. N. 1. 2 Big Idea 1: The Practice of Science Define a problem from the 8 th grade curriculum using appropriate reference materials to support scientific understanding, plan and carry out scientific investigations of various types: systematic observations, or experiments, identify variables. Design and conduct a study using repeated trials and replication.

Description and Explanation • Description- a spoken or written summary of observations. • Explanations- an interpretation of observations • The difference between the two is when you describe something, you report your observations and when you explain something, you interpret your observations.

International System of Units • International System of Units (SI) and the internationally adopted system of measurement • Why is it important to have the International System of Units? • For Science, you will use SI • SI based on multiples of 10, and can be converted to others by multiplying by power of 10. To convert, you will either multiply or factor by 10.

Measurement and Accuracy • Precision- description on how close or similar repeated measurements are to each other • Accuracy- description on how close a measurement is to an accepted value • No measuring tool provides a perfect measurement • Scientific Notation-a method of writing or displaying very small or very large numbers in a short form • Percent error- expression of an error as a percentage of the accepted value

Scientific Tools • Science Journal- record observations, write questions and hypothesis, collect data, and analyze the results of an inquiry or experiment • Balances- measures mass of an object, usually in kg, g, or mg, two most common ones are electronic or triple beam balance • Glassware- used to measure the volume of liquids, usually measured in L or m. L • Thermometers- measure temperatures- accepted is in K but usually we will use C

• Calculators- You can use these in labs and in Science • Computers- can collect, compile, and analyze data more quickly, use it to prepare research papers