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Oceanography and the
Nature of Science
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A. What is Science?
1.
2.
3.
Science literally means “having knowledge”
Science is the search for answers to questions in
a methodical way.
And there is a specific method for going about
obtaining knowledge scientifically.
B. The Scientific Method
1.
Purpose: Why are we doing this? - state the
problem.
PURPOSE
B. The Scientific Method
1.
2.
Purpose: Why are we doing this? - state the problem.
Research: Start by gathering data.
PURPOSE
RESEARCH
B. The Scientific Method
1.
2.
3.
Purpose: Why are we doing this? - state the problem.
Research: Start by gathering data.
Hypothesis: a prediction based on data of what
you think might happen.
PURPOSE
RESEARCH
HYPOTHESIS
B. The Scientific Method
1.
2.
3.
4.
Purpose: Why are we doing this? - state the problem.
Research: Start by gathering data.
Hypothesis: a prediction based on data of what you think might happen.
Experiment: set up a way to test your prediction.
PURPOSE
RESEARCH
HYPOTHESIS
EXPERIMENT
B. The Scientific Method
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Purpose: Why are we doing this? - state the problem.
Research: Start by gathering data.
Hypothesis: a prediction based on data of what you think might happen.
Experiment: set up a way to test your prediction.
Analysis- record and interpret the results of your
test.
PURPOSE
RESEARCH
ANALYSIS
HYPOTHESIS
EXPERIMENT
B. The Scientific Method
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Purpose: Why are we doing this? - state the problem.
Research: Start by gathering data.
Hypothesis: a prediction based on data of what you think might happen.
Experiment: set up a way to test your prediction.
Analysis- record and interpret the results of your test.
Conclusion- compare your hypothesis to the
results of your tests.
PURPOSE
CONCLUSION
RESEARCH
ANALYSIS
HYPOTHESIS
EXPERIMENT
C. Theories and Laws
1.
2.
Just because scientific theories are developed
because of observations doesn’t mean they are
“True”
Theories don’t become laws.
C. Theories and Laws
1.
Just because scientific theories are developed because of observations doesn’t mean they are “True”
2.
Theories don’t become laws.
3.
A Theory is an explanation based on multiple
observations.
What theories do you
have about this party?
C. Theories and Laws
1.
2.
3.
4.
Just because scientific theories are developed because of observations doesn’t
mean they are “True”
Theories don’t become laws.
A Theory is an explanation based on multiple observations.
Law- a rule that describes the behavior of
something in nature. A Law describes what will
happen in a situation, but not why it happens.
What will happen to this
cliff jumper?
What do we know?
What can we theorize?
C. Theories and Laws
1. Often, scientists develop theories about why something
happens based on tests and observations. (ex. Theory of
Relativity proposed by Albert Einstein)
2. Laws are developed after tests and observations too, but “why”
is not always known. What is known is that the tests always
have the same conclusion. (ex. Law of Gravity)
D. Science Without Bias: Is it Possible?
• For science to be done accurately it must be done without Bias.
• Bias is simply your personal opinion.
• Preconceived notions and personal beliefs can affect your
observations.
• For example if you believe in aliens, your more likely to report
seeing one, and truly believe you have seen one, whether you truly
have or not.
• Do you think it is possible for a scientist’s who has spent 20 years of
his life doing an in-depth study, trying to gather evidence in support
of his theory, to be unbiased?
E. Observation & Inference
modified by Liz LaRosa www.middleschoolscience.com 2009, from original posted at:
www.science-class.net/PowerPoints/Observation_Inference_8th.ppt
Observations
Any information collected with the senses.
Quantitative – measureable or countable
3 meters long
4 marbles
50 kilograms
35 degrees Celsius
Qualitative – describable, not measureable
red flowers
smells like fresh baked cookies
Tastes bitter
The skill of describing scientific events
Inference
Conclusions or deductions based on observations.
The process of drawing a conclusion from given evidence.
Practice:
Observations:
• I hear people screaming
• I smell cotton candy, popcorn, and hamburgers
• I see a lot of people
Inference = ?
Look at these two sets of
animal tracks.
List 3 OBSERVATIONS
Make an INFERENCE
Now what do you think?
Make 3 OBSERVATIONS
Make an INFERENCE
Now what do you think?
Make 3 OBSERVATIONS
Make an INFERENCE
Source of graphic:
http://bob.nap.edu/html/evolution98/evol6-e.html
Fossil Activity
1. Find a partner
2. Write your name on the paper provided
3. I will give you a fossil
4. You are to draw your fossil as you see it (top,
side, and bottom) and make 3 observations.
5. In another area of the paper, draw the
environment and creature/plant that your
fossil belongs to.
6. Then you will present it to the class briefly.
What do you see?
F. Independent and Dependent Variables
• The scientific method requires variables for
testing.
• “Is plant growth affected by the amount of
sunlight?” - tested by varying the amount of
sunlight several plants receive and
comparing the growth of the plants.
• Independent variable is what you control in
the experiment (the amount of sunlight).
• Dependent variable is what you measure in
the experiment (the plant growth).
G. Graphing Data
•
If you were to graph the relationship between
plant growth and hours of sunlight received,
which variable would go on your “X” axis?
•
Bottom line= be independent
Let's try the Scientific Method!

