Scientific Laws

Goals

1. Describe scientific laws.
2. Apply scientific laws to practical tasks in the real world.

What?

Scientific laws are statements, often expressed as equations, based on repeated experimental observations that describe or predict natural phenomena.

Scientific laws do not explain why the phenomena occur.

Examples

• Newton’s First Law of Motion states that an object will remain at rest or in uniform motion (constant velocity) unless acted upon by an external force.

  • If ΣF = 0, then V will be constant.
  • If V is constant, then ΣF = 0.

• Ohm’s Law describes the relationship between voltage, current, and resistance in electrical circuits: V = IR.

• The Law of Conservation of Mass states that mass is neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction.

Analysis (Main Ideas)

Scientific Law

A statement describing an observed phenomenon under specific conditions.

Universal Applicability

The ability of a scientific law to apply under all circumstances within its defined parameters.

Predictive Capability

The use of scientific laws to predict future occurrences based on past observations.

Why?

1. Scientific laws provide a reliable basis for understanding and predicting natural phenomena.
2. They serve as foundational elements in the development of scientific theories and models.
3. Understanding scientific laws helps in practical applications, such as engineering and technological innovation.

How?

Principles

• Scientific laws are based on empirical data and observations.
• They are often expressed in mathematical form.
• Laws describe but do not explain phenomena.

Framework

1. Observe the phenomenon through experiments or natural occurrences.
2. Identify patterns or consistent relationships.
3. Formulate statements that accurately and universally describe these observations.
4. Test the statements through repeated experimentation and observation.
5. Use laws to predict future occurrences within the observed parameters.

Tips

• Always consider the scope and limitations of a scientific law.
• Remember that laws apply only under certain conditions and may have exceptions.
• Use scientific laws as a starting point for exploring more complex explanations provided by scientific theories.

Who?

Individuals engaged in scientific research, educators, engineers, and students in science-related fields should learn about scientific laws. Understanding these laws is crucial for accurate prediction and analysis of natural phenomena, forming a foundation for further study.

When?

Scientific laws should be learned during the transition from novice to intermediate stages of scientific education. As learners gain foundational knowledge in the sciences, they should understand and apply scientific laws to build more complex understandings and explanations.

Resources

• “The Feynman Lectures on Physics” by Richard Feynman
• “Conceptual Physics” by Paul Hewitt
• Online resources such as Khan Academy and Physics Classroom