Thursday, January 31, 2013

Chapter 3.4 Notes


Chapter 3.4 Notes

How can we distinguish science from nonscience?
·         Defining science can be surprisingly difficult.
·         Science comes from the latin scientia, meaning knowledge.
Hallmarks of science #2
·         Science progressed through the creation and testing of models of nature that explain the observations.
Hallmarks of science #3
·         A scientific model must make testable predictions about natural phenomena that would force us to revise or abandon the model if the predictions do not agree wit observations.
What is a scientific theory?
·         The word theory has a different meaning in science than in everyday life.
·         In science, a theory is not the same as a hypothesis
·         A scientific theory must:
Explain a wide variety of observations with a few similar principles.
Be supported by a large, compelling body of evidence.
NOT have failed any crucial test of its validity.

No comments: