physics test 1

science

science

observations/experiments to gain knowledge about the world

models

not completely accurate, have limits, but are workable

scientific model

physical, mathematical, or conceptual representation of an idea

why do we study science

to learn about God’s creation

worldview

how someone observes the world around us; Secular & Christian

paradigm

beliefs that control how someone perceives an aspect of reality

naturalistic paradigm (naturalism)

the nature of human existence; believe that natural laws & forces operate the world

uniformitarianism

everything that happened now has happened in the past; supported by natural. para.

uniformity

repeated experiments under the same circumstances

scientific method

method of procedure that has characterized science since the 17th century

scientific theory

explanation of something that has happened in the world around us, has to be repeatedly tested by scientific method

scientific law

the description of a fact, completely accepted by the scientific community

theory

explains the “how and why”, can change

law

explains the “what”, never changes

imperical/operational/dominion science

present day observations/experiments

historical science

attempts to piece together past events in order to explain them

classical physics

1600 to 1900; almost everything we use today

modern physics

1900 to present; new discoveries, both are still used today

electromagnetism

study of electricity & magnetism, very similar

thermodynamics

physics of heat, temperature, & energy

kinematics

how objects move

dynamics

explains cause of motion

applied physics

application of physics to solve scientific/engineering problems; a bridge between both

independent variable

the variable you change/manipulate

dependent variable

the variable that is measured, stays the same

controlled variable

variables kept the same for both groups

astrophysics

combines astronomy & physics; concerned with the physical nature of stars & other celestial bodies

geophysics

combines biology & physics; concerned with the physical properties of the Earth and its surrounding space environment

atmospherephysics

studies Earth’s & other planet’s atmosphere; meteorology

nuclear & high energy physics

investigates the ultimate structure and particles of matter

Issac Newton

developed kinematics & dynamics;

kinematics & dynamics are…

the basis for most comprehensive scientific laws in history

mechanics

combination of kine. & dyna.; how forces affect motion & describes motion in lines, arcs, & circles

Benjamin Franklin

the first to assign positive & negative terms to an electric charge

hypothesis

a scientists assumption/explanation made on the basis of limited observations

bias

disproportionate weight in favor of or against something; influences hypotheses

objective

to be separate from personal bias

experiment

a scientific procedure undertaken to make a discovery, test a hypothesis, or demonstrate a known fact

controlled experiment

experiment done under controlled circumstances