Scientific Method

I Scientific Method

A. States a problem that the individual is faced with
B. Gathers many facts
C. Forms a Hypothesis (Educated guess)
D. More facts are gathered by research
E. Experiments are performed
F. Conclusion

II Hypothesis - Must be Testable

III Theory - Conceptual Scheme

A. Imagined unit or aspect
    1. Gene
    2. molecule
    2. Atom
    4. Electron
B. No Theory can be tested Directly
C. Can be supported or Confirmed only indirectly
D. No Theory can be labeled True or False
    1. Bad Theory
    2. Good Theory
        a. Identify Orderly Relationship
        b. Predict Certain Future Events
        c. Develop New Directions for Research
        d. Modifiable

IV Law - A statement of Uniform Pattern of Behavior ( Does not explain, but describes the Behavior)

When evidence is incomplete or inadequate to solve a problem, the individual may go forward by this intelligent speculation

Lets take a closer look at " Dalton's Atomic Theory " ; To determine if " Daltons Atomic Theory " Complies with the Criteria of a Good Theory.

First - let us recall some History

In 1799 - Proust proposed the " Law of constant Composition " which states - Different samples of a compound have the same composition by Weight.

Berthollet - Claimed that the composition of a compound depended on the way in which it was prepared.

However, in 1774 Lavoisier - Classical experiments of Red Oxide of Mercury HgO and Oxygen.

By his careful determination of the exact amounts of Materials involved - Disproved the " Phlogiston Theory " There by helping to establish the Scientific Method. He concluded that Burning was not the release of Phlogiston but the addition of Oxygen, forming a compound called an oxide. As a result of this work Lavoisier Enunciated the " Law of Conservation of Mass " Reactants must equal the products.

Dalton Puzzled over the significance of these Two Laws. And by 1808 he had a Model to Explain them.

Not only Explained the two Laws, but led him to propose a new Law.

DALTON'S ATOMIC THEORY

   1. All matter is made up of very small particles called atoms.
   2. Atoms of one element are identical in weight and other properties and have different properties from atoms of any other element.
   3. Atoms cannot be created or destroyed nor can they be subdivided or changed into atoms of another element.
   4. In a compound atoms combined in a ratio of small whole numbers - such as one to one or one to two.
   5. In Chemical changes or reactions, atoms are rearranged.

# 5 - Accounted for the Law of " Conservation of Mass ". Weight of products must equal that of the reactants.

#2 and # 4 Explained the " Law of Constant Composition "
- Constant Weight-
-Fixed Ratios for their combination to form compounds-

From his Theory, Dalton was able to predict a new Law, " Law of Multiple Proportions "

If Two elements unite to form more than one compound, the varying weights of one element that combined with a fixed weight of the other element are in the Ratio of Small Whole Numbers.

Example:

CO (Carbon Monoxide) 1:1 and CO₂ (Carbon Dioxide) 1:2

This successful prediction of the new Model earned acceptance for Dalton's Atomic Theory.

Because the " Law of Multiple Proportions was able to be tested directly ( and it was! ) Dalton's Atomic Theory was accepted.

JUST A FEW BAD THEORIES

There are hundreds of bad theories, most have been disproved, included in this list would be " The bad Humor Theory " also known as " The Bad Blood Theory ". It is believed that George Washington came to his premature demise, because of this theory! Doctors believed that illness was due to the fact that people developed an imbalance in the body fluids, mainly the blood. In order to rid the body of this bad blood, a thriving business developed around those that had sharp instruments like the razor. Even today you can see that the barber shop, have a rotating barber pole with red stripes, advertising that this was the place where you could get rid of your bad blood, while you got a shave, all for one price. For much less, then what a Doctor would charge, just for bleeding. However, the Doctors did have one advantage, they gave you a choice of the scapula or the leech to be bled. That is why for a time in history Doctor's were known as " Leeches "! One can still buy the so-called Medicinal Leeches in large cities and at certain pharmacies. I can personally testify to that fact. However today, these so-called Medicinal leeches are used in obtaining a substance from their salivary glands called " Hirudin " This substance is an anti-coagulate, used sometime for slow clotting after surgery. The bite of a leach is painless, because of their small three sharp teeth, located at the front sucker; the back sucker is just for support. All leeches to my recollection have thirty-three segments. Today if a person has an accident and severs a limb or a digit by accident, they are told to stop the bleeding with a tourniquet, and wrap your digit in a moisten towel and bring it to the hospital with you. Today with the advance surgery procedures, in reattaching limbs and digits, one stands a good chance of having his limb or digit reattached. However, doctors have found that a person stands a better chance of success, with the surgery, if leeches are used on the digit or limb. This removal of blood, by a leech, increases circulation to the newly attached digit or limb. The leech produces no infection, or inflammation gets a good meal and automatically drops off when full.

The horseleech is mentioned in Proverbs 30:15 spelled horseleach.

Another bad theory, known as the so-called Ulcer Theory, that worry and hot spicy food produced Ulcers. Disproved by a young Australian Doctor, by carrying out an experiment on himself and infecting himself with a bacteria, and then treating himself with an antibiotic. The result of disproving this theory, and making the doctors look silly, now, today you can find the market flooded with over the counter medication for treatment of stomach ailments, that were at one time by prescription only. At first, this young doctor was laughed to scorn, but not any longer.

There are numerous bad doctor theories that you can check out for yourself. When X-rays became widely used, doctors noticed that the organs did not seem to be located in the right location, as compared to their charts. So they tried to surgically raise the organs, to their right location, (or height) not realizing that flesh sags.

In the early fifties, it was a novelty to check your shoes that you were buying, to see how good the fit would be, by the use of X-ray machine. This would be done by standing on an apparatus and placing your feet with fitted shoes, in an opening at the bottom. The feet could be observed through an opening at the top of the box. You would be exposed to all the X-ray radiation, and many people developed cancers, from these machines. This theory of getting a good fit for your feet soon bit the dust. You may want to ask your grand parents if they have ever encountered these X-ray shoes box machines, when purchasing a pair of shoes.

When a premature baby would be born, they would be placed in an incubator, because of their delicate size. Doctors thought that if some oxygen would be beneficial to the baby, then more oxygen would be more beneficial. Boy, were they wrong! The babies would be blind after that experience. The blood vessels at the back of the retina would become enlarged, resulting in their blindness. Stopping the practice of increasing oxygen supply to premature babies cured the problem of blindness of premature babies.

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