In this topic we are learning to: Consider science as a process that allows people to investigate natural occurrences (phenomena) that can be tested.
Describe how science gives us a body of knowledge that is always changing.
What is Science? Science is the study of the world around us.
You have always been a scientist. Ever since you were a baby, crawling on the fl oor and putting things in your mouth, you have been doing scientifi c investigations – testing ideas, fi nding out information and making decisions based on that information.
Scientific Investigations
Scientists carry out investigations to answer questions about the natural world.
In this chapter, we will look at how and why scientifi c investigations are carried out. You can refer back to it as you carry out your own scientifi c investigations.
Observation: ask a question
Form a hypothesis
Test the hypothesis with investigations
Analyse the results Form conclusions
Fig. 0.1.2 The scientifi c method
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Fig. 0.1.1 We are all born as scientists, curious about the world around us
The Scientific Method
Scientists work hard to solve problems in many diff erent ways. One approach is to use what has become known as the scientifi c method.
The scientifi c method is a series of steps that scientists follow to investigate natural occurrences (phenomena) that can be tested. Figure 0.1.2 outlines these steps.
A natural occurrence is anything that happens in nature that is not controlled by humans. For example, an iceberg fl oating on water.
