Chapter 1 About Science

1. Chapter 1 About Science Conceptual Physics - Chapter 1

2. Life Sciences Biology Botony Anatomy Marine Biology Physical Sciences Physics Chemistry Astronomy Oceanography Classifying Sciences Astrology? Conceptual Physics - Chapter 1

3. Physics First • Physics is the most basic of all sciences. • Topics in physics: Conceptual Physics - Chapter 1

4. Math – The Language of Science • When scientific ideas are expressed in mathematical terms, they are unambiguous. • Although mathematics is a language of physics, it is not the only way to study physics. Conceptual Physics - Chapter 1

5. The Scientific Method • Discovered by Galileo Galilei and Francis Bacon • Consists of a series of steps that provides a guide to good science practice • Most discoveries happen by trial and error, experimentation or accidental discovery Identify a problem Make a hypothesis Test the hypothesis (over and over again!) Draw conclusions Conceptual Physics - Chapter 1

6. The Scientific Attitude • The success of science has more to do with an attitude than with a particular approach or method. • Scientists are generally: Conceptual Physics - Chapter 1

7. What’s the Difference? • Fact • Law or Principle • Hypothesis • Theory Conceptual Physics - Chapter 1

8. Fact • A close agreement by competent observers of a series of observations of the same phenomena. • Facts are not absolute! • Example – An object twice as heavy as another will fall twice as fast. Conceptual Physics - Chapter 1

9. Law or Principle • A general hypothesis or statement about the relationship of natural quantities that has been tested over and over again and has not been contradicted. • Example – Energy may be transformed from one form into another, but the total amount of energy never changes. Conceptual Physics - Chapter 1

10. Hypothesis • A reasonable explanation of an observation or experimental result that is not fully accepted as factual until tested over and over again by experiment. • Example – The acceleration of an object with a constant net force applied to it will be inversely proportional to the mass of the object. If the mass of the object is doubled, the acceleration of the object will be reduced by a factor of two. Conceptual Physics - Chapter 1

11. Theory • A synthesis of a large body of information that encompasses well-tested and verified hypotheses about aspects of the natural world. • Theories are refined as new evidence is gathered (eg. Atomic Theory) Is the fact that theories undergo change a strength or a weakness? Conceptual Physics - Chapter 1

12. Hypotheses must be Testable • A scientific hypothesis must have a test for wrongness No number of experiments can prove me right; a single experiment can prove me wrong. Conceptual Physics - Chapter 1

13. Question Which of the following is a scientific hypothesis? • Atoms are the smallest particles of matter • The universe is surrounded by a second universe, the existence of which cannot be detected by scientists. • Albert Einstein was the greatest physicist of the twentieth century. Conceptual Physics - Chapter 1

14. Science Method of answering theoretical questions Deals with discovering facts Does not intrude on human life Technology Method of solving practical problems Deals with the tools, techniques, and procedures for putting the findings of science to use Has a human factor Science and Technology • Science and technology are not the same! Conceptual Physics - Chapter 1