What is physics about?
Physics is about the nature of basic things such as motion, forces, energy, matter, heat, sound, light, and the composition of atoms.
Why is mathematics the language of science?
When scientific findings in nature are expressed mathematically, they are easier to verify or disprove answers by experiment.
What are the steps of the scientific method?
1. Recognize a problem.
2. Make an educated guess.
3. Predict the consequences of the hypothesis.
4. Perform experiments to test predictions.
5. Formulate the simplest general rule that organizes the main ingredients: hypothesis, prediction, and experimen
When must a hypothesis, law, or principle be changed or abandoned?
If a scientist finds evidence that contradicts a hypothesis, law or principle, then the hypothesis, law, or principle, must be changed or abandoned.
How do you know if a hypothesis is scientific?
To determine whether a hypothesis is scientific or not, look to see if there is a test that proves it wrong.
What is the difference between science and technology?
Science is a method of answering theoretical questions: technology is a method of solving practical problems.
How are science, art, and religion different?
Science is mostly concerned with discovering and recording natural phenomena, the arts are concerned with the value of human interactions as they pertain to the senses, and religion is concerned with the source, purpose, and meaning of everything.
How does progress today differ from progress thousands of years ago?
Progress in our age is much quicker than it was thousands of years ago.
Fact
a close agreement by competent observers of a series of observations of the same phenomena
Hypothesis
an educated guess; a reasonable explanation of an observation or experimental result that is not fully accepted as factual until tested over and over again by experiment
Law (or Principle)
a general hypothesis or statement about the relationship of natural quantities that has been tested over and over again and has not been contradicted
Theory
a synthesis of a large body of information that encompasses well-tested and verified hypothesis about aspects of the natural world
Why is physics the most basic science?
Supports chemistry and biology
The fundamentals of complicated sciences
It is the nature of basic things
Why is mathematics important to science?
It makes it easier to verify or disprove an answer by experiment
Is a scientific fact something that is absolute and unchanging? Defend your answer.
It is absolute; however, it is true until it is proven false.
Scientific theories undergo change. Is this a strength or a weakness of science? Defend your answer.
It is a strength. Theories evolve through redefinition and refinement. It is better to improve beliefs than it is to defend them.
What does it mean to say that if a hypothesis is scientific, then there must be a means of proving it wrong?
A hypothesis is scientific if it has a general understanding of nature, can be tested, and can be proven wrong.
How does science and technology differ?
Science
� answers questions
� discovers fasts + relationships
� establishes theories
� does not intrude on human life
Technology
� solves problems
� includes tools, techniques, and procedures for putting the findings of science to use
� is meant to help h
How are science and the arts similar?
They have divergent thinkers. They both bring ideas of possibility and create what is not understood.
How does science and religion differ?
Science tells us the facts, what is proven
Religion tells us how to think and feel
Why do citizens have a responsibility to have some basic understanding of nature's rules?
It is important to know nature's rules in order to make good decisions.
Why does science tend to be a "self-correcting" way of knowing about things?
It is best for science to refine its ways than it is to believe that they're right when they could be wrong.
What is likely being misunderstood by someone who says, "But that's only a scientific theory"?
They do not realize the time and effort it takes for scientists to compose a theory.