Section One: What is Physical Science?
    Skills Scientist Use (pp.6-7)
        observing - using one or more senses to gather information: sight, hearing, touch, taste, smell... some more to think about is common sense, insight
                            - may also be called evidence or data

            qualitative -observations are descriptions that don't involve number

            quantitative - observations that are measurements

        inference- based on reasoning from what you already know.  An explanation of  your observation
            If you skipped breakfast on a day that you aced a math test, would a reasonable inference be that skipping a meal caused your success?  No,  it would be considered an coincidence.  Many studies have concluded that students do much better with a good breakfast before taking a test.

            Many people take vitamin C whenever they get cold.  Because they've quickly recovered from a cold when taking vitamin C in the past, they infer that the vitamin "Cures" colds.
                What is the observation?

                What is the inference?

                How could you prove that taking vitamin C cures cold?

        predicting- making a forecast of what will happen in the future based on past experience or evidence.

The Study of Matter and Energy (pp 8-9)
        physical science - study of matter, energy and the changes they undergo
 
        Branches of Physical Science
                Chemistry - study of the properties of matter
                                        how matter changes

                physics    - study of matter, energy, motion and forces

         Big Ideas of Physical Science
                force and energy
                the laws of conservation
                atoms, molecules, and the atomic theory
                the behavior of particles of matter in solids, liquids, and gases

GO ONLINE: Phschool.com web code: cgd 6011 More on Scientific Thinking (you will need to type in the web code)
 
Section Two: Scientific Inquiry (standard 9a and 9c)

The Process of Inquiry (pp 10)
     process includes - posing questions, developing a hypothesis, designing experiments, collecting and interpreting data, drawing conclusions, and communicating ideas and results

       Posing Questions (pp 11)
               Example:
                Questions about light and shadows
                 scientific questions:  Does the size of a shadow depend on the distance between the lights and the object?
                                                     How is a shadow affected by the the light's position?
                                                     Will you get shadows if you have several ligllht sources?

                non scientific questions:"Which is the most interesting photo in the photography contest?
                          answer is based on personal  opinion

                        THINK ABOUT:  What scientific questions can you ask about light and shadows?
 

        GO ONLINE: Phschool.com  web code: cgp 6012 More on Scientific Thinking (you will need to type in the web code)

    Developing hypothesis (p 12)
          hypothesis (plural: hypotheses) possible answer to a scientific question or explaination for a set of observations.
                If, then statements.  If the distance of the light on an object changes then the height of the shadow will change
     
              a hypothesis must be testable

     Designing Experiments (p 12)
                  first step - examine all the parameters
                              parameter:  a factor that can be measured in an experiment
                                    variable parameters - change during the experiment
                                            manipulated variable - purposefully changes ( you make it change - you manipulate it)
                                            responding variable - resulting  a change because the manipulated variable is changed.

                                                Example;  The distance of the light  has changed (manipulated variable)
                                                                     The height of the shadow will change (responding variable)
 
                         controlled experiment - an investigation in which one parameter is manipulated at a time.

    Collecting and Interpreting data (p 13)
        before an experiment begins a data table is usually constructed.
            data: facts, figures, evidence gather through observation
                    REVIEW QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE (P7)
                            quantitative data consist of measurements.  The unit for the measurements must be written.

             data must be interpreted or explained.
                    graphs are a useful way to analyze quanitative data
                            reveal trends or patterns (what pattern or trend does the graph on page 13 show?)

    Drawing Conclusions
        conclusion states whether or not the data supports the hypothesis
             We can conclude that the height of a shadow decreases as the the light is moved farther away from an object.

    Communicating Ideas and Results
        communicating sharing ideas and conclusions with other through writing and speaking
                         it is also sharing the process you used in your inquiry
                                so others might repeat the same process and draw the same conclusion

How Science Develops
    Scientists use models and develop theories and laws to increase people's understanding of the natural world.
        Scientific Models
        models: picture, diagram, computer image or other presentation of an object of process.
 
        scientific theory: many observations can be connected by one explanation
                                             example:  atomic theory -  all substances are composed of tiny particles called atoms.
                                        large body of evidence must support the theory otherwise it will be modified or discarded

       scientific law: statement that describes what scientists expect to happen everytime under a particular set of conditions.
                                    sometimes these laws can be considered rule of nature.