General Science

Scientific Method Presentation of Data

is the logical method used by scientists to acquire Tables - easy to read, organized presentations.
knowledge that is used to explain different Graphs - readily show patterns of data.
phenomena in nature.
Kinds: 1. Line - proper to use when comparing
Phenomenon two continuously changing variables
2. Bar - appropriate to use when
A thing observed by the senses comparing a changing value with an unchanging
value
Facts
e. Draw a generalization or conclusion.
a scientifically tested
1.) Conclusion - a statement about the result of the
The scientific method has six basic steps, experiment.
namely: 2.) Law - a statement which describes what
happens but does not explain the cause of the
a. Identify and clearly state the problem. occurrence
Questions arise from something observed as 3.) Theory - hypothesis that can be explained from
unusual; observations.
problem that is specific, measurable, and
attainable is identified. f. Apply the principle (conclusion) to other
b. Gather information pertinent to the problem. situations.
This is done by recalling past experiences
concerning the problem, interviewing people who
are knowledgeable of the problem, and researching
in libraries and research centers.
c. Formulate hypothesis. Based on information or
data gathered, an 'educated guess' can be made.
d. Test the hypothesis. Carrying out experiments.
Metric Prefixes:
Controlled experiment - manipulating one of the
conditions or factors that may affect the result of
experiment.

1) Trials - number of times experiment is repeated.

2) Controls - factors that are kept constant
throughout the experiment
3) Variables - factors that change during the
experiment.

Kinds: 1.Independent or experimental -

factors that are changed.
2.Dependent - factors that change
as a result of changes in the independent
variable.
Temperature
There are three temperature scales in use today,
Fahrenheit, Celsius and Kelvin.
Fahrenheit temperature
 is a scale based on 32 for the freezing point
of water and 212 for the boiling point of
water
 the interval between the two being divided
into 180 parts.
 The conversion formula for a temperature
that is expressed on the Celsius (C) scale
to its Fahrenheit (F) representation is:
F = 9/5C + 32.
Celsius temperature
 scale also called centigrade temperature
scale
 is the scale based on 0 for the freezing
point of water and 100 for the boiling
point of water.
 Invented in 1742 by the Swedish
astronomer Anders Celsius, it is
sometimes called the centigrade scale
because of the 100-degree interval
between the defined points.
 The following formula can be used to
convert a temperature from its
representation on the Fahrenheit (F) scale
to the Celsius (C) value:
C = 5/9(F - 32).
 The Celsius scale is in general use
wherever metric units have become
accepted, and it is used in scientific work
everywhere.
Kelvin temperature
 is the base unit of thermodynamic
temperature measurement in the
International System (SI) of measurement.
 It is defined as 1/ 273.16 of the triple
point (equilibrium among the solid, liquid,
and gaseous phases) of pure water.
 The Kelvin (symbol K without the degree
sign) is also the fundamental unit of the
Kelvin scale, an absolute temperature
scale
 named for the British physicist William
Thomson, Baron Kelvin.
 The Kelvin scale is related to the Celsius
scale. The difference between the freezing
and boiling points of water is 100 degrees
in each
 Kelvin has the same magnitude as the
degree Celsius.
 To convert Celsius to Kelvin:
K = __°C + 273
CLIMATE AND WEATHER
Climate
 is the long-term effect of the sun's radiation
on the rotating earth's varied surface and
atmosphere.
 It is commonly defined as the weather
averaged over a long period of time.
Weather
 is a state of the atmosphere at a particular
time and place.
 The elements of weather include temperature,
humidity, cloudiness, precipitation, wind and
pressure
Temperature:
o A measure of the degree of hotness of the
air.
o Thermometer is the common instrument
used to measure temperature.
Humidity:
o A measure of the amount of water vapor
In the air.
o The most common measure of humidity Is
the relative humidity, or the amount of
vapor in the air divided by the air's vapor-
holding capacity at that temperature
o If the amount of water vapor in the air
remains the same, the relative humidity
 decreases as the air is heated and increases
as the air is cooled.
o relative
humidity
Is
usually
highest
around
dawn,
when the
temperature is lowest, and lowest in mid-
afternoon, when the temperature is
highest.
o Both hygrometer and psychrometer are
instruments used in measuring
atmospheric humidity.
Precipitation:
o Produced when the droplets and crystals
in clouds grow large enough to fall to the
ground.
o Clouds do not usually produce
precipitation until they are more than I km
thick.
o Precipitation takes a variety of forms,
including raindrop, rain, drizzle, freezing
rain, snow, hail, and sleet.
o measured using an instrument called rain
gauge.
Wind:
o The horizontal movement of air.
o It is named for the direction from which it
comes—for example, a north wind comes
from the north.
o Wind vanes are used to determine wind
direction, while anemometers are used to
measure wind speed.
Clouds:
o Excess water vapor in the air that
condenses into liquid droplets or ice
crystals.
o Most clouds and almost all precipitation
are produced by the cooling of air as it
rises.
o When air temperature is reduced, excess
water vapor in the air condenses into
liquid droplets or ice crystals to form
clouds or fog.
o A cloud can take any of several different
forms—including cumulus, cirrus, and
stratus—reflecting the pattern of air
motions that form it.
Fluffy cumulus clouds
form from rising masses of air, called
thermals. A cumulus cloud often has a flat
base, corresponding to the level at which the
water vapor first condenses. If a cumulus
cloud grows large, it transforms into a
cumulonimbus cloud or a thunderstorm.
Fibrous cirrus clouds
consist of trails of falling ice crystals
twisted by the winds. Cirrus clouds usually
form high in the troposphere, and their
crystals never reach the ground. most
common types of clouds.
Stratus clouds
Fog-like appearance. form when an entire
layer of air cools or ascends obliquely. A
stratus cloud often extends for hundreds of
miles.
Cirrocumulus clouds
are among the most gorgeous out there.
These usually form at about 5 km above the
surface with small white fluff patterns that
spread out for miles and miles over the sky.
They’re sometimes called ‘mackerel skies’
because they can sometimes have a
grayish color which makes the clouds
look a bit like fish scales
Nimbostratus
The name Nimbostratus comes from the
Latin words nimbus which means “rain”
and stratus for “spread out”. These gloomy
clouds are the heavy rain bearers out there
forming thick and dark layers of clouds that
can completely block out the sun.