2)Understanding science Flashcards
Name three concepts used by scientists
- Theories
- Laws
- Hypotheses
What is a theory in science?
It is an explaination of the natural world, that is aquired by scientific method and repeatedly tested and confirmed through observations and experimentation.
What are examples of Scientific methods?
- Germ theory of disease
- Atomic theory
What can a theory incorporate?
- Facts
- Laws
- Tested hypothesis
Is there a direct progression between theories, laws and hypothesis?
No. They are connected but there is no direct progression.
What is a paradigm shift?
A theory that radically changes how essential concepts are understood or framed and this impacts other theories also.
Name and explain a famous paradigm shift.
- Einstein’s theory of relativity
- Our idea of time changed from an absolute frame of reference to an observer-dependant frame of reference.
Name another paradigm shift.
Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection
What are laws in science?
- Descriptive, normative statements derived from observations of regular patterns of behaviour.
- Mathematical form
- Can calculate outcomes and make predictions
Can laws explain a phenomenon?
They can’t be proven, it can calculate something but it can’t fully explain why.
What is a hypothesis?
An explanatory statement about the world that could be true or false. There is normally some correlation between the factors.
What must a scientific idea (e.g. theory or hypothesis) focus on?
- Must focus on the natural world and natural explanations.
- Must be testable
How is Occam’s razor used as a guide to developing a theory?
The theory should be as simple as possible while maximising explanatory power
