Scientific Investigation

The primary goal of Earth science is to understand the natural world. Science can be used to answer almost any question, from the relationship between climate change and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, to questions about the size and shape of the universe. 

In this topic, you will explore the steps of the scientific method, a set of guidelines that all scientists use when conducting scientific investigations.  You will also learn to tell the differences between observations and inferences, and to figure out the differences between a scientific theory and a scientific law.  These fundamental topics may seem simple, but they are the most important building blocks of science.

Essential Questions

• What is the scientific method, and how does it support scientific investigations?
• What is the difference between an observation and an inference?
• What is a scientific theory, and how can its definition change over time?
• What is a scientific law?