1. 2-2 What is the Process of Science?

2. The Scientific Method not a stepwise process
strategy for drawing conclusions
some steps may be repeated many times

3. Many different scientific procedures
observing
formulating hypotheses
testing
theorizing
publishing results

4. Scientific discoveries can com from unexpected observations or accidents
teflon
POLYMER – a large organic molecule composed of smaller units bonded together in chains
cisplatin

5. HYPOTHESIS a reasonable and testable explanation of observations
gather data
look for pattterns
propose explanation (hypothesis)
often written in “if – then” format
describes cause and effect relationship

6. Experiments are used to test hypotheses

7. EXPERIMENT a process carried out under controlled conditions
must document and control variables
VARIABLE – any aspect of an experiment that can be changed to affect the outcome of the experiment
CONTROL EXPERIMENT – procedure in which a variable is kept constant from one trial to the next
isolates key variables

8. Conclusions must come only from data obtained in experiments

9. Hypothesis that withstands repeated testing may become part of a theory

10. THEORY a well-tested explanation of observations
a broad generalization that is based on observation, experimentation, and reasoning
explanation, not fact
cannot be completely proven
should explain most of what is observed
if proven wrong, must be thrown out or modified

11. MODEL
a simplified representation of an object, system, process, or idea
can take many forms
refined as new info becomes available

12. SCIENTIFIC LAW
a descripton of the natural world that has proven reliable over time
a statement or mathematical expression that reliably describes the behavior of the world
describes, not explains

13. Hypothesis predicts an event.

14. Theory explains it.

15. Law describes it.