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What is Science?Science is a process of investigating

our world that is exciting and useful!

Science is an ongoing human activity that has already produced a body of knowledge we all use.

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How science works

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How Science REALLY works!

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Is it Science?

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What are some of the branches of Science?

Biology is the study of living thingsPhysics is the study of energy and forces and how object behaveChemistry is the study of matter, what substances are made up of and how we change them

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Find out what these areas of Science investigate

Areas of scientific studyAstronomy MicrobiologyBiochemistry GeologyAcoustics BotanyForensic psychology Marine ecologyPharmacology SeismologyVulcanology Entomology

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ScientistsScientists use investigation to help us understand and explain the natural world.

They test their ideas and collect evidence to help us understand and improve our world.

They form a community that analyses and gives feedback on other scientists research. They don't always agree!

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Making Observations•Using their eyes and ears,

Scientists record what is happening.

•Observations are recorded in a Results table.

INFERENCEA suggestion or EXPLANATION of your observations

Example:Observation – I saw bubbles in the liquidInference – A reaction is taking place that is producing a gas

Observation – broken glass on floor, broken windowInference – someone threw a stone and broke the window

Hypothesis•An educated guess on what will happen, based

upon previous observations and basic research. • It can be tested using an experiment.

It must be testable.

See the Science Buddies website for great directions on how to write a strong hypothesis.

Fair test• All factors that may affect the experiment need to be the same

except for one.

• These factors are called variables

• You only change one variable at a time. The variable being changed is called the INDEPENDENT variable

• All other variables are kept the same. These are called CONTROLLED variables.

• The variable that is being measured is called the DEPENDANT variable.

VARIABLES

INDEPENDENT

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DEPENDENT

This is the variable you are investigating.

This is the one that you physically control/ manipulate to see the effect on another variable.

Example type of ball – as this causes the effect on how high is bounces.

‘ I’ changed it –’Independent”

This variable relies on the independent variable. It ‘depends’ on the other variables.

This one is the effect of the independent variable. – so this one changes on its own without us manipulating it.

You measure/observe this one.

Example – height of the ball – as this depends upon the type of ball used.

CONTROL• This is the original test in the experiment - You keep this

constant and you use this to COMPARE your results with.

• Remember CONTROL = COMPARE.

• It is a parallel experiment where everything is the same as the original experiment except the variable you change.

• Example – plants and different amounts of salt could be compared to plants and water.

REPETITION AND RELIABILITY•Repeat experiments minimum of 3 times in Science

classes (although Scientists often do many more!)•Calculate an average.•The purpose of repetition is to reduce the effect of

errors.

CONCLUSIONIs a final summary bringing all the events of what happened together.

In your conclusion you should: •Restate your Aim•Comment on the hypothesis •Summarise your results to carefully highlight patterns

in your data•Relate your findings to what you have learnt about that

topic