LESSON INTRODUCTION Key Concepts/Essential Questions What is scientific inquiry? How do scientific laws and scientific theories differ? What is the difference between a fact and an opinion?
LESSON INTRODUCTION Vocabulary Watch out for these words! science observation inference hypothesis prediction technology scientific theory scientific law critical thinking
What is science? Did you ever hear a bird sing and then look in nearby trees to find the singing bird? Have you ever noticed how the Moon changes from a thin crescent to a full moon each month? When you do these things, you are doing science. Science is the investigation and exploration of natural events and of the new information that results from those investigations.
People use science in their everyday lives and careers. For example, firefighters wear clothing that has been developed and tested to withstand extreme temperatures and not catch fire. Parents use science when they set up an aquarium for their children s pet fish. Athletes use science when they use high-performance gear or wear high performance clothing. Without thinking about it, you use science or the results of science in almost everything you do. Most likely, your clothing, food, hair products, electronic devices, athletic equipment, and almost everything else you use are all results of science.
Branches of Science There are many different parts of the natural world. Because there is so much to study, a scientist often focuses his or her work in one branch of science or on one topic within that branch of science. There are three main branches of science Earth science, Life science, and Physical science.
Earth Science The study of Earth, including rocks, soils, oceans, the atmosphere, and surface features, is Earth science. Earth scientists might ask questions such as: How do different shorelines react to tsunamis? Why do planets orbit the Sun? What is the rate of climate change?
Life Science The study of living things is life science, or biology. Biologists ask questions such as: Why do some trees lose their leaves in winter? How do birds know which direction they are going? How do mammals control their body temperature?
Physical Science The study of matter and energy is physical science. It includes both physics and chemistry. Physicists and chemists ask questions such as: What chemical reactions must take place to launch a spaceship into space? Is it possible to travel faster than the speed of light? What makes up matter?
Scientific Inquiry When scientists conduct scientific investigations, they use scientific inquiry. Scientific inquiry is a process that uses a set of skills to answer questions or to test ideas about the natural world. There are many kinds of scientific investigations and many ways to conduct them. The series of steps used in each investigation often varies.
Results of Science The results and conclusions from an investigation can lead to many outcomes, such as the answers to a question, more information on a specific topic, or support for a hypothesis. Technology A technical solution can be the answer to a scientific question, such as, How can the hearing impaired hear better? After investigation, experimentation, and research, the conclusion might be the development of a new technology. Technology is the practical use of scientific knowledge, especially for industrial or commercial use. Technology, such as a cochlear implant, can help some deaf people hear.
New Materials Space travel has unique challenges. Astronauts must carry oxygen to breathe. They also must be protected against temperature and pressure extremes, as well as small, high-speed flying objects. A spacesuit consists of 4 layers of material. The outer layer is made of a blend of three materials. One material is waterproof. Another protects against high-speed flying objects. The third material is heat and fire-resistant. Possible Explanations Scientists often perform investigations to find explanations as to why or how something happens, such as, How do stars form? For example, to help answer this question, NASA s Spitzer Space Telescope took photos showing a cloud of gas and dust with newly formed stars.
Scientific Theory and Scientific Law Another outcome of science is the development of scientific theories and laws. What happens when a hypothesis or a group of hypotheses has been tested many times and has been supported by the repeated scientific investigations? The hypothesis can become a scientific theory.
Scientific Theory Often, the word theory is used in casual conversations to mean an untested idea or an opinion. However, scientists use the word theory differently. A scientific theory is an explanation of observations or events that is based on knowledge gained from many observations and investigations. Scientists question scientific theories and test them for validity. A scientific theory generally is accepted as true until it is disproved. An example of a scientific theory is the theory of plate tectonics. The theory explains how Earth s crust moves and why earthquakes and volcanoes occur.
Scientific Law A scientific law is different from a social law, which is an agreement among people concerning a behavior. A scientific law is a rule that describes a pattern in nature. Unlike a scientific theory that explains why an event occurs, a scientific law only states that an event will occur under certain circumstances. Example: Newton s law of gravitational force implies that if you drop an object, it will fall toward Earth. Newton s law does not explain why the object moves toward Earth when dropped, only that it will.
LESSON WRAP-UP Key Concept/Essential Question Review What is scientific inquiry? Scientific inquiry is a process that uses a set of skills to answer questions or to test ideas about the natural world.
LESSON WRAP-UP Key Concept/Essential Question Review How do scientific laws and scientific theories differ? A scientific law is a rule that describes a pattern in nature. A scientific theory is an explanation of things or events that is based on knowledge gained from many observations and investigations.
LESSON WRAP-UP Key Concept/Essential Question Review What is the difference between a fact and an opinion? Facts are measurements, observations, and theories that can be evaluated for their validity through objective investigation. Opinions are personal views, feelings, or claims about a topic that cannot be proven true or false.