1. Chapter 1: The Nature of Science
Section 2:Scientific Enterprise

2. A Work in Progress; even today!!!
1. Early civilizations believed
that mythological gods
were responsible for
creating storms, causing
volcanoes to erupt,
causing earthquakes,
bringing the seasons, and
making comets appear in
the sky. *****
a. Scandinavian and
Germanic people believed
the weather was
controlled by a god
named Thor.
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3. A. Recording Observations
1. Early civilizations started recording events;
developed calendars.
2. Six thousand years ago, Egyptian farmers
realized the Nile River flooded their lands
around the same time every year.
a. What do you think the farmers started doing with
their crops?
3. They noticed that the brightest star in the sky,
SIRIUS, appeared at dawn in the east.
a. They used this information to develop the
calendar based on the appearance of this star,
which occurred about every 365 days.

4. 4. Later, civilizations created instruments to
measure with.
a. Instruments allow precise measurements.
b. Instruments improved over time; therefore the
accuracy of measurement improved.
c. This allowed people to make better conclusions about
events.

5. B. History of Meteorology
1. Meteorology: The study of
weather
2. 1600’s; Scientists in Italy began
to use instruments to study
weather.
a. Barometer: Measure air pressure.
b. Thermometer: Measure
temperature
c. Hygrometer: to measure water
vapor in the air.
d. Anemometer: To measure wind
speed

6. C. Weather Predictions in the United
States
1. Benjamin Franklin: first American to
suggest that weather could be predicted.
a. Study articles about storms across the country;
concluded that storms generally move across
the country from west to east.
b. His ideas were put to use shortly after the
telegraph was invented in 1837.
i. How do you think his suggestion was used to help
people?

7. 2. 1849: organized system of weather observation
sites was set up.
a. Information was sent by telegraph to the Smithsonian
Institution.
3. 1850 Joseph Henry began drawing maps from the
weather data he received.
a. Weather report was sent to the Washington Post for
the first weather report in a newspaper.

8. D. National Weather Service
1. By 1923, weather forecasts were being carried by
140 radio stations across the United States.
2. By 1970 the NWS became part of the National
Oceanic Atmospheric Administration. (NOAA)
a. Check out www.noaa.gov website.
b. This the best site to check for winter storms and
school closing possibilities!!!!
3. Today’s weather is forecast using orbiting
satellites, weather balloons, radar, and other
sophisticated technology.
a. Each day 60,000 reports from weather stations, ships,
aircraft, and radar transmitters are gathered and
filed.

10. E. Continuing Research
1. Scientists use a variety of technology to study
weather, Earth, space, Oceans, etc.
a. Technology is always changing to help improve our
understanding .

11. F. Scientific Theories
1. A scientific theory is an explanation or model
backed by results obtained rom many tests or
experiments.
2. How a hypothesis becomes a theory?
a. Read pages 18 to 19 of your ONLINE TEXTBOOK.
b. We will read this in class!!!
3. Hypothesis Supported
a. In order for a hypothesis to become a theory, it must be
supported by years of testing and conclusions that support
the hypothesis.

12. G. Scientific Law
1. A scientific law is a RULE that describes the
behavior of something in nautre.
a. Describes what will happen, but does not explain WHY
it happens.
b. Newton’s first law of motion
i. An object will continue in motion or remain at rest until it’s
acted upon by an outside force.
ii. Read page 19 ONLINE TEXTBOOK.

13. H. Limits of Science
1. Science does not have the answers to all
problems in the universe.
a. For a question to be scientifically studied, there must
be variables that can be observed, measured, and
tested.
2. Problems with ethics or belief systems cannot be
answered with science methods.
a. Ethics: dealing with moral values about what is good
or bad. (See next slide)

15. I. Being Objective
1. Be sure you design experiments to test your
hypothesis objectively, without bias.
a. Bias: A personal opinion that can affect your
observation.
J. Being Ethical and Open
1. The opposite of ethical behavior in science is
fraud.
a. Includes changing data to support your hypothesis,
making up data, and taking credit for work done by
others.