the scientific method two distinct realms of scientific knowledge
TRANSCRIPT
The Scientific Method
Two distinct realms of scientific knowledge
Goals
• Compare and contrast the two fundamentally different kinds of scientific knowledge
• Relate these two kinds of knowledge to the more conventional description of the “Scientific Method”
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The Scientific Approach to Knowledge (Section 1.2 in Tro)
• Two “realms” in science:
o Raw Data Observations (5 senses) Measurements (using a tool)
o Description/Behavior o Explanation
o Pattern? Generalizable?
o Model Hypotheses / Postulates
(IF these are true, THEN behavior will be as observed)
o If after much evidence is found to support model, → THEORY
“WHAT HAPPENS?” vs. “WHY DOES IT
BEHAVE THAT WAY?”
Conservation of Mass Vgas = kTgas (Charles’ Law) Atomic Th.
KMT
Relationship between quantities → LAW
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Important!
• Laws don’t “turn into” Theories!– They are fundamentally different kinds of info.– Laws describe– Theories explain
• Both are important …– …and being able to distinguish description
from explanation is also important!
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“Conventional Approach”, with CommentaryFrom Handout Packet #1
From Atkins, P; Jones, L. (1997) Chemistry: Molecules, Matter, and Change5
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Tro’s Flow Diagram to Describe The Scientific Method (Fig. 1.2)
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Example
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a) When liquid water is heated sufficiently in a tea pot, bubbles form rapidly throughout the liquid and rise.
b) The composition of the bubbles is water.
c) The molecules in the bubbles are more spread out than the molecules in the liquid.
d) When any liquid is heated sufficiently, bubbles will eventually form (assuming it does not decompose).
Characterize each statement as best you can as either an observation, a law, a hypothesis, or a theory. Justify your answer.
“Theory” often misused!
• “Just a theory” is really an insult to scientists– To become a scientific “theory”, a model must
“explain” all currently available data
• But….theories cannot ever be “proven”– How can you ever know that there won’t come a
time when a piece of data will be collected which is not consistent with the model (theory)?
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(rest of article omitted)
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Laws/Patterns &Theories are a theme of this course!
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(continued)
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