Two distinct realms of scientific knowledge The Scientific Method Two distinct realms of scientific knowledge

Ppt00_Scientific Method 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” Ppt00_Scientific Method

The Scientific Approach to Knowledge (Section 1.2 in Tro) Two “realms” in science: “WHAT HAPPENS?” vs. “WHY DOES IT BEHAVE THAT WAY?” Description/Behavior Explanation Raw Data Observations (5 senses) Measurements (using a tool) Model Hypotheses / Postulates (IF these are true, THEN behavior will be as observed) Pattern? Generalizable? Relationship between quantities → LAW If after much evidence is found to support model, → THEORY Conservation of Mass Vgas = kTgas (Charles’ Law) Atomic Th. KMT

Ppt00_Scientific Method 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! Ppt00_Scientific Method

“Conventional Approach”, with Commentary From Handout Packet #1 From Atkins, P; Jones, L. (1997) Chemistry: Molecules, Matter, and Change

Tro’s Flow Diagram to Describe The Scientific Method (Fig. 1.2) Ppt00_Scientific Method

Ppt00_Scientific Method Example Characterize each statement as best you can as either an observation, a law, a hypothesis, or a theory. Justify your answer. When liquid water is heated sufficiently in a tea pot, bubbles form rapidly throughout the liquid and rise. The composition of the bubbles is water. The molecules in the bubbles are more spread out than the molecules in the liquid. When any liquid is heated sufficiently, bubbles will eventually form (assuming it does not decompose). Ppt00_Scientific Method

“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)? Ppt00_Scientific Method

Ppt00_Scientific Method (rest of article omitted) Ppt00_Scientific Method

Laws/Patterns &Theories are a theme of this course! Ppt00_Scientific Method

Ppt00_Scientific Method (continued) Ppt00_Scientific Method