1.1 - The Nature of Physics

We begin the University Physics course with an introduction to physics, the scientific method, and defining the concepts of a hypothesis, theory and law in science.

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The goal in physics is to investigate nature by uncovering patterns and trying to explain them. This is done using the Scientific Method. At the heart of the scientific method is a loop of creating explanations and testing them. The testing is what makes Physics an experimental science.

There are many different influences in the scientific process as well as many best practices that we adopt to do good science.

Hypothesis – an initial tentative explanation based on preliminary research. The Hypothesis will be tested with an experiment to see how well it actually explains a phenomenon. Scientists cannot accept a hypothesis without first testing it.

Theory – a comprehensive explanation or model based on empirical evidence. After repeated experiments, a strong hypothesis may become a full fledged theory. Theories are not perfect and are subject to a Range of Validity where they work. Outside this range and we can’t rely on them to be good explanations. Theories can be amended or even discarded when new evidence comes to light.

Law – a concise description of what happens. Laws are typically brief descriptions of regular patterns found in nature. They are often a single equation that describes a kind of cause and effect relationship or principle.

Theories and Laws are different types of things. Laws describe what happens, while theories explain why that happens. The ultimate goal of science is to craft powerful theories that explain what is going on.

00:00 The Nature of Physics
03:25 The Scientific Method
06:33 Real Science is Complicated
09:41 Hypothesis, Theory & Law