It describes a scientific phenomenon but it doesn't explain why the phenomenon exists or what causes it. It can often be reduced to a mathematical statement
LAW
An explanation for a scientific phenomenon that is supported by a large body of evidence. It has been verified multiple times and allows us to make predictions.
THEORY
A plausible explanation for an observation that is in agreement with prior knowledge but that still needs to be tested by experiments or more observations.
HYPOTHESIS
Deductive reasoining
ex:
Major premise: All mammals have backbones.
Minor premise: Humans are mammals.
Conclusion: Humans have backbones.
Major premise: All birds lay eggs.
Minor premise: Pigeons are birds.
Conclusion: Pigeons lay eggs.
Major premise: All plants perform
photosynthesis.
Minor premise: A cactus is a
plant.
Conclusion: A cactus performs photosynthesis.
Inductive reasoning
We make many observations, discern a pattern, make a generalization, and infer an explanation or a theory,
Ex:
Data: I see fireflies in my backyard every
summer.
Hypothesis: This summer, I will
probably see fireflies in my backyard.
Data: I tend to catch colds when people around me are
sick.
Hypothesis: Colds are infectious.
Data: Every dog I meet is friendly.
Hypothesis: Most dogs are usually friendly.
Theory
They have been tested and shown to be true under rigids of scientific experiment.
Model
Quantifying a particular natural event to help understand it better.
Skeptic
vaccine skeptical
climate skeptical
pharmaceudical skeptics
Significant
Statistical significant
Natural
Health and vitality
Chemical
Chemical
My prof name is
Thomas Pitzer
Natural
Pormotes health and vitality
A scientific theory
A tested and accepted hypothesis
Which of these would be the least compelling finding of life on mars?
green film contracts when touched
Deductive question
Student who have been PLTL leaders do better on the MCAT than the general population. You are a PLTL leader, you will do better on the MCAT.
Inductive reasoining questions
You are a PLTL leader, you score higher on MCAT than those who were not leaders. Other who were PLTL leaders also do better. Therefore, students who are PLTL leaders will do bettern on MCAT than those who do not.
Independent variable
variable that is changed or controlled in a scientific experiment to test the effects on the dependent variable.
Dependent variable
dependent on the independent variable. As the experiment changes the independent variable, the effect on the dependent variable
Control
an experimental set up in which the effect of the independent variable is not included or not tested.
Positive control
An experimental set up in which a change in the dependent variable is observed/measured according to expectations
Ex: