CHEM 1P Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Scientific Law, Omelette, Peanut Butter
Document Summary
Explain the difference between a hypothesis and a theory: explain if and how a hypothesis can become a theory. E = the total amount of energy in the universe. Laws differ from scientific theories in that they do not posit a mechanism for explanation of phenomena: they are merely distillations of the results of repeated observation. A law is limited in applicability to circumstances resembling those already observed, and may be found false when extrapolated. A hypothesis is an attempt to explain phenomena. It is a proposal, a guess used to understand and/or predict something. A theory is the result of testing a hypothesis and developing an explanation that is assumed to be true about something. A theory replaces a hypothesis after testing confirms the hypothesis, or the hypothesis is modified and tested again until predictable results occurs. Identify each of the following as a pure substance or a mixture: a bottle of gatorade, aluminum, coffee, fluorine gas.
