Unit 1: Introduction to the Scientific Processes

This unit reviews the steps of the scientific method and how they are used
to solve problems. Students will review Safety Guidelines on page 5 of the
teacher’s guide and sign the Lab Safety Contract on page 6 of the teacher’s
guide. Mastery of 90-100 percent is required on the safety quiz (numbers
1-10) in the student book on page 22 before participating in lab activities.

Student Goals

• Identify the steps of the scientific method used by scientists in

solving a problem.

• Know safety rules for science laboratory and classroom.

• Recognize the scientific method being used in everyday problems.

• Recognize that scientific thought undergoes shifts.

Unit Focus

• Know that investigations are conducted to explore new

phenomena, to check on previous results, to test how well a theory
predicts, and to compare different theories. (SC.H.1.4.1)

• Know that from time to time, major shifts occur in the scientific
view of how the world works, but that more often, the changes that
take place in the body of scientific knowledge are small
modifications of prior knowledge. (SC.H.1.4.2)

• Understand that no matter how well one theory fits observations, a

new theory might fit them as well or
better, or might fit a wider range of
observations, because in science, the
testing, revising, and occasional
discarding of theories, new and old,
never ends and leads to an increasingly
better understanding of how things
work in the world, but not to absolute
truth. (SC.H.1.4.3)
• Know that technological problems often create a demand for new
scientific knowledge and that new technologies make it possible for
scientists to extend their research in a way that advances science.
(SC.H.3.4.2)
 Vocabulary

Use the vocabulary words and definitions below as a reference for this unit.

analog .............................................. that which has similar characteristics to

another thing (like the similarity
between the heart and a pulse)

computer simulation .................... a computer program designed to

represent the behavior of something in
the physical world

conclusion ...................................... an explanation of a problem based on

observations and collected data

control group ................................. the part of the experiment without a

variable factor; allows the results of
experiment to be compared

controlled experiment .................. an experiment in which all the factors

are the same except for the one being
tested

data .................................................. scientific facts that are collected, usually

in the form of numbers

experiment ..................................... a way to test a hypothesis or try out an

answer to a question

experimental group ...................... part of the experiment that contains the

variable factor

fact ................................................... an idea that has been proven by

experiments

Unit 1: Introduction to the Scientific Processes 3

 Galileo Galilei ............................... an Italian astronomer and physicist
who discovered that objects fall at the
same rate regardless of mass

hypothesis ...................................... an idea or statement that attempts to

explain the relationship of observed
factors; an educated guess

laboratory ....................................... a place equipped and used for

experimental study, research, analysis,
testing, or preparation in any branch of
science

observation ..................................... noticing something, using one’s senses

(sight, smell, touch, hearing, or taste)

scale model ..................................... a man-made version of a physical

object that is identical in proportion to
the original but which may be smaller
in total size

scientific law .................................. a scientific theory that has been tested

many times and has produced the
same results over a period of many
years

scientific method........................... the steps scientists use to solve

problems

theory .............................................. a hypothesis that has withstood the

test of time

variable factor ................................ the factor being tested in an

experiment

4 Unit 1: Introduction to the Scientific Processes

 Introduction

Many of us have had unanswered questions about our environment—

why…? how…? when…? Some of us have gone to find answers. Most of
us, however, must depend on more qualified individuals for answers.
Most often, those qualified individuals are scientists,
investigators in the field of science. They specialize in
finding answers in an efficient and organized manner.

To investigate efficiently and in an organized way,

scientists must use a certain method. This method is
called the scientific method, a way of solving
Scientists—investigators problems using specific steps. Scientists must also
in the field of science.
be careful to follow safety rules when they conduct
experiments in the laboratory. Scientists follow laboratory rules to protect
the results of their experiments and prevent accidents.

Steps of the Scientific Method

Have you ever observed something in nature and wondered what it is and
how it works? If so, you have that in common with scientists. Scientists
wonder about nature. They ask questions and design experiments to find
the answers to their questions.

