ENVI 170 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Scientific Method, Lawrence Anthony, Redshift
19 Sep 2016
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Document Summary
Geology is the study of the solid earth- its composition, structure, physical properties, history, and the processes that shape it. Interdisciplinary science incorporates physics, chemistry and biology: subdisciplines: geophysics, geochemistry, marine geology, hydrology, Geosphere/lithosphere: rocky part of the planet (interior and surface) Hydrosphere: includes all earth"s water in liquid, solid and gaseous phases. Biosphere: includes all life forms of all sizes in all habitats. Atmosphere: is the blanket of gas that surrounds the entire planet and extends to the edge of space. Hypothesis: tentative, testable explanation based on observations. Testing: hypothesis is tested via experimentation or further observation. Theory: a hypothesis becomes a theory when it has been repeatedly tested and its predictions verified. Hypothesis testing after much testing and experimentation theory. Testing can prove a hypothesis false, but cannot tell us that a hypothesis is true. Science can tell us what is probably true based on available observations.
