Scientific Method and the System(s) of Earth Flashcards
Broadly, what is the scientific method?
A systematic approach to studying natural processes. In science, it is the way that we approach problems or questions. It is a logical approach to problem solving.
List the 4 steps, in order, of the scientific method
- Make Observations
- Formulate a hypothesis, or hypotheses
- Test the hypothesis
- Evaluate
Based on ______ you will formulate hypotheses of what you think is causing an ______, problem, or question that you are seeing.
observations, effect
When you have any _______ or ________, the first step is to make observations
questions, problems
Then you design _______ to test the hypotheses
experiments
Once those experiments are performed they are _____ to see which ones worked and didn’t work
evaluated
Example of scientific method usage
One morning you observe that your car is not where you expected it to be. You formulate hypotheses for what might be the reason for this. maybe one of your friends. borrowed your car and didn’t tell you, or maybe you parked your car down the street and forgot where you parked it, or maybe your car got stole. In order to test them maybe you ask your friends if they borrowed the car, walk down the street to see if you parked in different spot, and check ground for broken glass. Evaluate. You call your friend and he says no I didn’t borrow it. Then you go down the street and notice that the car is there.
As we try to understand different environments of the earth, geographers break down these environments into _______.
systems
Examples of systems are…
a stream, shallow water, deep water, hilltops, etc
We define systems based on their ______ with the environment.
interaction
What is an isolated system?
When no energy or or matter is exchanged with environment
An analogy for an isolated system is…
the perfect coffee mug.
Matter: The is no exchange any matter (coffee) meaning there is no spillage or leaking of coffee.
Energy: It doesn’t exchange any energy meaning the temperature of the mug would stay exactly the same forever
What is a closed system?
When energy is exchanged with the environment but not matter
An analogy for a closed system is…
a spill proof travel mug.
Matter: no matter is spilled
Energy: the coffee slowly cools down over time because the heat is escaping through the mug
What is an open system?
When both energy and matter can be exchanged with the environment
