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
• 3. Test hypothesis – do the experiment
4. • 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
5. • Control – nothing changes, used for
comparison
• Dependent variable – what is being
changed (measured) (y axis)
• Independent variable – what “I” used to
make the change (x axis)
• DRY – dependent /responding = Y axis
• MIX – manipulated/independent = X axis
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
