Chapter 1: Introduction to Science Study Guide Science Social Science **Have an idea of how science is broken up into branches. Scientific theories have been tested by many observations. To be valid it must allow you to make predictions. Theories can be changed or replaced when new discoveries are made. Scientific laws provide a description of a natural event. Scientists who practice pure science do experiments to find out about the world; a continuing search for new knowledge. Scientists who practice applied science use scientific knowledge for practical applications. Technology is the use of scientific knowledge for practical applications. o Examples: microscopes to see cells; telescopes to see distant objects in space A hypothesis is a possible answer to a scientific problem. Scientists test hypotheses by doing experiments. Know the SI base units Know the SI prefixes Note: Mass and weight are different. Mass is how much matter an object is made of. Weight is the force with which gravity pulls a quantity of matter. A model is a mathematical representation of a real object or event. Computer models are used to make predictions. Variables are factors in an experiment that can change (or vary). Critical thinking involves applying logic to investigate/solve problems. The scientific method is a series of logical steps that is followed in order to solve a problem. Usually, the first step is to make an observation. No experiment is a failure, because all experiments are observations of real events. Combinations of SI base units are called derived units. Precision refers to being consistent, or how the level of exactness. A precise measurement is one that is as exact as possible. Accuracy refers to how close to the target or expected value you are. A measurement that is accurate is one that is close to the true value. Tools used by scientists: Microscopes – used by biologists to look at very small specimens Light Telescopes – used by astronomers to magnify objects found at great distances Radio Telescopes – used to detect the oldest, most distant objects in the solar system Spectroscopes – used by chemiststo break light into a spectrum Particle accelerators – used by physicists to smash atoms Scientists use scientific notation to effectively express very large or very small numbers. It usually helps to get rid of having to write/read a lot of zeroes. Be able to count the number of significant figures (digits). o i.e.: 12,340 has 4 significant digits – the 1,2,3, & 4. Be able to convert numbers into and out of scientific notation. o i.e.: 1.234 x 104 = 12340 o i.e.: 6,789,000 = 6.789 x 106
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