Science

• Science is a way of finding out how things happen so that we can understand the world around us
• The 3 basic sciences

  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Physics
• Biology


  The study of living things (plants and animals)
• Chemistry


  The study of changes that happen to matter
• Physics


  Deals with the study of matter and energy
• Technology


  Making machines, objects and systems to meet people's needs
• Characteristics of technology


  • Involves design
  • Involves making/producing
  • It is concerned with values
• Science


  Pursues knowledge and understanding for its own sake
• Technology


  Makes objects and devices to meet people's needs
• Science


  Involves discovery through careful experimentation
• Technology


  Involves design, invention and production
• Science tries to be as value free as possible
• Technology is driven by society and its needs
• Examples of changes brought about by technology

  • Communication
  • Transport
  • Medical
  • Jobs
• Technology has also brought things that are not desirable
• Undesirable impacts of technology

  • Jobs lost as new technology replaces manual work
  • Creation of waste that pollutes the environment
  • Design of new weapons used to fight and kill
  • Accidents caused by technology failures
  • Dependence on technology
• The need, interest, preference, cultural and environment of society have a big influence in the development of technology
• Examples of how society influences technology

  • Need for communication anywhere and anytime
  • New situations like discovery of HIV/AIDS
  • Need for quicker, smaller and more powerful technology
  • Competition between countries
  • Affordability and quality of new technology
• Environmental issues related to technology

  • Pollution
  • Deforestation
• Types of pollution caused by technology

  • Waste products, chemicals and materials polluting the environment
  • Smoke from car exhausts polluting the air
  • Runoff of fertilizers and pesticides polluting water sources
  • Smoke released contributing to climate change
• Deforestation is caused by manufacturing materials that require cutting down trees
• Positive health impacts of technology

  • X-ray technology
  • Vaccine technology
  • Development of drugs
  • Anesthetics for surgical operations
• The first step in nearly all scientific investigations is to ask a question
• Scientific question


  Measurable or very clear and specific
• Non-scientific question


  General, not measurable, and can mean many different things
• Hypothesis


  A possible/explanation to a scientific question, an intelligent guess
• Fair test


  An experiment in which only one factor is changed, making the results unquestionable/valid
• Variables in an experiment

  • Independent variable (the variable that is changed)
  • Dependent variable (the variable that is affected by the change)
  • Controlled variables (variables that are kept the same)
• Control group


  Something used to compare the experimental group to, to see if a change has happened
• Experimental group


  The group in which a change is made to the independent variable
• Science process skills


  • Observing
  • Experimenting
  • Inferring
  • Communicating
  • Predicting
  • Comparing
  • Interpreting
  • Classifying
  • Analyzing
  • Controlling variables
  • Solving problems
  • Making hypotheses
• Process of scientific investigation

  1. Questioning

  2. Hypothesising

  3. Experimenting

  4. Conclusion

  5. Communication
• The scientific question must be clear, specific and measurable
• The hypothesis is a possible answer or explanation to a scientific question
• After the hypothesis, an experiment or investigation is planned and carried out to prove the hypothesis correct or incorrect
• Possible variables for an investigation

  • Amount of water used
  • Amount of light
  • Type of seeds
  • Time frame
  • Whether soil has compost or not
• Independent variable


  The factor that is changed in an investigation
• Dependent variable


  The factor that is affected by the change in the independent variable
• Experimental group


  The group where a change in the independent variable has been made
• Control group


  The group that is compared to the experimental group