Lecture 1

Question 1

science (4 points)

Answer 1

• Process of gaining knowledge and understanding about nat’l world, based on reproducible observation and experiments, plus sum of knowledge gained by this process
• involves theories and hypotheses
• useful sci idea = one that has or can be reproducibly sustained and used to: accurately predict new phenomena
• foundational assumption: there are forces that can be understood with sci methods

Question 2

Idea part of science if… (4)

Answer 2

1. Deals with natural universe
2. Substantiated by reproducible obs
3. Occurs within and is addressed by sci context
4. Yields testable predictions

Question 3

Scientist

Answer 3

-uses some sci method to answer q’s/gain knowledge about nat’l world

• willing to
  a. challenge ideas
  b. accept only reproducibly obs’d and measured things
  c. be honest

Question 4

Monod’s Postulate of Objectivity

Answer 4

sci can’t succeed in univ that “plays tricks”

• idea that the forces/phenom don’t change
• ex proton is always positive

Question 5

Scientific Methods (6)

Answer 5

1. Hypothesis and Experiment
   - classic: hyp–>exp–>results
2. Serendipity
3. Inspiration
4. Model building and calculation
5. Exploration and observation
6. hypothesis and deduction

-All rely on reproducible obs and/or experiment

All lead to knowledge that can be built upon