Characteristics of Physics Module Overview

Various examples of physical phenomena. Have you ever thought about why scientists are continuing to make new discoveries? What role does technology play in these advancements and how does this affect us in our day-to-day lives? How do scientists design experiments and then report their findings?

Our natural world is complex, amazing, and complicated. In this module, you will learn how people use the process of science to investigate the world in which we live. You will explore how data is collected, analyzed, interpreted, and represented. In all science environments, safety should be the utmost priority. You will review safety rules as well as specific lab equipment used in physics laboratories. The information presented in this module will help you begin thinking like a scientist and prepare you for reporting your findings like a scientist.

This module is also the start of your study of introductory physics concepts. Physics is the branch of science that studies how matter and energy interact. Throughout the next couple of modules, you will be studying topics like motion, force, heat, light, sound, electricity, magnetism, and more. There will be a small math component in each module. This is because physicists have found that many of the complicated things in nature can be understood in relatively simple mathematical relationships. In this module, we will review fundamental mathematical operations that will help you as you progress through the course. All scientists use the metric system, which we will review. We will also discuss how to convert units as well as how to accurately report numbers. Who's ready to jump in and begin?!

Essential Questions

How do people use the process of science to investigate questions about the natural world?
How can data be analyzed, interpreted, and represented?
What guidelines should be followed while conducting experiments in a laboratory setting to ensure investigations are safe and consistent with standard scientific practice?
What elements of design are critical in conducting a scientific investigation?
What tools are used in physics-related experiments?
How do we know whether the conclusions of a scientific investigation are valid?
Thinking about whose answer is right and whose answer is better, how does this apply to accuracy versus precision?

Key Terms

Scientific Method- an organized method or procedure to investigate phenomena, get new knowledge, correct errors and mistakes, and test theories. It consists of making observations, taking measurements, and conducting experiments in order to formulate, test, and modify hypotheses.
Hypothesis- an educated guess or proposed explanation about how something works that is possible to test to prove it right or wrong.
Data- observations and measurements collected for reference and/or analysis from scientific experiments.
Qualitative Data- is information about qualities; information that can not actually be measured. Some examples of qualitative data are the softness of your skin, the color of your eyes, and how much you care for something.
Quantitative Data- is information about quantities; that is, information that can be measured and written down with numbers. Some examples of quantitative data are your height, your shoe size, and the height of your vertical jump.
Scientific Theory- a set of statements or principles devised to explain a group of facts or phenomena, especially one that has been repeatedly tested or is widely accepted and can be used to make predictions about natural phenomena.
Scientific Law- is a statement based on repeated experimental observations that describe some aspect of the universe. A scientific law always applies under the same conditions and implies that there is a causal relationship involving its elements. A good example is the Law of Gravity.
Conclusion- the result or outcome of the experiment.
Bar Graph- to show comparison.
Line Graph– to show how a particular data changes at equal intervals of time.
Circle Graph- to show a visual picture of a proportion compared to a whole by using percentages.
Significant Figures- are those digits of a number that carry meaning contributing to its precision.
Dimensional Analysis- is a mathematical system using conversion factors to move from one unit of measurement to a different unit of measurement. For example, if you need to calculate how many seconds are in a day, you can use dimensional analysis to set all of your needed conversions into one problem.
Variables– factors in an experiment you are trying to measure.
Control Variables- the factors that remain the same and constant in the experiment. For example: If an experimenter is measuring if fertilizer affects a plant's height growth, then the control variables would be the amount of sunlight, amount of water, type of plant, size of the pot, etc.
SI system- (International System of Units)-the modern metric system of measurement and the dominant system of international commerce and trade.
Accuracy- the ability of a measurement to match the actual value of the quantity being measured.
Precision- the ability of a measurement to be consistently reproduced.
Scientific Notation- a method of writing or displaying large or small numbers in terms of a decimal number between 1 and 10 multiplied by a power of 10. The scientific notation of 10,492, for example, is 1.0492 × 10⁴.
Independent Variable- the variable that the experimenter changes to test their dependent variable. It stands alone and is not changed by the other variables the experimenter is trying to measure. For example: If an experimenter is measuring if fertilizer affects a plant's height growth, then the amount of fertilizer is the independent variable. The fertilizer is what the experimenter is adding to change the outcome of the experiment.
Dependent Variable- is 'dependent' on the independent variable. As the experimenter changes the independent variable, the change in the dependent variable is observed and recorded. For example: If an experimenter is measuring if fertilizer affects a plant's height growth, then the height of the plant is the dependent variable. The height of the plant is what is being observed and measured.
X-axis- the horizontal axis of a two-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system. The location the independent variable is plotted.
Y-axis- the vertical axis of a two-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system. The location the dependent variable is plotted.

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