Whenever scientists have questions or

problems, they use a certain method
Draw conclusions and
called the scientific method to find report the results.
answers. It is a way of solving Test the hypothesis.
problems using five specific steps:
identifying the problem, gathering Form a hypothesis.
information, forming a
hypothesis, testing the Gather information.
hypothesis, and drawing
conclusions and reporting the Identify the problem.
results. The method allows
scientists to look at a specific Steps of the Scientific Method
problem and develop some
solutions. Using the scientific method, scientists can look at each possible
solution to determine if it is correct.

Unit 1: Introduction to the Scientific Processes 5

 Step l: Identify the problem

The first step is to identify the problem and develop a question about it.
The study of a problem always begins with a question. Scientists must
know exactly what the question is so that they can decide how they want
to go about finding an answer to it.

In a study about the origins of coquina, a stone made of broken shells

found in Florida, scientists had only one question: How did coquina stone
made from organisms that lived in the ocean come to be found miles
away, far from the beaches and sea?

Step 2: Gather information

Then information is collected about the question. Observations are made

and recorded. Careful observations are important in gathering information.
Scientists observe everything they can about a scientific problem. By
studying coquina in areas where it seemed unlikely they could have
formed, scientist used many ways of collecting information to learn when
and where the stone formed.

There are various ways to collect information. Some of the ways are listed
below.

Ways to Collect Information

• reading about what other scientists have done on

the subject
• using the senses (sight, hearing, smell, touch, or
taste) to make observations
• using scientific equipment, such as a telescope

Confirmed observations can become scientific facts. A fact is an idea that

has been proven by experiments. Observations and facts are then
recorded. This recorded information becomes data. Scientific facts, often in
the form of numbers, are called data. Scientists must use logical reasoning
to interpret their data.

6 Unit 1: Introduction to the Scientific Processes

 Step 3: Form a hypothesis

Looking at the data gathered, scientists make a guess and suggest what
may be the answer to the problem. This guess, which is based on
observations, is called a hypothesis. A hypothesis is an idea or statement
that explains the relationship of observed facts to each other. It is a tool for
further study of the problem. A good hypothesis must include specific
explanatory information so that it can be tested.

The idea that ocean levels change was a good hypothesis for several
reasons. It explained why coquina rocks were found in dry areas as well as
under the sea. It predicted that the level of the ocean would not remain
constant over long periods of time and could change by either spreading
or receding. Very importantly, this hypothesis could be tested.

A Good Hypothesis

• explains how observed facts relate to each other

• predicts new facts
• lends itself to testing; a hypothesis that cannot be
tested is of no value

Step 4: Test the hypothesis

Scientists who proposed that the ocean levels could change would not
have had a useful hypothesis if they had not found a way to test it. The
test of their hypothesis was as important as the hypothesis itself.

Experimentation is the scientific testing of a hypothesis. It must be done in

a careful manner. Scientists must repeat experiments many times before
they accept the results. They must also test important factors under
different conditions.

Unit 1: Introduction to the Scientific Processes 7

 An experiment consists of two groups, the experimental group (which
contains the variable being tested) and the control group (without the
variable). The factor being tested in the experiment is the variable factor.
A controlled experiment is one in which all the factors are the same
except for the one being tested.

Scientists must carefully design their experiments to eliminate the

possibility of bias (making their results fit their hypothesis). This is why
several scientists will work together but separately on the same
experiment to ensure accurate results. The
experiment must also be repeated many times
achieving the same results in order for
conclusions to be made. A single result does not
imply any conclusion.

During and after experimentation, scientists

must make careful and complete observations. Scientists must make careful
and complete observations.
Accurate records of the results must be made in
the form of charts, graphs, or tables. Scientists
use these charts, graphs, and tables to analyze their data. They look for
similarities and differences between the results. Computer models or
simulations can also be used to test collected data or a hypothesis. These
analyses are used to help draw conclusions about their hypothesis.

Scientists developed ways to test their hypothesis that ocean levels change
over time. They took precise measurements of the ocean levels.

