II - Critical Thinking: Science, Models, & Systems

Question 1

Science

Answer 1

pursuit of KNOWLEDGE
about how the world
works

Question 2

Technology

Answer 2

creation of NEW 
products & processes
intended to IMPROVE
survival, comfort, or
quality of life

Question 3

What are the three basic assumptions about science?

Answer 3

I - ORDER in universe
II - Human mind is CAPABLE of comprehend this order
III - SAME conditions = SAME results

Question 4

Scientific Process

Answer 4

Observations
Hypotheses
Procedure
Experiments
Analysis
Conclusion

Question 5

Hypotheses

Answer 5

proposed to explain observed patterns
a testable statement
FALSIFIABLE

Question 6

Experiments

Answer 6

Critical tests used to test a hypothesis

Question 7

Scientific theory

Answer 7

a conceptual formulation which provides a RATIONAL explanation or framework for numerous related OBSERVATIONS

Question 8

Scientific theory example

Answer 8

Global warming due to greenhouse effect

Question 9

Scientific Law

Answer 9

a BASIC underlying principle that matter, energy, & certain other phenomena apparently ALWAYS act (or react) in a PREDICTABLE manner

Question 10

Scientific Law example

Answer 10

Law of gravity

Question 11

Accuracy

Answer 11

extent to which a measurement agrees

with the accepted or correct value

Question 12

Precision

Answer 12

measure of reproducibility

Question 13

Types of Reasoning

Answer 13

Deductive

Inductive

Question 14

Deductive reasoning

Answer 14

using LOGIC to arrive at a specific CONCLUSION based on a generalization or PREMISE
GENERAL -> SPECIFIC

Question 15

Deductive reasoning example Eagles

Answer 15

All bird have feathers.
Eagles are birds.
All eagles have feathers

Question 16

Inductive reasoning

Answer 16

using OBSERVATIONS and facts to
arrive at GENERALIZATIONS or hypotheses
SPECIFIC -> GENERAL

Question 17

Inductive reasoning example CO2

Answer 17

CO2 is a heat-trapping
gas.
Human activities release CO2 in the atmosphere.
CO2 from human
activities is a cause of
global climate change.

Question 18

Frontier science

Answer 18

PRELIMINARY scientific data, hypotheses, and models that have NOT been WIDELY tested
and accepted
UNRELIABLE

Question 19

Consensus Science

Answer 19

scientific data, models, theories, and laws that are WIDELY accepted
RELIABLE

Question 20

System

Answer 20

set of COMPONENTS that function & interact in some REGULAR or predictable manner

Question 21

Structure

Answer 21

Organization of system components

Question 22

Function

Answer 22

What the system does

Question 23

Examples of systems

Answer 23

Circulatory

Automobile

Question 24

Circulatory- NATURAL components/ function

Answer 24

COMPONENTS: heart,
arteries, veins, capillaries, & blood

FUNCTION: transport of oxygen, carbon dioxide, & nutrients

Question 25

Automobile- MAN-MADE components/ function

Answer 25

COMPONENTS: engine, body, brakes, wheels, etc. FUNCTION: transportation

Question 26

Why are models valuable?

Answer 26

APPROXIMATE representations | or simulations of REAL SYSTEMS to help find out which ideas or hypotheses WORK

Question 27

Mental Models

Answer 27

guide our PERCEPTIONS and help us make PREDICTIONS

Question 28

Physical Models

Answer 28

TOUCHABLE 3-D models that closely REPRESENT an object or system

Question 29

Graphical Models

Answer 29

ILLUSTRATIONS which show a REPRESENTATION of an object or system

Question 30

Conceptual Models

Answer 30

verbal or graphical EXPLANATION of how a system WORKS or is organized

Question 31

Mathematical Models

Answer 31

One or more EQUATIONS that represent the way a system or process works Useful in cases with MANY variables Only as good as the DATA that went into them

Question 32

What are the 5 types of models?

Answer 32

``` Mental Physical Conceptual Graphical Mathematical ```

Question 33

System inputs

Answer 33

Matter, energy, & info that enters a system

Question 34

System flow/throughputs

Answer 34

Matter, energy, & info that flows through a system

Question 35

System outputs

Answer 35

Matter, energy, & info that exits a system

Question 36

System inputs into human body

Answer 36

Matter, energy, & info

Question 37

System throughputs in human body

Answer 37

Accumulations & flows of matter, energy, & info

Question 38

System outputs from human body

Answer 38

Useless info Waste heat Waste matter

Question 39

Feedback Loop

Answer 39

RELATIONSHIP in which a CHANGE in one part of a system INFLUENCES another part of the system in a way that either REINFORCES or SLOWS the original CHANGE

Question 40

Positive Feedback Loop

Answer 40

CHANGE in a certain direction within a system causes MORE change in that same direction ULTIMATELY UNSTABLE

Question 41

Positive Feedback Loop example

Answer 41

Exponential population growth in which more individuals lead to increased numbers of births

Question 42

Negative Feedback Loop

Answer 42

CHANGE in a certain direction within a system causes LESSENING of change in that same direction ULTIMATELY STABLE

Question 43

Negative Feedback Loop example

Answer 43

Homeostasis -> increased temp. leads to decrease in temp. through sweating

Question 44

Time lag

Answer 44

when a change in a system leads to other | changes after a delay,

Question 45

Time lag example

Answer 45

lung cancer after 20–30 years of smoking, global warming after decades of carbon dioxide emission.

Question 46

Resistance to change

Answer 46

seen in systems with negative feedback that are designed to maintain the system; biological, chemical, and physical components can shift to absorb and cancel much of the change

Question 47

Good resistance

Answer 47

Acid precipitation has less of an impact on areas with natural buffers

Question 48

Bad resistance

Answer 48

many economic & political systems resist environmental initiatives like pollution penalties

Question 49

Synergy

Answer 49

results when two or more processes interact to that the combined effect is more than the sum of their separate effects

Question 50

Synergy example

Answer 50

team efforts using multiple talents

Question 51

Chaos

Answer 51

results when noisy or unpredictable behavior is generated from within the system itself,

Question 52

Chaos examples

Answer 52

Waves in ocean variation in weather | Population dynamics

Question 53

Butterfly effect

Answer 53

Chaotic systems can be extremely sensitive to even small | disturbances

Question 54

Some important behaviors includes

Answer 54

``` Time lag Resistance to change Synergy Chaos Butterfly effect ```

Question 55

Independent variable

Answer 55

one factor of interest that | is being tested

Question 56

Dependent variable

Answer 56

what is changing because | of the independent variable

Question 57

Experimental Group

Answer 57

group that receives the | experimental treatment/is exposed to the IV

Question 58

Control Group

Answer 58

group that doesn’t receive the | experimental treatment/is not exposed to the IV

Question 59

Constants

Answer 59

all other factors that remain the same between the experimental and control groups