1a. Define: Counter example
An example that contradicts a conclusion
1b. Define: Hypothesis
An educated guess that attempts to explain an observation or answer a question
1c. Define: Theory
A hypothesis that has been tested by with a significant amount of data
1d. Define: Scientific law
A theory that has been tested by and is consistent with generations of data
- When someone tells you that “science has proven” something, what should you say?
Science can never prove anything.
- Does a scientific theory have to make sense?
No, it does not.
- A feather and a penny are dropped from a top of a building. Which will hit the ground first?
The penny will hit the ground first.
- A feather and a penny are dropped down a long tube that has no air in it. Which will hit the bottom of the tube first?
Neither, they will fall at the same rate.
- What does it take to destroy a scientific law?
Only one counter example
- (Read story on page 57, first.) What was the observation that Halley made to form this hypothesis?
The objects similar to the one he was studying had been seen before by other scientists at regular intervals in history.
- (Read story on page 57, first.) What was his hypothesis?
The object he was studying was the same thing that the other scientists had seen before.
- (Read story on page 57, first.) What was the experiment that confirmed his hypothesis?
To confirm the presence of the comet again in 1758.
- (Read story on page 57, first.) Regular appearances of Halley’s comet have been found in history as far back as 2,000 years age. Is the existence of Halley’s comet a theory or a scientific law?
Scientific law
- Put the following steps of the scientific method into their proper order:
- a. Form a hypothesis
- b. Theory is now a law
- c. Make observations
- d. Hypothesis is now a theory
- e. Perform experiments to confirm the hypothesis
- f. Perform many experiments over several years
- c. Make observations
- a. Form a hypothesis
- e. Perform experiments to confirm the hypothesis
- d. Hypothesis is now a theory
- f. Perform many experiments over several years
- b. Theory is now a law
- If a hypothesis does not agree with the experiment designed to confirm it, what two choices do you have?
You can either discard the hypothesis or modify it to become consistent with the data.
- If a theory does not agree with the experiments designed to test it, what two choices do you have?
You can either discard the theory or modify it to become consistent with the data.
- In the text, I told you about Lowell’s belief that there were canals on Mars. Name the observations that led to his hypothesis and the experiments used to confirm it.
The observation that led to Lowell’s hypothesis was the fact that there were faint lines on the surface of Mars. The experiments used to confirm the hypothesis were Lowell’s detailed studies of Mars’ surface.
- Why was the discovery of high-temperature superconductors so starling to scientists?
A generally-accepted scientific theory (BCS Theory) said it was impossible to have high-temperature superconductors.
- What are the three limitations of science?
a. It cannot prove anything.
b. It is not 100% reliable
c. It must conform to the scientific method.
- Can science be used to study events that will never, ever happen again?
Yes
- Can science be used to study religious ideas?
Yes
- When I applied the scientific method to Christianity, what were the observations I used to form a hypothesis about the Bible?
Many people draw strength, hope, and encouragement from the Bible.
- What was my hypothesis?
The Bible is the Word of God
- What were the experiments I designed to confirm the hypothesis?
I searched the Bible for knowledge of future events.
