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The Nature of Science

The document introduces Earth Science, which encompasses the study of Earth systems, including geology, meteorology, oceanography, and environmental science. It outlines the scientific method, detailing the steps from stating a problem to drawing conclusions, and distinguishes between scientific facts, theories, and laws. Additionally, it discusses the Meteorite Impact Theory as an explanation for the extinction of dinosaurs.

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Aileen Harris
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19 views35 pages

The Nature of Science

The document introduces Earth Science, which encompasses the study of Earth systems, including geology, meteorology, oceanography, and environmental science. It outlines the scientific method, detailing the steps from stating a problem to drawing conclusions, and distinguishes between scientific facts, theories, and laws. Additionally, it discusses the Meteorite Impact Theory as an explanation for the extinction of dinosaurs.

Uploaded by

Aileen Harris
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Welcome to Earth

Science!
Chapter 1: The Nature
of Science

BIG Idea: Earth Scientists


use specific methods to
investigate Earth and
beyond.
I. What is Earth Science?
 thestudy of the Earth and the
universe around it…

 thestudy of Earth systems and


systems in space; including
weather and climate systems,
and the study of nonliving things
such as rocks, oceans, and
planets.
A. The Scope of Earth
Science:
1. Astronomy: the study of
objects beyond Earth’s
atmosphere.
 Theoldest branch
of Earth Science.
2. Meteorology: the study of
Earth’s atmosphere.
 Weather
Forecasters

 Tornado Chasers
3. Geology: the study of the
origin, history, and structure
of Earth.
4. Oceanography: the study
of the life and properties of
Earth’s oceans.
 JACQUES COUSTEAU
How much
of our
Earth is
covered by
OCEAN
water?
almost three-fourths!
5. Environmental Science:
the study of the interactions
of organisms and their
surroundings.
B. Earth’s Systems
1. Geosphere: the area from the
surface of Earth down to its center.
 Three main parts:

a) Crust
b) Mantle
c) Core
 Inner core
 Outer core
2. Atmosphere: the blanket of
gases that surrounds our
planet.
3. Hydrosphere: all the water
on Earth.
4. Biosphere: all organisms on
Earth and the environments
in which they live.
II. Methods of Scientists
ScientificMethods: series
of organized problem-
solving procedures that
help scientists conduct
experiments.

There are five (5) steps to


the SCIENTIFIC METHOD:
1. State the Problem, or…Ask
a Question?
 Observation:use of senses to
gather information about the
world.
2. Gather Information
 To investigate a problem, one must
gather information…

 Measurement: comparing some


aspect of an object with a standard
unit.

• inches, feet, miles ounces, pounds, tons


3. Form a Hypothesis
 Hypothesis: a possible solution
to a problem (an educated
guess)
4. Test the Hypothesis
Experimentation:
procedure
carried out to
prove or
disprove a
hypothesis.
(a) Independent Variable:
variable that you, the
experimenter, changes
(b) Dependent Variable: variable
that is affected by changes in
the independent variable;
factor being measured
(depends on the independent
variable)
(c) Constants – things that never
change during the experiment
Scientific Method Scenario:

David read that Fox break pads and Best Break pads were the best on the
market. He always used NAPA pads and believed they performed the best. He
decided to test all three pads and determine which was the best. David used
the same car for each set of pads. He drove 25 mph and applied the breaks at
the same point on the track. David then measured how many feet the car took
to stop after the breaks were applied.

1. The hypothesis was: ____________________________________

2. The effects of the ________________(independent variable)


on the __________________________________ (dependent variable).

3. List three constants:


•______________________________________
•______________________________________
•______________________________________
5. State a Conclusion
After many experiments and
observations, the hypothesis is
either proved or disproved…
Scientific FACT:

- a controlled, repeatable and


rigorously verified observation
Scientific THEORY:

- an explanation based on many


observations during repeated
investigations
- the best available explanation of a
phenomenon
- a hypothesis that is supported by
the experiments
- may change with the discovery of
new data
Scientific LAW:

- a theory that is proven every time it


is tested
- describes the behavior of a natural
phenomenon
- a ‘rule of nature’
- cause of the law may not be known
- describes things; does not explain
them
- accepted based on observations or
experiments
"Scientific laws are the
evidence used to support a
conclusion. Scientific
theories are our best
attempts at explaining the
behavior of the world, in
ways that can be tested by
further experiment. The
facts (the scientific laws)
must convince us that our
theory is a good explanation
for what happened."
Meteorite Impact Theory
Explains the extinction of
the dinosaurs
Meteorite hit the earth
65 million years ago
The impact created so
much dust it blocked out
the sun
No sun, no plants…
almost everything died
Proof:

Computer models
Deformed quartz
Iridium around the impact
site
III. Communication in
Science
 labreports
 graphs
 models

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