Step 5: Draw conclusions and report the results

After the experiments are completed, conclusions are drawn. Scientists use
the conclusions to reevaluate their hypothesis. They must decide if the
conclusions confirm or contradict their hypothesis. An experiment does
not always confirm a hypothesis. It may show that the hypothesis is
partially or totally wrong. If the hypothesis is wrong, the scientist must go
back and study the data and facts. The facts will be interpreted a different
way. The scientist will develop a new hypothesis to be tested. Even if an
experiment supports a hypothesis, the experiment may need to be
repeated many times before the hypothesis can be confirmed.

Scientists who studied the question of how and where coquina stones
formed learned a great deal. After years of measuring, their conclusions
stated that oceans could change. Coquina that was found on dry land
could have formed in the ocean.

8 Unit 1: Introduction to the Scientific Processes

 Practice

Arrange the steps of the scientific method below in the correct order on the
lines provided. The first step has been done for you.

Form a hypothesis.
Gather information.
Draw conclusions and report the results.
Test the hypothesis.

The correct order is as follows:

Identify the problem.

Unit 1: Introduction to the Scientific Processes 9

 Practice

Use the list above each section to write the correct term for each definition on the
line provided.

conclusion fact observation

data hypothesis scientific method
experiment laboratory

____________________ 1. an idea that has been proven by

experiments

____________________ 2. an idea or statement that attempts to

explain the relationship of observed
factors; an educated guess

____________________ 3. scientific facts that are collected, usually in

the form of numbers

____________________ 4. a way to test a hypothesis or try out an

answer to a question

____________________ 5. noticing something using one’s senses

(sight, smell, touch, hearing, or taste)

____________________ 6. an explanation of a problem based on

observations and collected data

____________________ 7. the steps scientists use to solve problems

____________________ 8. a place equipped and used for

experimental study, research, analysis,
testing, or preparation in any branch of
science

10 Unit 1: Introduction to the Scientific Processes

 control group experimental group
controlled experiment variable factor

____________________ 9. the part of the experiment without a

variable factor; allows the results of
experiment to be compared

____________________ 10. the factor being tested in an experiment

____________________ 11. part of the experiment that contains the

variable factor

____________________ 12. an experiment in which all the factors are

the same except for the one being tested

Unit 1: Introduction to the Scientific Processes 11

 Practice

Write True if the statement is correct. Write False if the statement is not correct.

__________ 1. An experiment may have only one variable factor.

__________ 2. Experiments always prove the hypothesis to be true.

__________ 3. A good hypothesis can be tested.

__________ 4. A hypothesis attempts to explain the relationship among

observed facts.

__________ 5. A fact is an idea that has been proven by experiments.

__________ 6. Careful observation is an important step in scientific

study.

__________ 7. Data is usually in the form of numbers.

__________ 8. Logical reasoning has no part in a scientific experiment.

__________ 9. If you get positive results from your experiment the first
time, it is okay to stop and report your results.

_________ 10. Observation is done solely with the eyes.

_________ 11. The experiment is the last step of the scientific method.

12 Unit 1: Introduction to the Scientific Processes

 Scientific Method in Action

Many scientific discoveries have been made by mistakes or by forming the

wrong hypothesis. For example, penicillin was discovered as a mold that
killed all of a researcher’s bacteria. Scientists often ask other scientists
from different disciplines to review their research and make suggestions
for refining their hypothesis or figuring out why their hypothesis was not
supported. Different conclusions may be reached by different teams of
scientists working on the same problem. This difference of opinion helps
the scientists reach a better understanding of the problem.

It is important to write down the results of experimentation and make

them available for other scientists to use. The results may then be used to
continue experimentation and to go on and make more new discoveries.

When a hypothesis has withstood the test of time, it is called a theory. An

accepted theory, however, may change as new discoveries in science are
made. At times scientists are unsure if old ideas are really true. They
investigate these theories.

Scientists have been using the scientific method for

about 400 years. It began with an Italian scientist
named Galileo Galilei (1564–1642) who tested ideas
about nature to explain the way things happen. Before
Galileo, most people believed that heavier objects fell
faster than lighter objects. No one bothered to test this
idea. Instead, they accepted it as fact. Then Galileo
decided to use the scientific method to investigate this
hypothesis. Galileo found that objects fall at the same
Galileo Galilei rate of acceleration regardless of their weight because
(1564–1642) gravity makes all objects accelerate at the same rate.
However, gravity is not the only force at work. Objects
are also affected by air resistance, the force air exerts on an object. This
was a gigantic change in the way the world was seen and understood.
Since that time, many other scientists have conducted investigations about
gravity. They too have found that Galileo was right about the way things
fall.

Unit 1: Introduction to the Scientific Processes 13

 Even now, such major changes occasionally take place. It is more
common, however, for the changes to be small. Whether big or small,
changes take place because scientists all over the world share
information. Often many scientists are working on the same problem. If
the results among the different scientists are not the same, the hypothesis,
approach, or methods may have to be changed. If a hypothesis has been
tested many times and seems correct, it is called a scientific theory. After a
theory has been tested and supported many times, it becomes a scientific
law. In science, no theory or law is ever considered proven. Galileo
showed us the reason for this, and, in fact, what Galileo said about
gravity is still considered theory.

Scientific Testing

Suppose you wanted to find out if storing popcorn in the refrigerator

would make a difference in the number of kernels that did not pop. You
would need to also test popcorn stored at room temperature as a control,
or the standard for comparison. All other conditions for both batches of
popcorn would need to be the same: the
same brand, same freshness, same Does storing
storage time, and same method of popcorn in the
preparation. Only one condition, the refrigerator make a
difference in the
place of storage, should differ. All number of kernels
other factors are constants and cannot that do not pop?
change.

Scientists often test their hypotheses by conducting experiments under

controlled conditions in the scientific laboratory. In some cases,
conditions cannot be controlled. It would be hard to control conditions
when investigating the way people behave or the way the trees in a large
forest interact. In these cases, it may not be possible or ethical to conduct
an experiment in a laboratory. Instead, scientists observe the widest
range of natural behavior possible. Scientists may survey large numbers
of people. They may record conditions in the forest for years and years.
By doing this, scientists gather information that can be compared to
laboratory results.

14 Unit 1: Introduction to the Scientific Processes

 Another way to test theories about parts of the world is to use a scale
model. Imagine you wanted to know how a building would behave
during an earthquake. You couldn’t create an actual earthquake in a
laboratory. Instead, you might construct a small scale model of the building.
Then you could shake it, simulating an earthquake. More and more,
models using computer simulations are being made. One advantage of
computer simulations is they permit scientists to test theories many times.

Sometimes theories are tested using analogs. Analogs are things that are
similar but not exactly alike. Scientists use the similarities between
analogs to learn. For example, you might want to know how a now extinct
dinosaur flew. You might study how bats actually do fly. Bats are analogs
to dinosaurs because both bats and dinosaurs flew without having
feathers. There are some differences between the two, but the scientists
study their similarities. With the right preparation, the results of this
investigation would be a fairly accurate prediction and would show what
it would take to make an extinct dinosaur fly. Try to think of an analog to a
human. Could you study the analog to learn things about humans?
Whether using analogs, computer simulations, or scale models, scientists
work to be sure that their results are generally accurate.

Computers and Science

Computers have become very important in scientific studies. Some

experiments are performed entirely by the computer. Scientists can
develop computer models or simulations to test collected data or a
hypothesis. These computer
simulations allow scientists to
perform complicated
mathematical computations
more quickly and reliably.
Supercomputers can perform
billions of calculations per
second. Simulations are also
Computers have become very important in used when experimenting may
scientific studies.
be very dangerous. Computer
models help scientists refine their hypotheses and determine the type of
information to be collected. Computers have helped speed up the
scientific process. They allow scientists to simulate past events.

