What is Science?

Ms Rambaran
What is Science?
Some Definitions:

● Science is the effort to discover, and increase human understanding of

how the physical world works”. (Wikipedia).

● Any system of knowledge that is concerned with the physical world and
its phenomena and that entails unbiased observations and systematic
experimentation. (Encyclopaedia Britannica).
Are these definitions
confusing?
Want a simpler definition?
What is Science?
“Science is the knowledge gained from using observations
and experiments to describe and explain the world around
us”.

The knowledge gained is never complete, but is always

being added to through further research and experiments.
What is Technology ?
The word ‘technology’ comes from Greek words meaning
art or skill.

Technology is the APPLICATION of knowledge gained from

science in practical ways- to solve problems and improve
the quality of life.

Can you think of any?

Technology tools can assist us in various ways such as:

● Building of ships, cars, trucks, planes

● Invention of medical devices such as X Ray machines,
MRI Scanners
● The development of smartphones and faster
computers
● Appliances that assist in daily tasks such as
microwaves, ovens
All scientists observe things, try t explain their observations
and then conduct experiments to test their ideas.

Some key terms that you should know:

Observation: collecting data via the senses.

Experiment: the process of conducting a scientific test

This process is known as the SCIENTIFIC METHOD.

The Scientific Method

Observation is an IMPORTANT and CRITICAL skill in being a

young scientist. Let's do an ACTIVITY to practice such.
What did you observe?
1. How many students were in the class?
2. Is the teacher a male or a female?
3. Is there a Globe in the classroom?
4. Was there a blackboard or whiteboard in the

classroom?
 Lets look again carefully

Tell me one thing

that you observed.
What is a
SCIENTIST?
A Scientists is a person who

experiments

in order to learn.
 BRANCHES OF SCIENCE

What are the different fields of science?

Life science is alternatively known as biology, and physical
science is subdivided into branches: physics, chemistry,
astronomy and Earth science. These branches of natural
science may be further divided into more specialized branches
(also known as fields).
Although the
various branches of
science are
categorized as
either social
sciences or natural
sciences, all your
activities and
research will be
confined to natural
sciences.