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Understanding the Scientific Process: Steps, Hypotheses, Theories, and Laws

This chapter explores the vocabulary of the scientific process, including steps, prediction, hypothesis, facts, evidence, theory, and law. It highlights the differences between theories and laws and how they develop based on observations and experiments.

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Understanding the Scientific Process: Steps, Hypotheses, Theories, and Laws

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  1. Chapter 1 Vocabulary

  2. Scientific Process

  3. a series of steps that are used to answer a question or solve a problem

  4. Prediction

  5. the use of one’s prior knowledge to explain something in advance

  6. Hypothesis

  7. an assumption to be tested If…then testable statements about the natural world that can be used to build more complex inferences and explanations

  8. Facts

  9. Facts are observations that are repeatedly confirmed.They can be changed over time.

  10. Ex. An explosion on June 30, 1908, in Tunguska, Siberia, was equivalent to the detonation of 15 million tons of TNT.

  11. Evidence

  12. consists of observations and data on which to base scientific explanations

  13. Theory

  14. well-substantiated explanations of some aspect of the natural world that incorporates facts, laws, inferences, and tested hypotheses

  15. Theories • Theories are “explanations.” • They can be changed over time. • They are big, broad, and have a lot of information.

  16. Ex. The Siberian explosion was caused by a natural extraterrestrial phenomenon, not caused by man. This theory is generally accepted as true, but could be shown to be false and discarded.

  17. Ex. Theory of Evolution

  18. Ex. Theory of Relativity

  19. Ex. Quantum Theory

  20. Law

  21. a descriptive generalization about how some aspect of the natural world behaves under stated circumstances

  22. Laws • Laws “Describe.” • Laws can be changed over time. • Laws are smaller and more specific than theories.

  23. Ex. Newton’s Law of Gravity

  24. Ex. Law of Thermodynamics

  25. Ex. Hook’s Law of Elasticity

  26. A Scientific Law is like a slingshot.It involves a single moving part or action.

  27. A Scientific Theory is like an automobile.It has many moving parts and is much more complex.

  28. Facts • lead scientists to develop • Hypotheses • which, when supported by • experiments, become • Theories • and if proven, become • Laws

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