Unit 1: Introduction to the Scientific Processes 15

 With computers, scientists can share information and collaborate with
others doing similar research. Computers also allow teams of scientists
from different disciplines to review or duplicate research even if they are
not on the same continent. The Internet was originally developed by the
Department of Defense as a means of sharing and transmitting such
research data quickly. Now we use the Internet to research current
scientific discoveries, to ask scientists questions about their research, or to
collect data for laboratory experiments or simulations. The Internet has
helped the scientific community share current information. It is a great
resource for up-to-date information. As with all other resources, however,
information from the Internet must be carefully reviewed to determine its
accuracy and reliability.

Laboratory Safety Rules

The school science laboratory can and should be

a safe place in which to explore interesting and
challenging activities. There is, however, one
factor that is most important—and that is safety!

The rules and procedures on the following page

Make the science
should be followed at all times in order to make laboratory a safe place.
the science laboratory a safe place.

16 Unit 1: Introduction to the Scientific Processes

 Safety Guidelines
1. Read and follow all directions while working in the laboratory.
2. Wear protective gear, such as aprons, at all times. Wear goggles
when working with dangerous or hot chemicals, or any time
your teacher instructs you to do so.
3. NEVER taste or directly inhale chemicals. Test the smell of a
substance by wafting or fanning some of the odor to your nose
with your hand. Your teacher can show you how.
4. DO NOT bring food or drink into the lab.
5. Wash hands thoroughly after each lab.
6. DO NOT rub eyes or put hands in mouth.
7. Dress in a way that helps you work safely and efficiently in the
lab. Tie your hair back. Wear cotton—it doesn’t catch fire as easily
as nylon or polyester. Always keep your shoes on while in the
lab. Roll up long or loose sleeves.
8. DO NOT look directly down into the mouth of a filled test tube.
DO NOT point the mouth of a filled test tube at another student.
Liquid can splash into eyes.
9. DO NOT perform any experiments unless the instructor is in
the room.
10. Report ALL minor and major accidents to your instructor. Remain
calm and do not alarm others by shouting or running.
11. Know the location of the safety shower, eye wash, and fire blanket.
Know how to use these important pieces of safety equipment.
12. Turn off gas burners and the gas outlets when no one is using
them. NEVER leave a lit burner unattended.
13. Use tongs or gloves to handle hot objects.
14. DO NOT look directly at the sun, with or without equipment,
as it may damage your eyes.
15. Keep lab tables clean and neat to prevent accidents. Dispose of
waste and used chemicals in appropriate location and manner
according to teacher’s instructions. Wipe all areas at the end
of the lab.
16. MAKE SAFETY A HABIT!

Unit 1: Introduction to the Scientific Processes 17

 Summary

The sharing of scientific information requires that scientists be able to

obtain and report their findings in an efficient and consistent manner.
When answering questions, scientists use the scientific method, a series of
logical steps to solve problems.

1. Identify the problem.

2. Gather information.

3. Form a hypothesis.

4. Test the hypothesis.

5. Draw conclusions and report the results.

Scientists must handle materials properly. Just as scientists have specific

rules and procedures for operating in the laboratory, we too must follow
safety rules to make our experiences in the science laboratory safe and
rewarding.

18 Unit 1: Introduction to the Scientific Processes

 Practice

Match each definition with the correct term. Write the letter on the line provided.

______ 1. a man-made version of a A. analog

physical object that is
identical in proportion to the
original but which may be
smaller in total size
B. computer
______ 2. that which has similar simulation
characteristics to another
thing (like the similarity
between the heart and a
pulse)
C. Galileo Galilei
______ 3. an Italian astronomer and
physicist who discovered that
objects fall at the same rate
regardless of mass
D. scale model
______ 4. a hypothesis that has
withstood the test of time

______ 5. a scientific theory that has

been tested many times and E. scientific law
has produced the same
results over a period of many
years

______ 6. a computer program F. theory

designed to represent the
behavior of something in the
physical world

Unit 1: Introduction to the Scientific Processes 19

 Practice

Find all the hazards in the science lab pictured below. List them on the lines
below. Be prepared to discuss them in class.

