This document provides an overview of physical science, including: 1) Physical science involves the study of matter and energy, with chemistry focusing on forms of matter and physics focusing on how energy affects matter. 2) The scientific method involves asking a question, forming a hypothesis, testing the hypothesis through experimentation, analyzing results, drawing a conclusion, and communicating results. 3) Models are used to represent objects or systems and can be physical, mathematical, or conceptual representations.

1. Chapter 1

2. Physical science
• Science – gathering knowledge about the
natural world
• Physical science – study of matter and
energy (matter – “stuff” everything is made
of / energy – ability to do work)
• Chemistry – study of all forms of matter
• Physics – study of the way energy affects
matter

3. • Science is all around you: meteorology,
geology, biology
• Scientific method – 6 steps used to
answer questions and solve problems
• 1. ask a question – be specific (only 1 ?)
• 2. form hypothesis – make educated
guess
• Test hypothesis – do the experiment

4. • Scientific method – 6 steps used to
answer questions and solve problems
– 1. ask a question – be specific (only 1 ?)
– 2. form hypothesis – make educated guess
– Test hypothesis – do the experiment (control,
dependent variable, independent variable)

5. • Control – nothing changes, used for
comparison
• Dependent variable – what is being
changed
• Independent variable – what is used to
make the change

6. • 4. analyze results – does the results
prove or disprove your hypothesis
• 5. draw conclusion – sum up the results
• 6. communicate the results – write paper,
make presentation, create website

7. • Models – represent object or system
• 3 types:
– Physical – a three dimensional representation
of an object (a globe), doesn’t act or interact
like the real thing
– Mathematical – equations or data (E=mc2)
– Conceptual – system of ideas (big bang
theory)

8. Law’s and Theories
• Law- summary of many experimental
results and observations – tells how
things work…not why it works
• Theory – an explanation for many
hypothesis and observations