TUTORIAL SHEET 4

Scientific Change and the Theory of Combustion

1. What was the main source of doubt with the Phlogiston Theory?
Contrary to expectations, after burning, the mass of the material was greater than
it had been at the start.
2. How was Lavoisier able to support his theory?
He developed the theory that when substances burn in air they combine with
oxygen from the air and form an oxide (a compound containing oxygen). His ideas were
backed up with large amounts of experimental evidence including detailed observations
and accurate measurements.
3. Why was observational evidence necessary?
To prove the theory and convince other scientists that the theory is either true or
false
4. To what extent is each theory cumulative?

5. Are the two theories of combustion cumulative? What does this say about the
Inductivist version of scientific change?
The Inductivist version of scientific change is not always logically valid or
accurate.
6. Can the current theory of combustion be considered an example of Kuhnian scientific
change (Revolutionary Science)?
Yes because there was a paradigm shift.