Scientific Method, Natural Resources, and Main Environmental Problems Notes

New Vocabulary: purpose, hypothesis, control, independent variable, dependent variable, procedures, raw data, results, conclusions, renewable resources, nonrenewable resources, deforestation, pollution, pollutant, biodegradable pollutant,nonbiodegradable pollutant, biodiversity, and species

Scientific Method

1.)______: What problem are you trying to solve? (Not in question form)

2.)______: Various ways

3.)______: Making an educated guess

4.)______: Testing the hypothesis

  • ______: Standard, blank, or constant –does not change during an experiment
  • ______: Changeable factor in experiment
  • ______-Can be manipulated by the experimenter

Found on the ______of a graph

  • ______-Changes as a result of the independent variable changing

Found on the ______of a graph

  • ______: Organized steps to test a problem

5.)______:

  • ______ are what a person notices with their senses while testing a problem.

What is seen, hearing, smelling, touching, etc.

  • The ______ is information found during the testing usually in number or color format

6.)______:

  • ______-Taking raw data and putting it in an organized format: Table, Chart, Graph
  • ______-Answering questions about the Results

7.)______: Summary of procedures and results used to indicate whether the hypothesis is correct or not and why. Include explanation of discoveries findings

Lab Safety – is a must!!!

What are Natural Resources?

  • They are things that existed on Earth that are used by ______. They include air, minerals, water, soil, plants, and animals. Includes both ______and ______things.

What are the two types of Natural Resources?

1.)______-They are formed over a long period of time sometimes ______of years.

  • Examples: coal, natural gas, and minerals

2.)______- they are formed in nature ______.

  • Examples: Trees, Fresh water, and air

What are the Main Environmental Problems?

1.)Depletion of Natural Resources

  • We are depleting our ______at an alarming rate. Fossil fuels and minerals are the hardest hit and they may not last another generation.
  • Some ______can also be depleted. For instance the Tropical Rain Forest trees are being cut down faster than they can be replenished. This is causing ______.

2.)Pollution

  • Pollution occurs from ______humans have allowed to accumulate and have led to undesirable changes to our air, soil, and water. Pollution has adversely affected the ______and ______of humans and other organisms.

What is a pollutant?

______

What are the two types of pollutants?

1.) ______that can be broken down

by natural processes.

2.) ______cannot be broken down

easily and build up in ______in the environment.

3.) Loss of biodiversity

  • ______ -refers to the number and variety of different species that live in the area.

______-A group of organisms that are closely related and can mate and produce fertile offspring.

Loss of biodiversity leads to the ______of organisms.

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