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<h2>More Skills for Science</h2>
<p>In this lesson and the next few, we will look at some basic skills required for practical investigations in the physical sciences. Some skills have been introduced earlier.</p>
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<p>Physics and chemistry are physical sciences. All the sciences are based in the use of experiment and testing to understand the world around us better. The scientific method requires us to constantly re-examine our understanding, by testing new evidence with our current theories and making changes to those theories if the evidence does not meet the test. The scientific method therefore is the powerful tool you will use throughout the physical sciences.</p>
<p><img alt="" src="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/050b1f72-3dd6-47fa-967d-725449bd58ba"/></p>
<p>An ultraviolet image of the Sun.</p>
<p>In this chapter you will learn how to gather evidence using the scientific method. These skills will then be used throughout this textbook to test scientific theories and practices.</p>
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<h2 class="title" id="toc-id-1">The Development of a Scientific Theory</h2>
<p>The most important, and most exciting, thing about science and scientific theories is that they are not fixed. Hypotheses are formed and carefully tested, leading to scientific theories that explain those observations and predict results. <strong>The results are not made to fit the hypotheses</strong>. If new information comes to light with the use of better equipment, or the results of other experiments, this new information is used to improve and expand current theories. If a theory is found to have been incorrect it is changed to fit this new information. The data should never be made to fit the theory, if the data does not fit the theory then the theory is reworked or discarded. Although this changing of opinion is often taken for inconsistency, it is this very willingness to adapt that makes science useful, and allows new discoveries to be made.</p>
<p>Remember that the term theory has a different meaning in science. A <strong>scientific theory</strong> is not like your theory of about why you can only ever find one sock. A scientific theory is one that has been tested and proven through repeated experiment and data. Scientists are constantly testing the data available, as well as commonly held beliefs, and it is this constant testing that allows progress, and improved theories.</p>
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Development of a Scientific Theory

Physics is a science discipline concerned with the nature and properties of matter and energy. Physics topics include mechanics, heat, light and radiation, sound, electricity, magnetism, the structure of atoms, and so on.

Physics

Explore various scientific concepts and practical skills, including scientific notation, unit conversions, rates, ratios, constants, and the scientific method, as well as laboratory safety procedures and designing models.


Development of a Scientific Theory

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