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Science

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Voyage around the world and learn about the history of us.

What is Science?

 

The word science comes from the Latin "scientia," meaning knowledge.

 

How do we define science? According to Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary, the definition of science is "knowledge attained through study or practice," or "knowledge covering general truths of the operation of general laws, esp. as obtained and tested through scientific method [and] concerned with the physical world."

 

What does that really mean? Science refers to a system of acquiring knowledge. This system uses observation and experimentation to describe and explain natural phenomena.  Science uses scientific ideas and procedures to help explain why certain things happen in the world and beyond. It is important that we make observations, consider what is known and has been studied in the past, and use certain procedures to test and draw conclusions.  Opinions are not considered testable.  A good example is a theory.  Theories are guesses about how something works or happened.  Theories are not facts but opinions.  Once a theory or guess is made it must be put under scrutiny by observing and testing it to see if it is true and can be proven.  

 

The term science also refers to the organized body of knowledge people have gained using that system. Less formally, the word science often describes any systematic field of study or the knowledge gained from it.

 

Science is based on observation, and the only reliable means of telling the age of anything is by the testimony of a reliable witness who observed the events. The Bible claims to be the communication of the only One who witnessed the events of Creation: the Creator himself. As such, the Bible is the only reliable means of knowing the age of the earth and the cosmos.

 

 

What is the Scientific Method?

 

The scientific method is a way to ask and answer scientific questions by making observations and doing experiments.

 

The steps of the scientific method are to:

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​No scientific method can prove the age of the earth and the universe, and that includes the ones we have listed here. Although age indicators are called ‘clocks’ they aren’t, because all ages result from calculations that necessarily involve making assumptions about the past.

 

Controls and Variables

 

There are two important pieces in designing an experiment: controls and variables. Controls are the factors that stay the same during experimentation and they are important, so we know which factors had an impact on the outcome of the experiment, and which did not. In order for an experiment to be valid, it must have controls.

 

Variables are parts of an experiment that can change. There are two kinds of variables: independent and dependent. The independent variable is a factor that you use to be the only difference in the experiment. It is very important to have only one independent variable at a time. The dependent variable depends on the outcome of the experiment.

 

Every science experiment has variables. Variables are anything in or any part of an experiment that are different or vary in any way. You may only test one variable at a time. All other parts of the experiment must remain constant in order to obtain reliable data. 

 

Logical Reasoning

 

Logic has you thinking with reason and arguments (statements). Scientists use logic because it shows the relationships between the parts of an idea and the whole idea. Therefore, if you use logic, you can see a relationship between a few trees and the entire forest. On the other hand, if we talk about biology, if you understand how animals interact with each other then you are able to better understand the whole ecosystem. 

The scientific method is a rational, logical thought process that is used to figure out facts and truths. All of the answers must be able to be proved. When someone comes up and says, "Hey! I figured out the answer!" the other scientists can get together, see what the new person did, and then they repeat the procedures. If they come up with the same answer, everybody is happy. If the answer is different, someone did something wrong and everyone starts all over again. 

There are no opinions that are considered scientific laws. To scientists, the truth is something that is quantitative. Quantitative statements are ones that can be proved through experiments. When someone has an opinion, or an idea that can't be proved directly, they call it a qualitative argument. 

 

Deductive Reasoning

 

Deductive reasoning has you starting with information or an idea that is called apremise. Eventually you come up withconclusions that are based on your original premise. Sherlock Holmes, that detective guy from the books, uses deductive reasoning to solve mysteries. Think of it this way:
(1) If this happens...
(2) and this happens...
(3) then you can come to this conclusion. If the premises are true, then your conclusion should also be true. 

 

Inductive Reasoning

 

Inductive reasoning works in the opposite direction. You start by having a number of observations. "I see that." "That happens here." "I believe that this will happen just like the others because the circumstance is similar." 

It is a process in two parts. First you start with specifics and come up with a theory. That's deductive. When you apply that theory to new areas, it is inductive reasoning. You organize data into categories and say, "What do these have in common?" 

There is a problem with inductive reasoning: your conclusions have more information than the facts you use. You start with dozens of observed examples, take an inductive leap, and assume millions of possible examples. If the conclusion is true, then new premises and assumptions are true. 

 

Scientific Method

What is a Hypothesis and Observation?

 

A scientific hypothesis is the initial building block in the scientific method. Many describe it as an “educated guess,” based on prior knowledge and observation. While this is true, the definition can be expanded. A hypothesis also includes an explanation of why the guess may be correct, according to National Science Teachers Association.  Observation is the action or process of observing something or someone carefully or in order to gain information. In living beings, observation involves using your senses of touch, smell, sight, and taste.  In science, observation can also involve the recording of data or facts via the use of instruments. Observations can be qualitative, that is, only the absence or presence of a property is noted, or quantitative if a numerical value is attached to the observed phenomenon by counting or measuring.

Learn More about the Scientific Method here

 

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Hypothesis basics

 

A hypothesis is a suggested solution for an unexplained occurrence that does not fit into current accepted scientific theory. The basic idea of a hypothesis is that there is no pre-determined outcome. For a hypothesis to be termed a scientific hypothesis, it has to be something that can be supported or refuted through carefully crafted experimentation or observation. This is called falsifiability and testability, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica.  A key function in this step in the scientific method is deriving predictions from the hypotheses about the results of future experiments, and then performing those experiments to see whether they support the predictions.

 

What is an experiment?

 

The experiment is a situation in which a researcher attempts to objectively observe an event which are made to occur in a strictly controlled situation where one or more variables are varied and the others are held constant.  It is very important that the experiment is objective. You must use controls which are quantitative (based on values and figures, not opinions or emotions). Scientists can then examine the results and develop newer ideas. This process will lead to more observation and refinement of hypotheses. Science needs both ideas (the hypothesis) and facts (the quantitative results) to move forward.  Scientists use an experiment to search for cause and effect relationships in nature.  In other words, they design an experiment so that changes to one item cause something else to vary in a predictable way.  These changing quantities are called variables.  A variable is any factor, trait, or condition that can exist in differing amounts or types. An experiment usually has three kinds of variables: independent, dependent, and controlled. When you perform your experiments you will collect and observe your subject matter in order to ask and answer what something means, how it works, and why it behaves the way it does.  This is the process of analyzing data or information.  

 

Accumulation of Evidence

 

There are different terms used to describe scientific ideas based on the amount of confirmed experimental evidence. 

Hypothesis - a statement that uses a few observations
- an idea or proposition based on observations without experimental evidence


Theory
- uses many observations and has loads of experimental evidence
- can be applied to unrelated facts and new relationships
- flexible enough to be modified if new data/evidence introduced


Law
- stands the test of time, often without change
- experimentally confirmed over and over
- can create true predictions for different situations
- has uniformity and is universal 

You may also hear about the term "model." A model is a scientific statement that has some experimental validity or is a scientific concept that is only accurate under limited situations. Models do not work or apply under all situations in all environments. They are not universal ideas like a law or theory. Climatologists use many models to predict climate changes. Each model is dependent on specific variables and situations. 

 

Drawing a conclusion.

 

Generally, a researcher will summarize what they believe has been learned from the research, and will try to assess the strength of the hypothesis, this is part of drawing a conclusion.  Even if the null hypothesis is accepted, a strong conclusion will analyze why the results were not as predicted.  In observational research, with no hypothesis, the researcher will analyze the findings, and establish if any valuable new information has been uncovered.  Success or failure is not a measure of whether a hypothesis is accepted or refuted, because both results still advance scientific knowledge.

 

Units of Measure

 

European trade routes existed as early as the 12th and 13th century.  By the late 17th century, shipping had become safer and less expensive.  By this time, there were well established trade routes between Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas.

 

What types of problems do you think the trade runners ran into? I'm sure pirates, disease, and weather were big problems, but what about the fact that everyone was measuring quantities in different ways? That had to be very difficult! How would you ever know if you paid a fair price or got what you paid for?

 

In the 1600's, Gabriel Mouton, a French scientist, proposed the decimal metric system, but it took about 100 years for the French Academy of Science to approve the use of this metric system. The metric system is still used today all over the world. In the United States, Thomas Jefferson proposed a different system using decimals called the standard system, and this is the standard system used in the United States today.

 

Much of what we know about science is due to the cooperation of scientist from all over the world. To make it easier for all scientists to work together, they use the metric system. Since the United States uses the standard system, there are times we may come across some common measurements that need to be converted to metric. 

 

                                      Metric                          English                           

 

Length                           Meter                              Foot                                     

Mass                              Gram                            Ounce

Volume                           Liter                             Gallon

Temperature              Celsius                        Fahrenheit

 

Units of Measure—Conversions

 

Conversions can be simple or a little more complicated. Converting temperature is a little more complicated, but not at all hard. The formula for the conversion for temperature is below.

 

Tc = (5/9) (Tf-32)

Tc = temperature Celsius

Tf = temperature Fahrenheit

 

Let's use your temperature as an example. You are most likely 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit.

 

Tf – 32 = 98.6 – 32 = 66.6

Tc = (5/9)(66.6)

Tc = 37 degrees

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