Scientific Problem Solving

What will we be learning?

► What are some steps used during scientific inquiry (steps of the scientific
method)?
► What are the results of scientific inquiry?
► What is critical thinking?
► Why are evaluation and testing important in the design process?
► How is scientific inquiry used in a real-life scientific investigation?
► Why did scientists create the International System of Units (SI)?
► Why is scientific notation a useful tool for scientists?
► How can tools, such as graduated cylinders and balances, assist physical
scientists?
What is Science?
►Science - is the investigation and
exploration of natural events and of the
new information that results from those
investigations

►Can you give some examples of sciences?

 Science

Earth and
Life Physical
Space

Biology Astronomy Physics

Chemistry
Anatomy Meteorology
What is Physical Science?

►Physical science is the study of matter and

energy.
►Matter is made up of atoms and has both a
mass and volume.
►Energy is the ability to do work.
►The branches of physical science
►Chemistry- the study of matter
►Physics – the study of energy
Measurement and
Scientific Tools

►Measurement and uncertainty

►All measuring tools have some
degree of uncertainty
Measurement and Scientific
Tools
The International System of units is the
internationally accepted system of measurement

►Length ►Density
►Meters ►g/cm3
►Volume ►Time
►Liters ►seconds
►Mass
►Kilogram
►Temperature
►Kelvin or Celsius
Metric Measurements Prefixes
• The metric system is a set of units based on the
powers of ten
• Prefixes are used to change the value

Prefix Symbol Factor of Base Unit

kilo- K 1,000
hecto- H 100
deka- D 10
BASE m, L, g, Meter, liter, gram, second
s
deci- d 0.1
centi- c 0.01
milli- m 0.001
 Metric Conversions
1. Determine your starting point
2. Count the number of jumps to the ending
point
3. Move the decimal the same number of
jumps in the same direction.
Metric Conversions
► K H D __ d c m

1. 1378 millimeters = ________ dekameters

2. 45 centimeters = ________ decimeters
3. 4 liters = ________ hectoliters
4. 5 kilograms = ________ grams
5. 0.32 cm = __________ m
6. 4 mL = _________ L
7. 0.03 hg = ___________dg
8. 6035 mm = __________ cm
Metric Conversions Practice

► 2000 mg = _____ g
► 120 DL = _____ HL
► 75 mL = _____ L
► 480 cm = _____ m
► 104 km = _____ m
► 0.12 kg = _____ Hg
► 14.6 mm = _____ cm
► 0.0023 Dg = _____ mg
 Scientific Notation
► Scientific Notation - is a method of writing or
displaying very small or very large values in a short
form
► Example:

►12345 = 1.2345 x 104 Exponent – the # of times

the decimal was moved
(+) to the left

Coefficient – must Base (-) to the right

be between 1 and 9

►0.00456 = 4.56 x 10-3

Scientific Notation

► 56934 =

► 1280 =

► 0.0345 =

► 0.0000037 =
Scientific Notation
Reverse it!
► 2.347 x 10-3 = (+) right
(-) left
► 8.98736 x 104 =

► 3.48763 x 10-4 =

► 5.7654 x 105 =
 Scientific Notation- Practice

► 56934 = 2.347 x 10-3 =

8.98736 x 104 =
► 1280 =

3.48763 x 10-4 =
► 0.0345 =

5.7654 x 105 =

► 0.0000037 =
 Partner Share

► Explain in words how your would convert a number from standard

notation to scientific notation
What are the “steps” of the Scientific
Method?
Scientific Inquiry/Scientific methods are ways in
which scientists answer questions and solve problems
► Ask a question/ Observation
► Form a hypothesis
► Test the hypothesis
► Analyze results
► Draw conclusions
► Communicate results
Steps of the Scientific Method

►1) Ask a Question/ Observation

Observations—the results of using one or more

of your sense to gather information and taking
note of what occurs
►Qualitative – color, odor, taste, etc.
►Quantitative – measurements.
►Instruments used:
►Rulers, balances, stopwatches, etc.
Steps of the Scientific Method

2. hypothesis—a possible explanation that

can be tested by scientific investigations
► The hypothesis can be used to make
predictions
► statements of what will happen next in a
sequence of events
Steps of the Scientific Method
3. Testing the Hypothesis – Experiment
►A controlled experiment compares the
results from a control group with the results
from the experimental groups. The groups
are exactly the same except for one factor.
That factor is the variable.
►Independent variable is the variable you
change.
►Ex. Time
►Dependent variable changes in response to
the independent variable.
►Ex. Distance
Steps of the Scientific Method

4. Analyze Data/Results
► Data is the information gathered through your
experiment.
►All information needs to be recorded in a
notebook, in a data table or other recording
devices.
►Organizing material makes analyzing the data
easier.
Steps of the Scientific Method
5. Draw conclusions- what do the
results tell you? Do they make
sense?
► Might make inferences, or logical
explanations of observations
drawn from prior knowledge or
experience
► Outcomes of experiment
► Data does support hypothesis
► Data does not support
hypothesis
► Not enough information to tell
 Steps of the Scientific Method
6. Communicate / share results--science fair,
conference, write science journal articles,
exchange information on the internet
 Scientific Inquiry
• Results of Scientific Inquiry
• Scientific theories are well-tested
explanations of observations or events
that are based on knowledge gained
from many observations and
investigations
• Tells you why something will occur
• Ex: Kinetic molecular theory

• Scientific laws are rules that describe

repeatable patterns in nature
• Tells you something will occur
• Ex: Law of conservation of energy 25