NOS Scientific Notation

Question 1

What is science?

Answer 1

Process of learning more about the natural world

Can be used to solve a problem.

Question 2

Who won 2 Nobel prizes in the early 1900s for her work in radioactivity?

Answer 2

Marie Curie

She faced barriers to education due to her gender.

Question 3

What are the three branches of science?

Answer 3

Physical Science, Earth Science, Life Science

Each branch focuses on different aspects of the natural world.

Question 4

What does Physical Science study?

Answer 4

Matter and energy

Includes physics and chemistry.

Question 5

Give an example of a question in Physical Science.

Answer 5

What happens to energy during chemical reactions?

Another example: What makes up protons, neutrons, and electrons?

Question 6

What does Earth Science study?

Answer 6

Processes that occur on Earth and deep within it

Includes geological and atmospheric phenomena.

Question 7

Give an example of a question in Earth Science.

Answer 7

How do volcanoes form?

Another example: What are the properties of minerals?

Question 8

What does Life Science study?

Answer 8

All organisms and the processes that occur in them

Includes biology and ecology.

Question 9

Give an example of a question in Life Science.

Answer 9

How do plant and animal cells differ?

Other examples: How do animals survive in the desert? How do organisms in a community interact?

Question 10

What is scientific inquiry?

Answer 10

Process that uses a variety of skills and tools to answer questions or test ideas

Often referred to as ‘the scientific method.’

Question 11

Is there one single scientific method?

Answer 11

No, it is not a linear process.

Scientific inquiry can take many forms.

Question 12

What is the first step in the scientific inquiry process?

Answer 12

Ask Questions/Identify a Problem

Involves making observations.

Question 13

What is an observation?

Answer 13

Results of using one or more senses to gather information

Can lead to questions.

Question 14

What is an inference?

Answer 14

Logical explanation of an observation drawn from prior knowledge or experience

Helps in forming questions.

Question 15

What comes after making observations and inferences in the scientific inquiry process?

Answer 15

Hypothesize and Predict

Involves developing a hypothesis.

Question 16

What is a hypothesis?

Answer 16

Possible explanation for an observation that can be tested

Used to make predictions.

Question 17

What is a prediction?

Answer 17

Statement of what will happen next in a sequence of events

Your opinion of what you think will happen.

Question 18

What is the next step after forming a hypothesis?

Answer 18

Test Hypothesis and Analyze Results

Involves designing an experiment.

Question 19

What should you do if a prediction is not confirmed?

Answer 19

Modify your hypothesis and retest it

Do not stop just because it is not supported.

Question 20

What is a conclusion in the scientific inquiry process?

Answer 20

Summary of the information gained from testing a hypothesis

Should be consistent after multiple tests.

Question 21

Why is it important to communicate results in scientific inquiry?

Answer 21

Allows scientists to evaluate and test others’ work

Helps make scientific advances and keeps information accurate.