Science reviewer

Science

Is a process of learning about the natural world that requires the testing of ideas.

Pseudoscience

Is any belief presented as scientific despite it not being a product of scientific investigation

Superstition

Is a belief that is not usually explained by the methods of natural sciences

Social science

Focuses primarily on the study of people, culture, and societies

Natural science

Seeks to understand the natural world and its different processes

Pure science

Is used in the study of new knowledge

Physical sciences

Are those that involve the study of nonliving things

Physics

It deals with matter and energy

Chemistry

It deals with matter, its composition, structure, and properties

Earth science

The processes that happen in its interior and surface

Meteorologists

Study weather and climate

Earth scientists

Investigate how geologic features formed on land and in the oceans

Geologists

Study rock and geologic features

Biology

Involve the study of living things

Applied sciences

Use the discoveries of the pure sciences to create practical solutions to existing problems and create products that can be used in actual settings

Aristotle

Was the foremost natural philosopher in the ancient period

Nicolaus Copernicus

Was a monk from Poland who first went against the idea of a geocentric universe

William Harvey

Was a doctor from England who discovered the circulation of blood

Louis Pasteur

Was a French scientist who focused on how decay and fermentation occured

Marie Curie

Was the first woman in the world to receive a Nobel Prize for Physics for her study on radioactivity in 1903

Lourdes Cruz

Her research is focused on extracting toxins from deadly cone snails to make useful substances

Fabian Dayrit

His specialization was in organometallic chemistry

Maria Corazon

Is currently the head of the DNA Analysis Laboratory of the Natural Sciences Research Institute, University of the Philippines, Diliman

Scientific models

Can take various forms, yet they can be broadly classified into three types

Physical models

Are visible, accessible by touch, and active representation

Conceptual models

They enable scientists to visualize and conceptualize normally undetectable or highly complex systems

Mathematical models

Are the mathematical counterpart of scientific exploration

Testing ideas

One primarily function of models is to serve as a testing ground for ideas and hypothesis

Making predictions

Models, particularly mathematical and computational ones, enable scientists to predict future events and trends

Scientific method

Scientists and engineers solve problems using a systematic process of empirical investigation

Statement of a problem

Choosing a problem to explore requires preliminary steps to ensure a successful investigation

Formulation of hypothesis

Is a simple statement that presents the possible solution to a problem

Testing of hypothesis and gathering of data

You test your hypothesis by concluding an experiment

Experiment

Is a set of manipulations or specific observations of nature and is considered the most important part of the scientific method

Controlled experiment

Generally compares the results obtained from an experimental sample against the control sample

Variable

Is a characteristic, number, or quantity that changes over time or takes different values in different situations

Controlled variables

Are factors that are kept constant throughout the experiment

Independent variables

Are factors that are changed or altered during the experiment(cause)

Dependent variables

Are the variables that you observe and are considered the response to an independent variable(effect)

Natural experiments

Or quasi-experiments are those that rely solely on observing the variables of the system under study

Field experiments

Are named to highlight the distinction from laboratory experiments

Prediction

Is a forecast of future events based on past observations

Control group

The part that contains the variable being tested

Experimental group

The part that contains the variable being tested

Dependent variable

This may be measured in terms of the height of the plants and the diameter of the stem after a period of time (the growth of plants)

Controlled variables

The quantity of water, sunlight, and the kind and initial size of plants

Presenting and analyzing data

It shows the relationship between the two factors which will serve as the basis for drawing conclusions

Drawing a conclusion

Concise summary of the experiment’s findings and evaluates how the results align with the hypothesis

Theory

A scientifically acceptable explanation for facts or phenomena

Reporting of findings

This stage is important in perpetuating the body of knowledge gained in conducting experiments using the scientific method

Measurement

Answers questions such as how long, tall, heavy, hot, bright, loud, and fast among others

Quantity

Is an arbitary number assigned to a certain amount

Unit of measurement

Tells what is being measured by the quantity

Measured values

Are composed of three specific components namely quantity, unit, and the name of the substance

Accuracy

Is one way of checking measurements

Precision

Is another way for checking errors in the measurement

Systemé International

Adopted the metric system because of its convenience

Length

Is the distance from one point to another

Mass

Is defined as the measure of the amount of matter in an object

Weight

Depends on the gravitational force

Spring scale

Is used in determining the weight of an object

Double beam balance

Is normally used in determining the mass of an object

Kilogram

Is equal to slightly more than two pounds

Thermometry

The scientific measurement of ordinary temperature

Fahrenheit

Is the oldest of the three scales

Celsius

Replaced the fahrenheit temperature scale for most scientific purposes

Kelvin

It is called the absolute temperature because it measures absolute temperatures

Significant figures

Indicates the accuracy of measurements