Nature of Science Scientific Investigations Physical Science Honors

Nature of Science & Scientific Investigations Physical Science Honors

Scientific Knowledge • Science is not a list of facts and information to be memorized! – Scientific knowledge grows and changes as new understanding evolves • Scientific explanations are based on EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE. – Cumulative body of observations of a natural phenomenon

Scientific Knowledge • SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE is the result of: – Continuous Testing and Observation – Debate (argumentation) – Confirmation (repetition and replication) • “Consensus” is reached when an idea/explanation is generally accepted within the scientific community.

Science CANNOT Prove • Scientific knowledge is TENTATIVE (open to change) – Science cannot “prove” an explanation • This eliminates the possibility for change • Science can “support” a conclusion or theory – This is done through scientific CONFIRMATION • REPETITION & REPLICATION

Scientific Theories & Laws • Many people have the MISCONCEPTION that a theory is a scientific idea that will become a law when it is proven… –This is INCORRECT! • Scientific theories DO NOT become scientific laws! NEVER…ever –theories and laws are two different things!

SCIENTIFIC LAW • A statement that DESCRIBES what happens in nature consistently under a specific set of conditions. • A law will tell you what is expected to happen every time under those conditions. • A law will NOT tell you why it happens. • Ex: The Law of Gravity – On Earth, in the absence of an applied force, objects will fall toward the center of the Earth.

SCIENTIFIC THEORY • An EXPLANATION of a natural phenomenon that is well supported by a substantial amount of testing and confirmation. • A theory will tell you WHY something happens (our best attempt at an explanation given what we currently know) • Theories are used to explain laws. • Ex: Theory of Gravity – Unequal distribution of mass causes a curvature of space-time which results in an apparent “attraction” between two objects with mass, often described as the “force” due to gravity.

Theory vs. Law • So… – Scientific LAWS describe WHAT happens – Scientific THEORIES explain WHY it happens • Sometimes, competing theories offer different explanations for the same law. – What happens then? • Further testing & confirmation, debate • If contradictory evidence is confirmed, a theory can be modified to fit the new evidence. Because theories are so wellsupported, it is rare that they are completely discarded.

SCIENTIFIC MODELS • Scientists often use MODELS as a representation of an idea, object, or process. – 3 -D representation – 2 -D diagram – Physical Analogy – Theoretical Analogy or Metaphor

Scientific Models • BENEFITS – Money – Safety – Opportunity/Convenience – Communication • LIMITATIONS – Can Create Misconceptions – Can Introduce Error – Often Based on Assumptions

So…What IS Science? • SCIENCE is a limited discipline that studies only naturally occurring events, while offering natural explanations for the phenomenon under study. • The characteristics of science: - Consistent - Predictable - Observable - Testable - Natural - Tentative ØCONPTT

Our “Tool Box” • We have many “tools” we use to understand our lives/world – Science is ONE of these tools, along with art, philosphy, religion, etc…it is not always the RIGHT tool… • Science is about questioning – asking questions, searching for answers, discovering new questions • Science is limited in what it can help us understand – Just like some tools are useful for some jobs, but not others

What are the Limits of Science? • Science Cannot: – Answer questions about the supernatural world or understand matters of faith, artistic expression, feeling, etc…(untestable or unobservable, subjective) • Science Can: – Investigate questions about the NATURAL world and explain observable/testable topics

What are the Limits of Science? • Science Cannot: – “Prove” an idea • Science Can: – Provide evidence that supports or disputes an idea and offers a tentative explanation

What are the Limits of Science? • Science Cannot: – Disregard evidence or assume outcomes without testing • Science Can: – Offer explanations to make sense of the empirical evidence and predict likely outcomes

Identifying “PSEUDOSCIENCE” • PSEUDOSCIENCE refers to areas of study that may make use of scientific concepts but whose conclusions and explanations do not exhibit the characteristics of science (CONPTT). – Examples