evolution of scientific method
DESCRIPTION
EVOLUTION OF SCIENTIFIC METHOD. 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. NATURAL PHILOSOPHY. Knowledge about the world could only be attained through thought and contemplation. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
500 B.C. to 1600 A.D.500 B.C. to 1600 A.D.The leading Western scientific thoughts were The leading Western scientific thoughts were
derived from the works of the natural Greek derived from the works of the natural Greek philosophers: Socrates, Plato and Aristotle.philosophers: Socrates, Plato and Aristotle.
NATURAL PHILOSOPHYNATURAL PHILOSOPHY
Knowledge about the Knowledge about the world could only be world could only be attained through attained through thought and thought and contemplation.contemplation.
However, the However, the observations on these observations on these thought experiments thought experiments are are severely limitedseverely limited in in understanding understanding “timeless truth.”“timeless truth.”
BEGINNING OF BEGINNING OF SCIENCESCIENCE
Science, as we know Science, as we know it, evolved from it, evolved from “natural philosophy” “natural philosophy” (literally “thinking (literally “thinking about nature”) about nature”) starting about the starting about the year 1600 due to the year 1600 due to the work of Galileo, work of Galileo, Bacon, and many Bacon, and many others.others.
ORIGIN OF SOME MODERN ORIGIN OF SOME MODERN SCIENCESSCIENCES
Provides Provides logical logical approach to approach to solution of solution of scientific scientific problems.problems.
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SCIENCE SCIENCE TERMINOLOGYTERMINOLOGYA common science vocabulary is needed in A common science vocabulary is needed in
order to communicate effectively with one order to communicate effectively with one another.another.
The scientific meaning of a word is often The scientific meaning of a word is often different than its everyday meaning.different than its everyday meaning.
Weight Mass
Distance Displacement
Speed Velocity
OBSERVATION OBSERVATION An observation An observation
is is an event an event perceived by perceived by sensessenses..
EExperimental xperimental data are data are observations.observations.
NOT all NOT all observations observations are correctare correct - - people make people make mistakes.mistakes.
SCIENTIFIC SCIENTIFIC OBSERVATIONSOBSERVATIONSIn order to test the In order to test the
validity of a validity of a scientific scientific observation, it must observation, it must be be repeatablerepeatable and and must be verified by must be verified by competent competent observersobservers..
Observations which Observations which are not repeatable are not repeatable are called are called ““anecdotal anecdotal evidenceevidence”.”.
SCIENTIFIC FACTSCIENTIFIC FACTAn observation that An observation that many competent many competent
observers agreeobservers agree is correct is a is correct is a factfact..NOT ALL scientific facts are correct - NOT ALL scientific facts are correct -
people make mistakes.people make mistakes.
FACTS ARE NOT FACTS ARE NOT PERMANENTPERMANENT
If If furtherfurther observationsobservations show that a fact is show that a fact is not not correctcorrect, it must be , it must be rejected and replacedrejected and replaced..
This often happens This often happens when when new technologynew technology becomes available becomes available enabling scientists to enabling scientists to conduct observations conduct observations which are previously which are previously unavailable.unavailable.
ex. The Earth is flatex. The Earth is flat
HYPOTHESISHYPOTHESISA A hypothesishypothesis is an is an
educated guesseducated guess about why about why something something happens.happens.
A scientific A scientific hypothesis must hypothesis must be be testable by testable by observationobservation
A hypothesis that A hypothesis that is not testable is is not testable is called called ““speculationspeculation”.”.
CONCLUSIONCONCLUSIONA A conclusionconclusion is a is a decisiondecision based on based on
observations, factsobservations, facts, or , or experimental experimental datadata..
SCIENTIFIC THEORYSCIENTIFIC THEORYAA theory theory is a is a
synthesis synthesis (combination) (combination) of well-tested of well-tested hypotheseshypotheses..
Scientific Scientific theories theories tend tend to to explainexplain why why scientific laws scientific laws operateoperate the the way they do .way they do .
SCIENTIFIC LAWSCIENTIFIC LAWA scientific A scientific lawlaw describesdescribes what happens but don’t what happens but don’t
generally explain why they happen. Scientific laws generally explain why they happen. Scientific laws are usually expressed in are usually expressed in mathematical formulasmathematical formulas
SCIENCE AND SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGYTECHNOLOGY
ScienceScience is about is about discovering new discovering new thingsthings about about nature, and about nature, and about how nature workshow nature works..
TechnologyTechnology is about is about using scientific using scientific discoveriesdiscoveries to to make make practical practical structuresstructures and and devicesdevices for for society.society.
Science uses Science uses technology, and technology, and technology uses technology uses science.science.
Although science Although science and technology and technology are not the are not the same, neither same, neither could exist for could exist for long without the long without the other.other.
SCIENCE AND SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGYTECHNOLOGY