1. Prologue: Scientific Method
CH107 College Chemistry
Prologue: Scientific Method

2. Prologue: Scientific Method
First Steps: Formation of a hypothesis
Starts with observations, discoveries or accumulation of data
Hypothesis – a tentative explanation of observations or data

3. Prologue: Scientific Method
Next steps: evolution of a theory
Further data or observations from experiments in support of hypothesis lead to a theory
Theory – a well-established hypothesis

4. Prologue: Scientific Method
Later steps: testing the theory
If no exceptions to the theory are found (it predicts the results of all future experiments), it is converted to a law
Law – a concise statement of fact
If exceptions occur, the theory must be modified or replaced

6. Ptolemy – Geocentric hypothesis
Copernicus – Heliocentric
hypothesis
Brahe –
Useful
data
Kepler – Planetary
motion theory
Galileo – More
data and ideas
Newton –
Laws of
gravitation