Transcript FCAT Review The Nature of Science 1) State a problem • like asking a question • “Which fertilizer works best to grow beans?”

FCAT Review
The Nature of Science
1) State a problem
• like asking a
question
• “Which
fertilizer
works best
to grow
beans?”
2) Research
• Use sources such
as books,
magazines, news
papers, journals,
and experts to
discover
background
information about
your problem.
3) Form a hypothesis
a) Use your research and
observations to predict
an answer to the
problem
b) Is the purpose for the
experiment, let’s other
know what you are
testing
c) should be very specific
and based on research
4) Conduct an experiment
Procedure – Describes
how an experiment
will be carried out –
step by step
This should test only
one hypothesis
Should only change one
variable
Decide what equipment
and materials are
needed
Take safety precautions
5) Analyze Data
Data – Recorded facts or
measurements from an
experiment
Describe the results in
words
List the information in a
table or graph
Analyzing graphs
6) Draw a conclusion
Conclusion – Logical answer to a
problem question based on data
Think about what the data mean
- Are there patterns?
Did the experiment test the hypothesis
correctly?
- Do you need a new experiment?
Do the data support the hypothesis?
-Was the prediction right or wrong?
- Do you need a new hypothesis?
Control – A standard for comparison
A specimen or subject kept “normal” while
the hypothesis is tested on others
– a control group has only
water – no fertilizer
– if all groups end up the
same, does the
fertilizer really do
anything?
Probably not!
Controlled Variable – Any factor that does
not change during an experiment
Same for all specimens
– where the plants are grown, soil, amount of
water, etc.
Independent – Changed by the experimenter
– which plants get which fertilizer, X axis
– the tested variable
Dependent – Changes as a result of the
independent variable, Y axis
– bean production for each plant
– the outcome variable
Importance of Models
 Benefits and limitations of models


Benefits they can how us things that are
too small or too big to be easily
seen
 They show us complex
processes
 They are safer/more stable to
use than the real thing
Limitations Not always to scale
 Not the real thing so there are
some factors not considered in
models.
Volume – Amount of space occupied by
an object
Length x Width x Height
Cubic meter – SI unit for volume (m3)
Measure water displacement in a graduated cylinder
Mass – Amount of matter in an object
Kilogram – SI unit for
mass
– Gram, milligram
– One liter (L) of pure
water has mass of 1 kg
Weight – The measure of the force of
gravity acting on an object
Newton (N) – SI unit for
force and weight
Weight changes as gravity
changes
Density – Amount of mass an object has for
its volume
Density = Mass/Volume
Mass= Density x Volume
Volume= Mass/ Density
Object
Mass
Volume
Density
A
15
3
?
B
C
D
You need to know how to
?
4
change around the standard
20
?
equation!!!!
3
4
?
5
5
E
21
3
?
F
18
?
3
Checking Validity
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT THAT SCIENTIFIC
INVESTIGATIONS ARE REPLICABLE?
- So that they other scientists can repeat the
experiment to verify the results.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
REPLICATION AND REPETITION(Repeated trial)?
- Replication is when the whole experiment is
repeated by someone else. Repetition(repeated
trial) is when you repeat one part or a couple parts
to get more accurate results.
Scientific theory vs. Scientific law
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?
SCIENTIFIC THEORY: A WELL-TESTED
EXPLANATION FOR A WIDE RANGE OF
EXPERIMENTS AND OBSERVATIONS.
(plate tectonics, evolution, cell theory, atom theory)
SCIENTIFIC LAW: A STATEMENT THAT DESCRIBES
WHAT SCIENTISTS EXPECT TO HAPPEN EVERY
TIME UNDER A PARTICULAR SET OF CONDITIONS
(gravity, superposition, conservation of mass,
conservation of energy)
Science is always changing!
New evidence can be discovered to contradict
previous theories and ideas
*EVIDENCE IS DATA AND OBSERVATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN
COLLECTED THROUGH SCIENTIFIC PROCESSES AND THAT
ALSO EXPLAIN A PARTICULAR OBSERVATION.
*ALL SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION INVOLVE THE COLLECTION
OF RELEVANT EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT RESEARCHER’S
CONCLUSIONS.
*SCIENTIFIC EXPLANATIONS ARE BASED ON EVIDENCE,
LOGICAL REASONING, PREDICTIONS, AND MODELING.
Sample Question
In scientific research, scientists should clearly publish
the procedures used in their experiments, along with
their observations and data. Whys is it important for
someone else to know the procedure?
A.Knowing the procedure allows for replication of the
experiment
B.Knowing the procedure helps others understand
the reasons for the experiment.
C.Knowing the procedure demonstrates the technical
proficiency of the scientist.
D.Knowing the procedure can explain how the data
were interpreted by the scientist.
The following statements were taken from the procedures of four different
investigations.
Investigation
1
2
3
4
Statement
Pour 50 milliliters (mL) of
water down four inclined
surfaces.
Roll a marble down the ramp
from a height of 10
centimeters (cm), 20 cm, and
30 cm.
Take the mass of five rocks
separately and then
determine the average mass
in grams (g).
Conduct four trials of
counting the bubbles
produced by a water plant for
1 minute (min) each.
The statement from which investigation is an example of
repetition(repeated trial)?
A. Investigation 1
B. Investigation 2
C. Investigation 3
D. Investigation 4
Sample Question
Until the 1500’s doctors thought diseases were caused
spontaneously. Scientists began proposing that diseases
were caused by seedlike entities that could be passed
among people. After the invention of the microscope,
doctors came to know that many diseases were actually
caused by microscopic living organisms, like bacteria.
What does this suggest about the nature of scientific
knowledge?
A. Scientific knowledge should not be considered valid
because it changes over time.
B. Technology has improved enough that scientific
knowledge can stop changing.
C. New discoveries and evidence are more important than
repeatable results.
D. Scientific knowledge changes over time based on
evidence.
Sample Question
Scientists create both scientific theories and scientific laws as
they make observations and conduct experiments about the
natural world. Which of the following statements most accurately
compares the difference between scientific theories and scientific
laws?
A. Scientific laws are based on evidence, while scientific theories
are not.
B. Scientific theories involve only biology, while laws involve all
types of science.
C. Scientific theories involve mathematical equations, while
scientific laws are based on observations.
D. Scientific theories are ideas that explain natural events, while
scientific laws more reliably predict natural events.