What is Science Science is broken into two

What is Science? Science is broken into two main branches: Social Physical Chemistry Natural Earth & Space Life Sciences Biology

SCIENTIFIC METHOD Natural Physical Chemistry Earth & Space Life Sciences Biology

Scientific Method WHAT IS IT? • A set of steps used to solve problems or understand an event that is observed.

• Observation • Form a Problem or Question • Create a Hypothesis • Design an Experiment and Test your Hypothesis • Develop Conclusion Based on your Data

STEPS 1. Make an Observation A direct method of gathering information in an orderly way.

Observation: My car will not start

2. Form a PROBLEM or ask a QUESTION.

Question: Why will my car not start?

Combining prior knowledge and information with the observations you have made can help you to start forming logical conclusions- this is called making INFERENCES • I know a car needs gas to run • I know my gas gauge is currently broken • I know it has been a while since I put gas in the car

3. Make a PREDICTION by forming a HYPOTHESIS. A hypothesis is an educated guess. It looks like this… "If _____[I do this] _____, then _____[this]_____ will happen. "

Hypothesis: If I add gas to the car will start.

4. Design and perform an EXPERIMENT.

A. Collect all of the MATERIALS. B. Write a PROCEDURE that can be duplicated. C. Analyze the RESULTS (math and writing).

Step 1: Buy gas Step 2: Add gas to the gas tank Step 3: Try to start the car

5. Form a CONCLUSION using your analysis. Based on your conclusion, ask new questions or REDESIGN experiment.

Conclusion: I added gas and the car still did not start. Next Step! Rewrite hypothesis and redesign experiment! I knew it was the battery…

CHARACTERISTICS OF WELL DESIGNED EXPERIMENT A. Controlled experiment=ONLY one dependent variable • INDEPENDENT VARIABLE: what you are in control of, what you manipulate • DEPENDENT VARIABLE: what you are measuring, what you are testing B. Repeated trials C. Numbered steps, written like a recipe