1-2-the-scientific-methods_summary

The section discusses the scientific methods used to make scientific discoveries, defines a scientific model, and compares and contrasts hypothesis, theory, and law. The scientific method involves making observations, formulating a hypothesis, testing the hypothesis through experiments, analyzing the results, and drawing conclusions. A scientific model is a representation of something that is often too difficult or impossible to study directly, such as physical models, equations, computer programs, or simulations. Models are simpler to consider than the real situation and help us visualize and understand complex phenomena. Hypothesis, theory, and law differ as follows: a hypothesis is a testable statement that describes how something in the natural world works, a theory is a well-established explanation based on natural and physical phenomena that is capable of being tested by multiple independent researchers, and a law is a description of a pattern in nature that is true in all circumstances that have been studied and often concise. The scientific method is applied to many situations and can help solve problems by allowing us to analyze data, formulate models and theories, and make predictions. The Snap Lab activity demonstrates how air flows through a room by using a model based on experimental evidence. Scientific laws and theories can change with new discoveries and technologies, and scientists are cautious about using the word prove, instead using support to leave the door open for future discoveries.