1. Physical Science Studies
NS 3310
Dr. Hoge

2. Chapter 1 – Why Study Science?
We live in a technological society brought about by scientific inquiry

3. 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?

4. Why is science important today?
Science leads to discovery, but also provides
a healthy skepticism

5. 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

6. 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

7. Philosophy of Science Aristotle, Plato
Shen Kuo, Ibn al-Haytham, Francis Bacon
Descartes, Locke
Popper, Kuhn, Feyerabend

8. Natural Philosophy Exploration (A Gentleman’s Pastime) Logic
Cause and Effect
Levels of Explanation

9. Scientific Method Hypothetico-Deductive Model Falsifiability Inquiry
Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Controlled Experimentation

10. What is the history of science?

11. Emergence of Modern Science
Copernicus, Galileo, Keppler
Newton, Leibniz, Boyle
Darwin, Lyell, Faraday, Maxwell
Einstein, Bohr, Oppenheimer, Planck

12. How is science done?

13. Scientific Theory
Observations (facts)
Laws
Data
Predictions

14. Unifying Theories
Big Bang / Standard Model / Supersymmetry / String Theory
Thermodynamics
Special Relativity
Quantum Mechanics
Plate Tectonics
Evolution

15. How does science operate in society?

16. Tools of Science Experimentation Mathematical Modeling Technology
Laboratory
Field
Mathematical Modeling
Technology
Social Context

17. Science is a Social Process
Communication of Results
Argument
Social Context
Public Need
Public Discourse
Science in the News

18. Branches of Science Physical Sciences Earth Sciences Life Sciences
Physics
Chemistry
Astronomy Cosmology
Earth Sciences
Geology
Oceanography
Meteorology
Astronomy
Life Sciences
Biology
Behavioral Sciences
Social Sciences

19. Areas of Science
Pure Science
Applied Science

20. What is science and what is not?

21. What Science Isn’t – Part I
Engineering
Mathematics
Technology
Philosophy

22. What Science Isn’t – Part II
Pseudoscience
Mystical Thinking
Consilience?

23. 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