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

20 Unit 1: Introduction to the Scientific Processes

 Practice

List the locations and uses of the safety equipment below.

Equipment Location Use

safety shower

eye wash

fire extinguisher

fire blanket

sand

goggles

lap aprons

container for broken glass

Unit 1: Introduction to the Scientific Processes 21

 Practice

Write True if the statement is correct. Write False if the statement is not
correct.

__________ 1. If there is something you do not understand about the

lab assignment, you should ask your teacher.

__________ 2. Only the teacher needs to know where the safety

equipment is and how to use it.

__________ 3. It is a good idea to bring a lunch along to eat while

working on lab activities.

__________ 4. Use tongs or gloves to handle hot equipment.

__________ 5. It is important to use good housekeeping habits in the

laboratory.

__________ 6. Report all accidents to the teacher, no matter how

minor.

__________ 7. Do not wear loose or baggy clothes in the lab.

__________ 8. Safety glasses must be worn when working with

dangerous or hot chemicals.

__________ 9. It is important to put your nose directly over a

container and breathe deeply to smell a substance in the
laboratory.

_________ 10. Open test tubes should never be pointed at yourself or

at others.

22 Unit 1: Introduction to the Scientific Processes

 Write True if the statement is correct. Write False if the statement is not correct.
If the statement is false, rewrite it to make it true on the lines provided.

_________ 11. It is best to keep the results of your experiment a secret

so that no one may steal your ideas.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

_________ 12. A theory can be disproved if new discoveries are made.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

_________ 13. Computer simulation, models, and analogs are other

ways to test theories when normal lab techniques cannot
be used.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

_________ 14. Occasionally, large shifts in scientific thought occur.

More frequently, these shifts are small.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

Unit 1: Introduction to the Scientific Processes 23

 Practice

Circle the letter next to the scientific method term that correctly completes each
statement below.

1. The factor being tested in an experiment is the .

a. variable
b. hypothesis
c. observation
d. control

2. The part of the experiment without a variable factor is the

.
a. observation
b. control group
c. experiment
d. hypothesis

3. An idea or statement that attempts to explain the relationship of

observed factors to each other is a(n) .
a. hypothesis
b. observation
c. fact
d. conclusion

4. A way to test a hypothesis or try out an answer to a question is a(n)

.
a. fact
b. experiment
c. observation
d. data

5. To notice something using one’s sight, smell, touch, hearing, or taste

is a(n) .
a. observation
b. act
c. theory
d. data

24 Unit 1: Introduction to the Scientific Processes

 6. An explanation of a problem based on observations and collected data
is a .
a. fact
b. theory
c. data
d. conclusion

7. An idea that has been proven by experiments is a .

a. fact
b. theory
c. controlled experiment
d. data

8. Scientific facts that are collected, usually in the form of numbers, are
called .
a. data
b. scientific method
c. controlled experiment
d. theory

9. A hypothesis that has withstood the test of time is a(n) .

a. theory
b. controlled experiment
c. scientific method
d. observation

10. The steps scientists use to solve problems are known as the
.
a. theory
b. controlled experiment
c. scientific method
d. data

11. An experiment in which all the factors are the same except for the one
being tested is a(n) .
a. experimental group
b. controlled experiment
c. theory
d. scientific method

Unit 1: Introduction to the Scientific Processes 25

 12. The part of the experiment that contains the variable factor is the
.
a. controlled experiment
b. scientific method
c. theory
d. experimental group

13. A hypothesis is .
a. an educated guess
b. a scientific experiment
c. a scientific laboratory
d. a scientific law

26 Unit 1: Introduction to the Scientific Processes

Unit 2: Matter
This unit describes the properties of matter. The physical and chemical
properties of matter are discussed. Students will learn to recognize the
three phases of matter.

Student Goals

• Demonstrate, through the use of scientific instruments, that matter

occupies space and has mass.

• Differentiate between physical and chemical properties.

• Name the phases of matter and identify their characteristics.

Unit Focus

• Know that a change from one phase of matter to another involves a

gain or loss of energy. (SC.A.1.4.3)