What is science Science Science is the study
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What is science
Science • Science is the study of nature’s rules Galileo Galilei Sir Francis Bacon • Galileo and Sir Francis Bacon developed the “Scientific Method”
Scientific Method • Is extremely effective in gaining, organizing and applying new knowledge • It is a method of solving problems
Scientific Method • In our book, the scientific method is listed as 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Recognize a problem. Make an educated guess—a hypothesis—about the answer. Predict the consequences of the hypothesis. Perform experiments to test predictions. Formulate the simplest general rule that organizes the main ingredients: hypothesis, prediction, and experimental outcome.
Scientific Method • The scientific method is taught in schools as the only way that scientists discover information. This is not true. • Many initial discoveries were by trail and error, accidental discovery and by performing experiments just to see what would happen
Key terms about the scientific method • Fact—a close agreement about something • Hypothesis—an educated guess that is accepted until demonstrated by experiment • Theory—a synthesis of a large body of information about well tested and verified hypothesis • Laws and Principles—hypothesis that have tested many times by many scientists and not contradicted. Laws are usually expressed in equations
Scientific Progress • Experiments are repeated by many different scientists to determine their validity • Scientists must accept their findings even when they do not agree with them. • Theories evolve with more information – Sometimes they are strengthened – Sometimes they are disproven and are discarded
Concept check • When must a hypothesis, law, or principle be changed or abandoned?
Scientific hypothesis • A scientific hypothesis must be testable – There must be a way to prove it wrong – Example: “No material object can travel faster than light. ” – This is scientific because this statement can be proven wrong by finding one object that moves faster than light.
Scientific hypothesis • Non scientific hypotheses – “The alignment of planets in the sky determines the best time for making decisions” – “Intelligent life exists on other planets somewhere in the universe” – Both of these do not have a way of being proved wrong