Working Scientifically

• What is the main focus of the scientific method?

  Finding things out and learning about the world or ideas
• What is a hypothesis?

  A possible explanation for an observation
• What is the next step after forming a hypothesis?

  Testing the hypothesis
• How do scientists determine if a hypothesis is true?

  By gathering evidence from experiments and testing predictions
• What is peer review?

  A process where other scientists check work for accuracy
• Why is peer review important?

  It ensures that scientific explanations are accurate
• What happens if a hypothesis is consistently supported by experiments?

  It may be accepted as a theory
• What occurs if a new experiment contradicts an accepted hypothesis?

  Scientists may modify the hypothesis or create a new one
• What are accepted hypotheses often referred to as?

  Theories
• What is a descriptive model?

  A model that describes what is happening without explaining why
• What is a representational model?

  A simplified description or picture of real-life situations
• What do spatial models analyze?

  The arrangement of data within a specific space
• What do computational models do?

  Simulate complex and changing factors
• What are mathematical models used for?

  To express relationships between variables
• How can models be tested?

  By using them to make predictions
• What can new scientific discoveries lead to?

  Exciting new applications in everyday life
• What issues can arise from scientific developments?

  Social, economic, ethical, or personal problems
• What is an example of a scientific development with useful applications?

  The development of penicillin as an antibiotic
• What is a limitation of science?

  It does not have all the answers for everything
• What is one question science hasn't answered yet?

  How much will sea levels rise due to global warming?
• Why can some scientific questions not be answered?

  Because the necessary data cannot currently be collected
• What is an example of a question science can't answer?

  Whether something is ethically right or wrong
• What is a hazard?

  Something that could potentially cause harm
• What is risk in relation to hazards?

  The chance that a hazard will cause harm
• How can risks be estimated?

  By analyzing how often something happens in a large sample
• What is the general rule for high-risk activities?

  They are likely to cause harm with serious consequences
• What is an example of a low-risk activity?

  Going for a walk
• What is the purpose of designing a good experiment?

  To gather reliable evidence to support a hypothesis
• What is a prediction in the context of a hypothesis?

  A statement about what you think will happen that can be tested
• What does it mean for results to be repeatable?

  Someone else can do the experiment and get the same results
• What does it mean for results to be reproducible?

  Similar data is obtained when the experiment is repeated under the same conditions
• What is a valid result?

  A result that is repeatable, reproducible, and answers the original question
• What is an example of a correlation that does not imply causation?

  The correlation between living near power lines and cancer incidence
• What influences people's perception of risk?

  Familiarity with the action and its consequences
• What is the importance of identifying hazards in investigations?

  To ensure the safety of the investigation
• What are some examples of hazards in scientific investigations?

  Chemicals and electricity
• What are the steps of the scientific method?

  1. Make observations
  2. Formulate a hypothesis
  3. Test the hypothesis
  4. Share findings through peer review
  5. Accept or modify the hypothesis based on evidence
  6. Develop theories from accepted hypotheses
• What are the different types of models used in science?

  • Descriptive models
  • Representational models
  • Spatial models
  • Computational models
  • Mathematical models
• What are the potential benefits and risks of new scientific technologies?

  Benefits:

  • Useful applications in everyday life
  • Medical advancements

  
  

  Risks:

  • Social, economic, ethical, or personal issues
  • Potential for pollution or harm
• What are the limitations of science?

  • Science does not have all the answers
  • Some questions cannot be answered due to lack of data
  • Ethical questions cannot be resolved by experiments