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Unit 1: The Nature of Science Lesson 1: What is Science?

Dive into the intriguing world of illusions and explore how science unravels the mysteries around us. Discover the deceptive nature of natural phenomena and the critical role of science in deciphering reality. Learn about the characteristics of science and distinguish it from pseudoscience through interactive experiments and engaging examples.

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Unit 1: The Nature of Science Lesson 1: What is Science?

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  1. Unit 1: The Nature of ScienceLesson 1: What is Science?

  2. “Perception is not always reality” • World is full of illusions and simple common sense doesn’t always work to explain them. • SCIENCE is an especially reliable tool that can help us see past the illusion and form an accurate explanation for what we see. • BUT science is not perfect and can be fooled too.

  3. Illusions in Nature • Where was the SUN earlier this morning? • Where will it be in the afternoon? • How did it get from the morning point to afternoon point? • Compare the size of a full moon just above the horizon to the size straight overhead.

  4. Other Illusions in Nature • Rainbows • Lightning • Earthquakes • Eclipses • Stars are on the surface of a dome…our sky • The earth is not moving and flat • We are the center of the universe

  5. How many legs?

  6. Growing Pyramid

  7. If your eyes follow the movement of the rotating pink dot,The dots will remain only one color, pink.  Stare at the black '+' in the center - moving dot turns to green. Now, concentrate on the black '+ ' in the center of the picture.After a short period, all the pink dots will slowly disappear.You will see only a single green dot rotating.

  8. Which line LOOKS longer?

  9. Science Questions what we see: • Why is this an illusion? OR • What feature about this figure is responsible for the illusion?

  10. How could we test this idea, to see if it does indeed have any effect on the illusion? • How could you measure this?

  11. Interactive T-illusion • interactive T-Illusion

  12. What is science? • Science - A way of explaining the natural world by asking questions and finding answers • Scientist – someone who asks questions and finds answers about the world around them

  13. 2 Types of Science 1. Physical study of nonliving things • Examples: • Chemistry • Physics • Geology • Astronomy • Biological study of living things • Examples: • Botany • Marine • Entomology • Cytology

  14. How do you know what is NOT science and what IS science?

  15. Characteristics of Science • Consistent • Experimental results and observations are the same every time. Example: Every time you release an object from a height, it falls towards the earth.

  16. Characteristics of Science • Observable- The event or evidence for the event can be observed by the human senses. Example: We can see the sun.

  17. Characteristics of Science • Natural–A natural cause is used to explain how or why an event happens. (NOT Supernatural) Example: Gravity is what causes an object to fall, not a supernatural being.

  18. Characteristics of Science • Predictable –Accurate predictions and conclusions are based on natural causes and NOT on assumed information Example: If a new object is found, we can predict that if it is dropped, it will fall.

  19. Characteristics of Science • Testable –Controlled experiments can be designed to test the natural cause of the event or question. Example: We can preform tests on the force of gravity.

  20. Characteristics of Science • Tentative – Explanations of the cause for the event are subject to change as new evidence is collected. Example: We use to believe that the earth was flat until we discovered that it was actually round!

  21. 6 Characteristics of Science • Consistent – same results • Observable – 5 senses • Natural – not supernatural • Predictable – explanations based on natural causes • Testable - experiment can be performed • Tentative - changeable CONPTT

  22. Science vs Nonscience • Irisology- the study of the colored part of the eye (iris) to determine potential health problems. • Irisologists believe changing patterns and markings in the iris reveal emerging conditions in every part of the body and identify inherited weaknesses that may lead to physical and emotional disorders.

  23. Science vs Nonscience Biology – study of living things Consistent – plants grow toward light Observe - living things (plants and animals) Natural – green plants convert sunlight to chemical energy Predictable – drugs kill your brain cells Testability – experiment if caffeine increases activity level Tentativeness – Redi’s experiment pg 261

  24. Pseudoscience • Pseudo= false • A false science ("pseudoscience") is a non-science which is portrayed and advertised as a real science by its followers and supporters. • Examples: • "astrology“ • “Palmistry” • “Phrenology”

  25. In order for an area of study to be considered science it must have all 6 characteristics of science.

  26. REALITY CHECK #1 1. Green plants will grow towards a light source. 2. Walking under a ladder will cause bad luck.

  27. REALITY CHECK #2: 1. Some plants eat meat. 2. Extraterrestrial beings have visited Earth.

  28. REALITY CHECK #3: 1. Green plants convert sunlight into energy. 2. Supernatural beings are the ones that created crop circles.

  29. REALITY CHECK #4: • Without sunlight (or comparable artificial light), green plants will die. • If you are a "Scorpio", your horoscope for today is "You'll be saying 'I feel rich !' Lunar position highlights back pay, refunds, correction of accounting error.“

  30. REALITY CHECK #5: 1. The Bermuda Triangle causes ships and planes to sink and disappear. 2. Life comes from life and cannot come from non-life.

  31. REALITY CHECK #6: 1. The number of human chromosomes was once "known" to be 48, but is now considered to be 46.2. Living things were once grouped into 2 major groups, then 3, then 4, and now 5, because the criteria used for classifying living things have changed.3. We know that the world began about 6000 years ago, and nothing will change that.

  32. How Scientific is it? Activity • Each group will “rate” a statement based on how scientific they think it is. Groups will then check each other's answers and see if they disagree or agree.

  33. Unit 1: The Nature of ScienceLesson 2: How do Scientists find answers?

  34. How do scientists find answers? • Scientists make OBSERVATIONS – using 5 senses to learn about world around you Example: He is wearing a red shirt

  35. Use Your Senses!

  36. Inferences Inferences– interpretation of an observation Example: He is wearing a red shirt because he is happy.

  37. How do scientists make good inferences? Good Inferences Information previously known New Observations

  38. Make a list of observations about the picture.

  39. Make a few more observations… Pic #2

  40. Make a few more observations… Now go back through your previous observations & put an “ I “ beside inferences that you made, then, make a few more!

  41. Types of Observations Qualitative Quantitative Deals with numbers. Data which can be measured. Length, height, area, volume, weight, speed, time, temperature, humidity, sound levels, cost, members, ages, etc. Quantitative → Quantity  • Deals with descriptions. • Data can be observed but not measured. • Colors, textures, smells, tastes, appearance, beauty, etc. • Qualitative → Quality

  42. Lesson 3: Designing a Good Experiment

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