2. Chapter 1: Introduction
to Earth Science
BIG Idea: Earth Scientists
use specific methods to
investigate Earth and beyond.
3.
4.
5. I. What is Earth Science?
the study of the Earth and the
universe around it…
the study of Earth systems and
systems in space; including weather
and climate systems, and the study
of nonliving things such as rocks,
oceans, and planets.
21. 4. Biosphere: all organisms on
Earth and the environments in
which they live.
22. II. Methods of Scientists
Scientific Methods: series of
organized problem-solving
procedures that help
scientists conduct
experiments.
There are five (5) steps to the
SCIENTIFIC METHOD:
23. 1. State the Problem, or…Ask a
Question?
Observation: use of senses to
gather information about the
world.
24. What is the difference
between an OBSERVATION
and an INFERENCE?
Observation: receiving knowledge of the
outside world through our senses, or
recording information using scientific tools
and instruments.
Inference: reasoning involved in drawing
a conclusion or making a logical judgment
on the basis of circumstantial evidence
and prior conclusions rather than on the
basis of direct observation.
26. 2. Gather Information
To investigate a problem, one must
gather information…
Measurement: comparing some aspect
of an object with a standard unit.
meters, inches, miles grams, ounces, pounds
27. 3. Form a Hypothesis
Hypothesis: a possible solution or
answer to your problem or question;
MUST be testable!
Can be proven
wrong.
28. 4. Test the Hypothesis
Experimentation:
procedure carried
out to prove or
disprove a
hypothesis.
29. (a) Independent Variable: variable
that you, the experimenter,
changes (the manipulated variable)
(b) Dependent Variable: variable
that is affected by changes in the
independent variable; factor being
measured (the responding
variable)
(c) Constants: things that never
change during the experiment
30. (d) Control: duplicate setup of
the experiment with
everything the same except
the variable you are testing.
31. 5. State a Conclusion
After many experiments and
observations, the hypothesis is either
proved or disproved…
32. Scientific Method Scenario:
David read that Fox brake pads and Best brake pads were the best on the
market. He always used NAPA pads and believed they performed the best. He
decided to test all three pads and determine which was the best. David used
the same car for each set of pads. He drove 25 mph and applied the brakes at
the same point on the track. David then measured how many feet the car took
to stop after the brakes were applied.
1. The hypothesis: ____________________________________
2. The effects of the ________________(independent variable)
on the __________________________________ (dependent variable).
3. List three constants:
•______________________________________
•______________________________________
•______________________________________
33. Scientific LAW:
- a statement of fact that is believed to be
always true
- STATES and describes behavior of
natural phenomenon, does NOT explain
them
- a ‘rule of nature’
- observable but not explainable
34. EXAMPLES of Scientific Laws:
Law of Inertia
Kepler’s Laws of Planetary Motion
Newton’s Universal Law of
Gravitation
35. Scientific THEORY:
- an explanation based on many
observations during repeated
investigations
- the best available explanation of a
phenomenon
- a hypothesis that is supported by the
experiments
- may change with the discovery of new
data
36. EXAMPLES of Scientific Theories:
Heliocentric Theory
Theory of Evolution
Meteorite Impact Theory
Big Bang Theory
37. "Scientific laws are the evidence
used to support a
conclusion. Scientific theories
are our best attempts at
explaining the behavior of the
world, in ways that can be tested
by further experiment. The facts
(the scientific laws) must
convince us that our theory is a
good explanation for what
happened."