Physical Science Studies

NS 3310

Dr. Hoge

Chapter 1 – Why Study Science?

We live in a technological society brought about by scientific inquiry

Key Questions

Why is science important today? What is science? What is the history or science? How is science done? How does science operate in society? What is scientific, and what is not?

Why is science important today?

Science leads to discovery, but also provides a healthy skepticism

Future Shock The World Is Flat

Shift Happens

The U.S. Needs New Workforce

Particularly from Underserved Communities

And, It’s All Up to You

What is science? M&M Statistics:

we are going to determine if the Mars company is telling the truth when they claim that there are fixed percentages of each color in each bag of M&Ms.

I’m skeptical

Philosophy of Science

Aristotle, Plato

Shen Kuo, Ibn al-Haytham, Francis Bacon

Descartes, Locke

Popper, Kuhn, Feyerabend

Natural Philosophy

Exploration (A Gentleman’s Pastime)

Logic

Cause and Effect

Levels of Explanation

Scientific Method Hypothetico-Deductive Model

• Falsifiability

• Inquiry

• Inductive Reasoning

• Deductive Reasoning

• Controlled Experimentation

What is the history of science?

Emergence of Modern Science

Copernicus, Galileo, Keppler

Newton, Leibniz, Boyle

Darwin, Lyell, Faraday, Maxwell

Einstein, Bohr, Oppenheimer, Planck

How is science done?

Scientific Theory Observations (facts)

Laws

Data

Predictions

Unifying Theories

Big Bang / Standard Model / Supersymmetry / String Theory

Thermodynamics

Special Relativity

Quantum Mechanics

Plate Tectonics

Evolution

How does science operate in society?

Tools of Science

Experimentation Laboratory Field

Mathematical Modeling

Technology

Social Context

Science is a Social Process

Communication of Results Argument Social Context

Public Need Public Discourse Science in the News

Branches of Science

Physical Sciences Physics Chemistry Astronomy Cosmology

Earth Sciences Geology Oceanography Meteorology Astronomy

Life Sciences Biology Behavioral Sciences Social Sciences

Areas of Science

Pure Science

Applied Science

What is science and what is not?

What Science Isn’t – Part I

Engineering

Mathematics

Technology

Philosophy

What Science Isn’t – Part II

Pseudoscience

Mystical Thinking

Consilience?

Key Concepts

Science is a philosophy of inquiry Science starts with careful observation Science is a human endeavor There are many ways to do science Science relies on falsifiability Unifying Theories provide predictability A concept which can not be falsified is not

science