Sage-Tips

Why do scientists search for explanations of phenomena?

Science requires that scientific explanations of phenomena be based on events or mechanisms that can be observed in the natural world. They propose hypotheses that explain the evolution of those characteristics through naturally occurring mechanisms. Then they gather additional information to test their hypotheses.

How do scientists come up with explanations?

A scientific explanation is a way of explaining something we see in the natural world that’s based on observations and measurements. We evaluate scientific explanations by comparing it to the current evidence and looking at what predictions it makes about the world.

How does science support its explanations?

Science uses theories (derived from empirical or data-based processes) to support explanations of observable phenomena.

What are scientific explanations?

The definition of a scientific explanation is a reason for something on the principles of science. An example of a scientific explanation is a logical reason for a ghost sighting. noun.

When scientists look for explanations for specific observations What do they assume about nature?

When scientists look for explanations for specific observations, what do they assume about nature? They assume that the patterns in nature are consistent.

Why would other scientists want to see observations from your three trials?

When we do multiple trials of the same experiment, we can make sure that our results are consistent and not altered by random events. Multiple trials can be done at one time. If we were testing a new fertilizer, we could test it on lots of individual plants at the same time. What about Variables?

How do scientific explanations differ from other types of explanations?

Scientific explanation uses theories, deductive and inductive logic, and empirical observation to determine what is true and what is false. Unlike authoritarian, traditional, or intuitive explanations, scientific knowledge is always supposed to be open to challenge and continual correction.

What makes an explanation good?

Reason, Familiarity, Unification, Necessity and Causation We now have three important features of explanation: there is a distinction between knowing that and understanding why, the why regress is benign, and good explanations may be self-evidencing.

Why do scientists only test one variable at a time in an experiment?

Testing only one variable at a time lets you analyze the results of your experiment to see how much a single change affected the result. If you’re testing two variables at a time, you won’t be able to tell which variable was responsible for the result.

How would a scientist categorize a testable explanation for an observation?

A hypothesis is a suggested explanation that is testable, falsifiable and repeatable. Scientist must be able to test and have a measurable result to see if the hypothesis can supported.

What is a scientific explanation in science?

Science is the study of the natural world through observation and experiment. A scientific explanation is a way of explaining something we see in the natural world that’s based on observations and measurements.

How has Science changed our understanding of the world?

Thousands of years ago, our explanations about how the world worked were not very good. Things we couldn’t understand were attributed to praise or vengeance from gods, or thinking the world was random. Thanks to science, we have a much better idea about why things are the way they are.

What is the relationship between scientific knowledge and scientific reasoning?

Scientific reasoning is intimately intertwined with conceptual knowledge of the natural phenomena under investigation. This conceptual knowledge sometimes acts as an obstacle to reasoning, but often facilitates it.

What is Science in simple words?

Science is the study of the natural world through observation and experiment. A scientific explanation is a way of explaining something we see in the natural world that’s based on observations and measurements. Examples of scientific explanations include the theory of gravity and the explanation for why the sky is blue.