Home Page Textbooks Physics Section 1.1: Physics and the Scientific Method

Physics

1st Edition

Walker

ISBN: 9780133256925

Textbook solutions

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Section 1.1: Physics and the Scientific Method

Exercise 1

Step 1

1 of 2

**Required.**

In this question, we are asked to explain the term scientific hypothesis.

Step 2

2 of 2

**Explanation.**

A hypothesis is a proposed scientific explanation for an observed phenomenon that can be either verified or rejected based on experiments.

#
**Schematic representation.**

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![‘slader’](https://slader-solution-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/aa18d73c-cd04-4c1d-afcf-73778f27ac6c-1669166296868446.png)

A scientific hypothesis is verified when tested with experiments. If experiments verify predictions based on the proposed hypothesis, it gains support.

Exercise 2

Solution 1

Solution 2

Step 1

1 of 2

Physics is defined as the study of fundamental laws of nature. $textbf{All the complexity we see in nature is a manifestation of those fundamental laws and principles.}$

Result

2 of 2

Everything in nature, no matter how complex, is a manifestation of fundamental laws and principles of physics.

Result

1 of 1

Physics’ laws and principles are the explanations of phenomenon that occur in nature.

Exercise 3

Solution 1

Solution 2

Step 1

1 of 1

Laws of physics are used in a various way to understand the science of another branch, like, biology, chemistry or earth science. To do and experiment we use laws of physics, sometimes to understand why things are happening we use laws of physics. Sometimes we use a theory of physics to predict the outcome of some event.

For example, we use laws of X-ray diffraction to understand the structure of DNA. We use thermodynamics, or quantum mechanics to understand chemical reactions or chaos theory weather forecast.

Step 1

1 of 5

Physics could be considered as the most basic science as it studies nature itself, and therefore $textbf{all the laws of physics apply to other sciences.}$

Step 2

2 of 5

The roles of physics in biology, for example, are $textbf{the use of lenses to correct visual defects and the use of x rays to reveal the structure of bones.}$

Step 3

3 of 5

When mixing two colourless liquids, a chemical reaction occurs and they change colour. This is due to the physical nature of electrons in atoms and molecules. They only absorb light photons of specific energies that take them from one allowed quantum state to another and the new molecule takes on the complementary colour to the wavelength of light most absorbed. That being said, $textbf{there are a lot of applications of quantum mechanics in chemistry.}$

Step 4

4 of 5

In earth sciences, meteorology for example, uses $textbf{chaos theory to predict weather forecast,}$ and seismology uses the knowledge about $textbf{the behaviour of water waves to predict which areas are at risk for a tsunami after an earthquake.}$

Result

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The laws of physics apply to other natural sciences because physics is the fundamental study of nature.

Click to see more about specific examples of physics in biology, chemistry and earth sciences.

Exercise 4

Solution 1

Solution 2

Step 1

1 of 2

To solve for $m$, divide both sides of the equation with $c^{2}$:

$$
begin{align*}
E&=mc^{2} left. quadright/ :c^{2}\
dfrac{E}{c^{2}}&=dfrac{mc^{2}}{c^{2}}\
end{align*}
$$

The $c^{2}$’s on the right side of the equation cancel out, which conveniently leaves only $m$. Therefore,

$$
begin{align*}
boxed{quad m=dfrac{E}{c^{2}}quad}\
end{align*}
$$

Result

2 of 2

$$
begin{align*}
boxed{quad m=dfrac{E}{c^{2}}quad}\
end{align*}
$$

Step 1

1 of 3

E=mc^2
m=?

Use algebra to solve for m

Step 2

2 of 3

Result

3 of 3

m=E/c^2

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Section 1.1: Physics and the Scientific Method

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