Meaning and Nature of Physical Science

 

Meaning and Nature of Physical Science

      Science is a systematized body of knowledge. This body of knowledge include facts, concepts and theories that are subject to error and change. The scientific knowledge exists in the form of facts, concepts, principles, and laws, hypothesis and theories.

     Science is a dynamic in nature and the scientific information is constantly being re arranged and reoriented in the light of new knowledge.

     Science never proves anything in an absolute sense. It accumulates data by observation and measurement.

Definitions of Science

       The term ’Science’ originated from the Latin word ‘Scientia’ it means ‘knowledge’, all that, there is that, anybody can know. ----(C.W. Owen).

       There is no single definition which is universally accepted.

1.  “Science is the attempt to make, the chaotic discovery of our sense experience corresponds to a logically uniform system of thought”.

    According to scientist, science is an attempt of an individual to discover the miracle of nature which is experienced by his sensory organs but it should be corresponded with uniformity of thoughts based on logic.

2. “Science is not just collection of law a catalogue of facts. It is a creation of human mind with its freely invented ideas and concepts”. --- (Albert Einstein & L. Infild).

        Science is not just mere collection of facts and laws. These facts and laws are based on the free intervention or interactions of an individual with the nature. So, science is the interpretation of nature and man is the interpreter.

        Science is a cumulative and endless series of empirical observations which result in the formation of concepts and theories being subject to modification in the light of further empirical (Practical) observations. Science is both a body of knowledge and the process of acquiring it.

           Science is an accumulated and systematized learning in general usage restricted to natural phenomenon. The progress of science is not marked not only by an accumulation of fact, but by the emergence of scientific method and of the scientific attitude.

       The nature of science is basically standing on three principles. These are:

1. Science is an accumulated and systematized body of knowledge.
2. The scientific method of Inquiry.
3. The scientific attitude.

        From these principles we can say science is both a product and process, because the first principle emphasizes on the product of science. While 2^nd and 3^rd principles emphasize on the process.

--- (R. C. Sharma. Teaching of Science.)

      The true nature of science is revealed more in the way it is sought rather than in what is found, although the two efforts cannot be truly separated. In another way, it could be said that Science is more a verb than it is a noun.

     Science answers to many questions like what is in the universe? How many? How much? How frequently? Where? When? Under what circumstances? But it fails to answer why? The aim of science is to find out the laws of nature. The following diagram gives you a clear idea of the relationships between observation and experimentation on which laws are based.

                                          Observations                                                            If correct, ok. Accepted

 

.
 Nature                                                                       Guess

 

                                     Experimentations                                                  If wrong, go for correction

 

          Fig: Explains the relationship between observation and Experimentation

According to C.V. Raman,” Science is not a subject to study. It is a way of life.”

Main Characteristics of the process of science

1. Science proceeds on the assumption, based on centuries of experience, that the universe is not capricious.
2. Science knowledge is based on observations of samples of matter that are accessible to public investigations in contrast to purely private inspections.
3. Science proceeds in a piecemeal manner, even though it also aims at achieving a systematic and comprehensive understanding of various sectors or aspects of nature.
4. Science is not, and probably never will be, a finished enterprise, and there remains very much more to be discovered about how things in universe behave and how they are interrelated.
5. Measurements is an important feature of most branches of modern science because the formation as well as the establishment of laws are facilitated through the development of quantitative distinctions.

Scientific facts, Concepts and Generalizations

      The two types of responsibilities performed by science are:

1. Investigation and exploration of facts and
2. Building of systematic and organized body of facts-based son such explanations.

    Thus, science provides us a systematic and organized information comprising scientific facts, concepts, laws and generalizations which may prove helpful to all of us in increasing our knowledge and also in solving our problems. Science also helps us to make our lives happier.

Scientific facts:

     What happens around us, arouses interest in human beings and makes him eager to know more and more about it. For ex: Thunder, storming, lightening, cyclones, monsoons, earthquakes, volcanoes, raining etc. paved ways for investigations. All the valuable sources are used by him to know all about such happenings and the conclusions drawn as a result of his findings are called facts.

Meaning:

 “Fact is something known to be true or accepted as true”

                                                               -Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary.

“A theory is a set of interrelated concepts, definitions, and present a systematic view of phenomena by specifying relations among variables with the purpose of explain and predicting phenomena.” -Kerlinger

Characteristics

    According to George. J Mouley, the following are the characteristic of a good theory.

1. Interpretation and verifications.
2. Grounded or landed in empirical data.
3. Law of parsimony.
4. Based on facts.
5. Precise, neat and clear.
6. Meaningful structure.
7. Applicability.

Generalizations

        The facts, concepts and generalization are interlinked, interdependent and interrelated. The facts give rise to concepts and when the facts and concepts are properly classified on the basis of various scientific process; they give rise to generalizations. The process of science, through which come to generalizations are as follows.

1. Observation.
2. Classification.
3. Measurement.
4. Communications.
5. Inference.
6. Prediction.
7. Formulating Hypothesis.
8. Experimentation.

Nature and Scope of Science:

1. The systematized store of knowledge gained after generalizing and inter relating the various isolated facts is known as science.
2. The word science has been derived from a Latin word ’Scintia’ which means ‘to know’ or ‘search for truth.’
3. Science is a heap of truth.
4. Science is both a study of knowledge and the process of acquiring it.
5. The word physics originated from the Greece word which means ‘Nature’.
6. Physics is a branch of science which deals with the study of nature and natural phenomenon.  
7. Physics is a branch of science which deals with the physical entities.
8. Physics is a branch of science which deals with the fundamental phenomenon which are related the matter and energy.
9. Physics is a systematic and accumulated knowledge about matter, energy such other entities thorough scientific observations and inquiry based on utilization value for human beings.