The Nature of Science

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?
 the study of the Earth and the
universe around it…
 the study 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.
 The oldest 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
 lab reports
 graphs
 models

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Welcome to Earth

BIG Idea: Earth Scientists

 the study of Earth systems and

 Measurement: comparing some aspect

• inches, feet, miles ounces, pounds, tons

1. The hypothesis was: ____________________________________

2. The effects of the ________________(independent variable)

3. List three constants:

- a controlled, repeatable and rigorously

- an explanation based on many

- a theory that is proven every time it is

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