Scientific Method

Scientific Method

Scientific Method as outlined in section 1.3—NOT to be memorize done of the ways good science is performed. More important than a particular method is attitude of inquiry experimentation willingness to accept findings, even those not desired

Multiple Choice

Which of these is a scientific hypothesis?

• The Moon is made of green cheese.

• Atomic nuclei are the smallest particles in nature.

• A magnet will pick up a copper penny.

• Cosmic rays cannot penetrate the thickness of your Conceptual Integrated Science textbook.

• All of These

Multiple Choice

Which of these is not a scientific hypothesis?

• Protons carry an electric charge.

• Undetectable particles are some of nature’s secrets.

• Charged particles will bend when moving in a magnetic field.

• All of the above are scientific hypotheses.

Fact, Theories, and Laws

• Fact - a phenomenon about which competent observers can agree

• Theory - a synthesis of a large body of information that encompasses well-tested hypotheses about certain aspects of the natural world

• Law - a general hypothesis or statement about the relationship of natural quantities that has been tested over and over again and has not been contradicted—also known as a principle

Multiple Choice

Which of these often changes over time with further study?

• Facts

• Theories

• Both of These

• None of These

Multiple Choice

A person who says, “that’s only a theory” likely doesn’t know that a scientific theory is a

• guess

• number of facts.

• hypothesis of sorts.

• vast synthesis of well-tested hypotheses and facts.

Science Has Limitations

• is in natural phenomena

• does not deal with the “supernatural,” a domain “above science”

• Claims to supernatural phenomenon, true or otherwise, lie outside the domain of science.

Multiple Choice

A major difference between pseudoscience and science is that pseudoscience

• makes no predictions.

• doesn’t use scientific terminology.

• has no tests for wrongness.

• all of these

Science, Art, and Religion

• Science asks how

• Religion asks why

• Art bridges the two

• When science and religion address their respective domains, conflict between the two is minimized or absent.

Technology—The Practical Use of Science

• an important tool of science

• sometimes the fruit of science, as in medicine that cures disease

• a human endeavor

• can be used to elevate or to diminish the human condition

The Natural Sciences: Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Earth Science, and Astronomy

• Philosophy - was at one time the study of unanswered questions about nature

• became science as answers were found

• Physics is the study of basic concepts such as motion, force, energy, matter, heat, sound, light, electricity, and magnetism.

The Natural Sciences: Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Earth Science, and Astronomy

• Chemistry builds on physics and studies how matter is put together to produce the growing list of materials and medicines we use in our everyday lives.

• Biology, built on chemistry, is the study of life—the most complex of the sciences.

• Earth science is the study of geology, meteorology, and oceanography.

• Astronomy is the study of nature beyond the confines of Planet Earth‚ the far-out science.

Integrated Science—fields of science

• overlap

• merge into one another, such as biophysics, biochemistry, geophysics, astrophysics, bio-astrophysics

• acknowledged to present a cohesive study of the natural world

Multiple Choice

Although physics may be the most difficult science course in certain schools, when compared with the fields of chemistry, biology, Earth science, and astronomy, it is

• the simplest.

• still the hardest!

• the central science, in between chemistry and biology.

• simple enough, but only for especially intelligent people.