02 SCIENTIFIC METHOD

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EVOLUTION OF SCIENTIFIC METHOD
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500 B.C. to 1600 A.D.

• The leading Western scientific thoughts were
  derived from the works of the natural Greek
  philosophers Socrates, Plato and Aristotle.

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NATURAL PHILOSOPHY

• Knowledge about the world could only be attained
  through thought and contemplation.
• However, the observations on these thought
  experiments are severely limited in understanding
  timeless truth.

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BEGINNING OF SCIENCE

• Science, as we know it, evolved from natural
  philosophy (literally thinking about nature)
  starting about the year 1600 due to the work of
  Galileo, Bacon, and many others.

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ORIGIN OF SOME MODERN SCIENCES
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SCIENTIFIC METHOD

• Provides logical approach to solution of
  scientific problems.

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SCIENCE TERMINOLOGY

• A common science vocabulary is needed in order to
  communicate effectively with one another.
• The scientific meaning of a word is often
  different than its everyday meaning.

Weight Mass
Distance Displacement
Speed Velocity
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OBSERVATION

• An observation is an event perceived by senses.
• Experimental data are observations.
• NOT all observations are correct - people make
  mistakes.

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SCIENTIFIC OBSERVATIONS

• In order to test the validity of a scientific
  observation, it must be repeatable and must be
  verified by competent observers.
• Observations which are not repeatable are called
  anecdotal evidence.

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SCIENTIFIC FACT

• An observation that many competent observers
  agree is correct is a fact.
• NOT ALL scientific facts are correct - people
  make mistakes.

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FACTS ARE NOT PERMANENT

• If further observations show that a fact is not
  correct, it must be rejected and replaced.
• This often happens when new technology becomes
  available enabling scientists to conduct
  observations which are previously unavailable.
• ex. The Earth is flat

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HYPOTHESIS

• A hypothesis is an educated guess about why
  something happens.
• A scientific hypothesis must be testable by
  observation
• A hypothesis that is not testable is called
  speculation.

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CONCLUSION

• A conclusion is a decision based on observations,
  facts, or experimental data.

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SCIENTIFIC THEORY

• A theory is a synthesis (combination) of
  well-tested hypotheses.
• Scientific theories tend to explain why
  scientific laws operate the way they do .

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SCIENTIFIC LAW

• A scientific law describes what happens but dont
  generally explain why they happen. Scientific
  laws are usually expressed in mathematical
  formulas

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SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

• Science is about discovering new things about
  nature, and about how nature works.
• Technology is about using scientific discoveries
  to make practical structures and devices for
  society.

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SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

• Science uses technology, and technology uses
  science.
• Although science and technology are not the same,
  neither could exist for long without the other.