In the table below you will find three descriptions of scientists engaging in activities that are part of the scientific method. What are the missing words?
Sadi proposes the theory that substances become hot when rubbed because the pressure of the rubbing squeezes out a fiery bright substance he calls caloric.
Jean-Baptiste, after studying the way heat flows through solid materials, discovers a law that says the rate of heat flow is proportional to the difference in temperature per centimeter, and he measures the constant of proportionality for several substances.
Benjamin is supervising the boring of cannon in a foundry, and makes the hypothesis that the steady friction of the drill on the metal causes the metal to heat up. He measures the temperature change with a thermometer.
The correct answer and explanation is :
The missing words are:
- Hypothesis (for Sadi)
- Law (for Jean-Baptiste)
- Experiment (for Benjamin)
Explanation
The scientific method is a systematic approach used by scientists to explore observations, develop theories, and test hypotheses. It involves several key steps: making observations, forming a hypothesis, conducting experiments, analyzing data, and developing laws or theories.
1. Sadi – Hypothesis
Sadi proposes a theory that substances become hot when rubbed due to a fiery substance called caloric. This idea represents a hypothesis, which is a testable explanation for a phenomenon. A hypothesis is an initial step in the scientific method that must be tested through experimentation.
2. Jean-Baptiste – Law
Jean-Baptiste discovers a mathematical relationship between heat flow and temperature difference, which he expresses as a law. In science, a law describes a consistent and universal principle observed in nature, often expressed mathematically. Unlike a hypothesis, a law does not explain why something happens; it only describes the relationship between variables.
3. Benjamin – Experiment
Benjamin tests whether friction causes heat by measuring temperature changes with a thermometer. His actions constitute an experiment, a key part of the scientific method where a hypothesis is tested through controlled observations and measurements. Experiments provide empirical evidence that either supports or refutes a hypothesis.
Conclusion
These three scientists represent different stages of the scientific method: proposing a hypothesis (Sadi), establishing a law (Jean-Baptiste), and conducting an experiment (Benjamin). Their work contributed significantly to the study of heat and thermodynamics, shaping our understanding of energy transfer and the rejection of the caloric theory.
Here is the illustrated historical scientific scene, showing Sadi Carnot, Jean-Baptiste Fourier, and Benjamin Thompson engaging in different stages of the scientific method.