Nature of Science and Biology- Chapter 1 Notes



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Notes: Nature of Science and Biology

Chapter 1

What is Science?

The root sci- means “______________”. Science is one way of investigating the world in which we live. The goal of science is to:

• _______________________________________________________

• _______________________________________________________

• _______________________________________________________

Science can only concern itself with _________________________________________________________________________________________.

Scientists use __________________________ based on facts to gather data. They also use known data to make _____________________________________________________________________

PRACTICE…

Write 2 observations about your classroom

____________________________________________ ________________________________________

Write 2 inferences based on what you see around you

____________________________________________ ________________________________________

How Scientists Work

Scientific investigations – describe the way scientists gather information and test ideas about nature. The Scientific Method describes only one kind of investigation which is called experimental research. Other investigations can be descriptive in nature, like describing a newly found species.

Types of Investigations

Descriptive ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Comparative

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Experimental Investigation

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Steps to Experimental Scientific Investigation (The Scientific Method):

____________________ – make an observation of the world around you.

• Ex. 400 years ago, people believed that living things appear spontaneously from non-living matter (spontaneous Generation). Francesco Redi however wanted to disprove this idea. He considered it likely that flies laid eggs too small for

people to see.

There are two kinds of observations:

Qualitative observation – _____________________________________

Ex: ________________________________________________

Quantitative observation – _____________________________________

Ex: ________________________________________________

1. ____________________– based on your observation, ask a question you can investigate by gathering information. “I wonder why? /how?”

• Ex. Redi asked the question “How do new living things, or organisms, come into being?”

2. ______________________________- Look in books, scientific journals, and the internet to make additional observations and research about the questions you made from your observation.

3. ______________________________ - Propose a scientific explanation to the question being observed and researched. The statement must be testable. (“Which is best?” does not lend itself to being tested). At the end of the investigation, you will accept or reject your hypothesis.

• Ex. If meat is left uncovered, then flies will leave eggs on the meat, creating maggots.

4. ______________________________- Develop and use the experimental design to test your hypothesis. Whenever possible, the hypothesis should be tested by an experiment in which only one variable is changed at a time. All other variables should be kept the same, or controlled.

• Ex. Redi created a controlled experiment in which only 1 variable was deliberately changed each time. Redi was able to determine that when the gauze was not present, flies could reach the meat and maggots would appear. When gauze was present, flies could not reach the meat and no maggots would appear.

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|Length | | |

|Mass | | |

|Time | | |

|Temperature | | |

|Volume | | |

|Density |Gram per millimeter or grams per cubic centimeter | |

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Variables: Factor within the investigation being tested

controlled - ________________________________________________________

independent - _________________________________________________

dependent- _________________________________________________________

Control group – _____________________________________________________

D -dependant M- manipulated

R -responding I- independent

Y -axis X -axis

**Repeat your experiment - __________________________________________

________________________________- (measurements) and perform analysis on the data using neat and clearly labeled charts and graphs.

• Ex. Redi’s investigation showed that maggots appeared on the meat in the controlled jars. No maggots appeared in the jars covered with gauze.

___________________________________ - State whether or not the data and evidence from your experiments supports your hypothesis

• Ex. Maggots appear as a result of flies leaving eggs behind on the pieces of meat.

____________________________________– Experiments’ results can be used by others to help them with their own experiments. This is what keeps science progressing.

What is the difference between a hypothesis, a theory, and a law?

A hypothesis - ______________________________________________________

A theory - __________________________________________________________

a. As evidence from numerous investigations builds up, the hypothesis becomes wells supported by the scientific community.

b. ______________________________________________________

A law - _____________________________________________________________

Tools and Procedures

Biologists use metric measurements (the SI system) to gather and interpret data.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The metric system is universal measurement system based on the number ____________. The meter is the distance value, the gram in the mass value, and the liter is the volume value.

Graphing- how a scientists shows patterns in data collected.

There are several kinds of graphs; some graphs are more useful then others to communicate different types of data.

1. _________________________- compares two things in which items on one axis may affect the items on the other axis. Line graphs are best used to show changes over time (Ex. Amount of CO2 in the atmosphere over the last 6 decades).

2. ______________________- compares two or more values. (Ex. Number of students with red hair in each class)

3. ________________________- effective in showing proportions or percentages of a whole thing. (Ex. Comparing the percentage vote that each candidate received in the election)

Always draw lines with a ruler, use pencil, and use map pencils when necessary. Make sure your graph contains all components

1. Title – _________________________________

2. Horizontal axis – label and give scale.

3. Vertical axis – label and give scale.

4. Key – _________________________________

5. Data points – clearly marked, and label them if you do not have grid line

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