What is happening in these pictures?

Do you know why?
Let's try the Scientific Method!


Purpose: Why does Diet Coke react explosively
with mentos candy?
Research: Everyone has seen this done on the
internet, so it does work. What is it between Diet
Coke and Mentos that makes it explosive?
Let's try the Scientific Method!




Diet Coke is fizzy, caused by the dissolved Carbon
Dioxide in the soda.
The candy releases this carbon dioxide rapidly,
causing the explosion.
So we will try this with soda water, which is like
Diet Coke, without all the additives (just dissolved
carbon dioxide in water)
Write down a hypothesis (prediction) about what
you think will happen.



So our experiment is to add mentos to soda water to get a
reaction between the candy and the carbon dioxide.
Record your observations. What did you see? This is your
analysis.
Did it match your hypothesis? This is your conclusion.


Now we need to test the mentos to see if it is special.
We will drop a fruit flavored mentos into the soda water
and see if we have the same reaction.

What do you think will happen?

Did your hypothesis match the result?
Make your own tests!
In groups of 3 or 4, you will be given a problem.
Read your card and create an experiment that will
solve your problem.
Work quickly!
When the time is up, turn in all your work. Don't
forget to put everyone's names on it!
Let's see if you had the same ideas...
What is Oceanography?
•
Oceanography is the study of the ocean using
scientific methods of testing and data recording.
G. Earth and its Oceans
• Earth's surface is mostly water: 71%
• How did the oceans form?
G. Earth and its Oceans
• Earth's surface is mostly water: 71%
• How did the oceans form?
One theory states: As Earth warmed and
partially melted, water locked in the
minerals as hydrogen and oxygen were
released and carried to the surface by
volcanic venting activity (outgassing).
Once the hydrogen and oxygen was released
into the atmosphere, it combined to
become water vapor. As more water was
produced, clouds formed and it rained
and rained and rained!
G. Earth and its Oceans
• The presence of water on Earth is due to the “Goldilocks
Effect” - Earth is a perfect distance from the sun for water
to be liquid on the planet.
• Too close, and water would be permanently water vapor.
• Too far, and water would be permanently ice.
• Liquid water is essential to support life on Earth!
I. One World Ocean, 5 Names
• All the oceans are interconnected, but we use 5 names to
identify the 5 main ocean basins.
• They are Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Arctic, and Southern
(formerly the Antarctic).
J. The Disciplines of Oceanography
1. Oceanography is composed of 4 basic disciplines:
1. Geological Oceanography – Structure and formation of the sea
floor
2. Chemical Oceanography - Chemical composition and properties
of seawater
3. Physical Oceanography - Waves, tides, currents (all movement)
4. Biological Oceanography - Oceanic life forms
J. The Disciplines of Oceanography
Using the descriptions, state which area of oceanography the following situations
would fit into: (INCLUDE SCENARIO IN YOUR NOTES AND ANSWER)
1. Studying the tides during a moon cycle
2. Testing how much salt is in the waters of the Southern Ocean
3. Studying the mating habits of false killer whales
4. Using sonar to map the sea floor
5. Sampling ocean water and iceburg melt water and comparing their chemical
compositions
6. Tracking the ocean currents as they move from the equator to the pole in the
Atlantic ocean
7. Sending a ROV to the floor of the Pacific to collect data on depths and underwater
trenches
8. Taking a count of the number of species of Clownfish on the Great Barrier Reef