New Core CurriculumNew Core Curriculum

Foundations of Scientific ProcessFoundations of Scientific Process

What is Science ?What is Science ?

Week 1, class-2Week 1, class-2

Common Steps in Scientific Method are:Common Steps in Scientific Method are:

1)1)Observe some Aspect of Nature / Collect DataObserve some Aspect of Nature / Collect Data

2)2)Propose an explanation for what is observedPropose an explanation for what is observed

3)3)Use explanation to make predictionsUse explanation to make predictions

4)4)Test predictions by doing further experimenting / Test predictions by doing further experimenting / observations / creating modelsobservations / creating models

5)5)Modify explanations as needed (go so step 3)Modify explanations as needed (go so step 3)

ScienceScience is concerned with investigating and making sense out of the is concerned with investigating and making sense out of the environment and trying to predict future observations.environment and trying to predict future observations.

Common Steps in Scientific Method are:Common Steps in Scientific Method are:

1)1)Observe some Aspect of Nature / Collect DataObserve some Aspect of Nature / Collect Data

2)2)Propose an explanation for what is observedPropose an explanation for what is observed

3)3)Use explanation to make predictionsUse explanation to make predictions

4)4)Test predictions by doing further experimenting / Test predictions by doing further experimenting / observations / creating modelsobservations / creating models

5)5)Modify explanations as needed (go so step 3)Modify explanations as needed (go so step 3)

Scientists generally accept the notion that an objective reality Scientists generally accept the notion that an objective reality exists and that it can be “sampled” by making measurements that exists and that it can be “sampled” by making measurements that

produce the data. produce the data.

Quantification + meaningful unitsQuantification + meaningful units

ScienceScience is concerned with investigating and making sense out of the is concerned with investigating and making sense out of the environment and trying to predict future observations.environment and trying to predict future observations.

Units is a well defined and agreed upon referent (given property in terms of another, more familiar object)

English system• Many units based upon

parts of the human body

Metric (SI) system• Established in 1791• 7 base units:

• meter (m)• kilogram (kg)• second (s)• ampere (A) • kelvin (K)• mole (mol) • candela (cd)

• all other units derive from these

Units is a well defined and agreed upon referent (given property in terms of another, more familiar object)

Units and Unit Conversions

English system• Many units based upon

parts of the human body

Metric (SI) system• Established in 1791• 7 base units:

• meter (m)• kilogram (kg)• second (s)• ampere (A) • kelvin (K)• mole (mol) • candela (cd)

• all other units derive from these

The metric/US customary units mix-up in 1999 $125 million Mar Climate Orbiter was lost !

All measurements include uncertainty or “error”

Systematic Error: is a bias in your measurement method;

systematic shift of the mean (average) in one direction or another

Random Error: is due to “random” perturbations in your

measurement; intrinsic variability that comes from taking

independent measurements

Color Contrast

Green and orange same on blue and yellow background

Science is in a search for an objective view / understandingScience is in a search for an objective view / understanding of the worldof the world

Color Contrast

Green and orange same on blue and yellow background

TEST

How can you convince yourself?

Common Steps in Scientific Method are:Common Steps in Scientific Method are:

1)1)Observe some Aspect of Nature / Collect DataObserve some Aspect of Nature / Collect Data

2)2)Propose an explanation for what is observedPropose an explanation for what is observed

3)3)Use explanation to make predictionsUse explanation to make predictions

4)4)Test predictions by doing further experimenting / Test predictions by doing further experimenting / observations / creating modelsobservations / creating models

5)5)Modify explanations as needed (go so step 3)Modify explanations as needed (go so step 3)

After collecting the data, explanations/interpretations can come from After collecting the data, explanations/interpretations can come from combination of obtained data with imaginative thinking or educated guessingcombination of obtained data with imaginative thinking or educated guessing

HypothesisHypothesis a tentative thought-derived or experiment-derived a tentative thought-derived or experiment-derived explanation + prediction explanation + prediction

ScienceScience is concerned with investigating and making sense out of the is concerned with investigating and making sense out of the environment and trying to predict future observations.environment and trying to predict future observations.

Common Steps in Scientific Method are:Common Steps in Scientific Method are:

1)1)Observe some Aspect of Nature / Collect DataObserve some Aspect of Nature / Collect Data

2)2)Propose an explanation for what is observedPropose an explanation for what is observed

3)3)Use explanation to make predictionsUse explanation to make predictions

4)4)Test predictions by doing further experimenting / Test predictions by doing further experimenting / observations / creating modelsobservations / creating models

5)5)Modify explanations as needed (go so step 3)Modify explanations as needed (go so step 3)

Experiment that represents a re-creation of an event or Experiment that represents a re-creation of an event or occurrence, enables to support or disprove a hypothesis. occurrence, enables to support or disprove a hypothesis.

Controlled experiment Controlled experiment compares 2 situations that have all the compares 2 situations that have all the influencing factors identical, except one (experimental variable). influencing factors identical, except one (experimental variable).

ScienceScience is concerned with investigating and making sense out of the is concerned with investigating and making sense out of the environment and trying to predict future observations.environment and trying to predict future observations.

Common Steps in Scientific Method are:Common Steps in Scientific Method are:

1)1)Observe some Aspect of Nature / Collect DataObserve some Aspect of Nature / Collect Data

2)2)Propose an explanation for what is observedPropose an explanation for what is observed

3)3)Use explanation to make predictionsUse explanation to make predictions

4)4)Test predictions by doing further experimenting / Test predictions by doing further experimenting / observations / creating modelsobservations / creating models

5)5)Modify explanations as needed (go so step 3)Modify explanations as needed (go so step 3)

Science Science a given investigation typically “fuels” a new investigation a given investigation typically “fuels” a new investigation

ScienceScience is concerned with investigating and making sense out of the is concerned with investigating and making sense out of the environment and trying to predict future observations.environment and trying to predict future observations.

Ex. Protons and Neutrons The Atomic Nucleus

Ernest Rutherford, 1911

Bombardment of gold foil with α particles (helium atoms minus their electrons)

– Expected to see the particles pass through the foil

– Found that some of the alpha particles were deflected by the foil

– Led to the discovery of a region of heavy mass at the center of the atom

Models Why are models useful in practicing science?

Models provide a conceptual framework for interpreting the Models provide a conceptual framework for interpreting the data we collect. They help understand what is happening in data we collect. They help understand what is happening in

the otherwise to us invisible world. the otherwise to us invisible world.

Models are human constructs that attempt to incorporate the essential ingredients of a natural process or system

and to make predictions about future behavior

New Core CurriculumNew Core Curriculum

Foundations of Scientific ProcessFoundations of Scientific Process

Theories and Scientific LawsTheories and Scientific Laws

Science vs. PseudoscienceScience vs. Pseudoscience

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