● Scientific Approach to Knowledge - The universal method of seeking to understand

the world around us used by scientists. The Scientific Approach to Knowledge is based
on observation and experimentation.
○ First, observations are made about phenomena in the natural world.
○ Then, hypotheses or scientific laws are made in an attempt to explain these
observations.
○ Then, the hypothesis or law is tested in an experiment
○ Then, the scientist formulates a theory to try and explain why these observations
happen.
○ Then, the theory is tested with more observations to either prove or disprove the
theory.
● Hypothesis - An initial theory or explanation of observations that can be proved or
disproved by later observations.
● Experiments - Highly controlled procedures that are made to provide observations that
prove or disprove a hypothesis.
● Scientific Law - A short statement that uses past observations to predict future ones.
Laws, like hypotheses, can be proven or disproved by experiments. Scientific laws
describe what nature does, which is why some people use the term principles instead of
laws.
○ The Law of Conservation of Mass - This law states that matter cannot be
created or destroyed during a chemical reaction.
● Scientific Theory - A theory based on one or more proven hypotheses that attempts to
explain not only what happens in nature, but why it happens. Theories can be mostly
proved, but they are still only speculation, as new data can be discovered that disproves
the theory.
○ Atomic Theory was proposed by Jon Dalton. He used the theory to explain the
law of conservation of mass by saying that all matter is made up of tiny,
indestructible particles he called atoms. He said that during chemical reactions,
these particles are moved around, which allows for the total mass to remain the
same.