Physics

L1

About Science

• “rules of the game”

• The study of nature’s rules– Star patterns– Weather patterns

• A way of thinking

• A collection of knowledge

Physics Astronomy Chemistry Geology

Physical sciences

Zoology Botany

Biology

Life sciences

Sciences

The Language of Science

Biology

Chemistry

Physics

Mathematics

The Scientific Method

• Recognize problem• Make hypothesis• Predict

consequences• Perform

experiments• Find rule

• Hypothesis– Educated guess

• Principle / Law– Hypotheses tested

by experiments and not contradicted

Aristotle’s hypothesis

• Regarding the free fall of an object

An object twice as heavyfalls twice as fast

Galileo’s experiment

• In the absence of air resistance, all objects fall in the same time

Tower of Pisa, Italy

Theory

• Not hypothesis

• Synthesis of a large body of information

• Includes many verified hypotheses

• Undergoes change

– Atomic theory– Cell theory

Tests of Hypotheses

• Scientific hypothesis can be proven right and wrong

– “The alignment of planets determines the best time for making decisions”

– “Intelligent life exists on other planets”– “Most people stop for red lights”– “No material object can travel faster than light”

Over to you

• Which hypothesis is scientific?

– “Atoms are the smallest particles of matter”;

– “Our universe is surrounded by another universe, which cannot be detected”;

– “Albert Einstein was the greatest physicist of the twentieth century”

Science and Technology

• Science– Answers theoretical questions– A way of knowing

• Technology– Putting science facts to practical use– Interferes with life and nature– A way of doing

End L1