Branches of Science

Branches of Science

• Natural Sciences:
  • Study the natural world and its phenomena
  • Divided into:
    • Physical Sciences: physics, chemistry, astronomy
    • Life Sciences: biology, botany, zoology
• Formal Sciences:
  • Study abstract systems and structures
  • Include:
    • Mathematics: number theory, algebra, geometry
    • Logic: reasoning, argumentation, proof theory
• Applied Sciences:
  • Use scientific knowledge to develop practical solutions
  • Examples:
    • Engineering: mechanical, electrical, computer science
    • Medicine: medical research, healthcare, public health

Scientific Method

• Observation: identify a problem or phenomenon
• Hypothesis: formulate a tentative explanation
• Prediction: make a forecast based on the hypothesis
• Experimentation: test the hypothesis through experimentation
• Analysis: interpret data and draw conclusions
• Conclusion: support or reject the hypothesis

Scientific Theories

• Theory: a well-substantiated explanation for a set of phenomena
• Law: a statement that describes a consistent pattern or relationship
• Model: a simplified representation of a complex system or phenomenon
• Paradigm: a framework that guides research and understanding in a particular field

Key Concepts

• Empiricism: the idea that knowledge comes from experience and observation
• Objectivity: the principle of minimizing personal bias in scientific research
• Replication: the process of repeating experiments to verify results
• Peer Review: the evaluation of research by experts in the same field

Branches of Science

• Natural Sciences study the natural world and its phenomena, and are divided into Physical Sciences (physics, chemistry, astronomy) and Life Sciences (biology, botany, zoology)
• Formal Sciences study abstract systems and structures, and include Mathematics (number theory, algebra, geometry) and Logic (reasoning, argumentation, proof theory)
• Applied Sciences use scientific knowledge to develop practical solutions, and include Engineering (mechanical, electrical, computer science) and Medicine (medical research, healthcare, public health)

Scientific Method

• Observation involves identifying a problem or phenomenon
• A Hypothesis is a tentative explanation for a phenomenon
• Prediction involves making a forecast based on the hypothesis
• Experimentation involves testing the hypothesis through experimentation
• Analysis involves interpreting data and drawing conclusions
• The Conclusion involves supporting or rejecting the hypothesis

Scientific Theories

• A Theory is a well-substantiated explanation for a set of phenomena
• A Law is a statement that describes a consistent pattern or relationship
• A Model is a simplified representation of a complex system or phenomenon
• A Paradigm is a framework that guides research and understanding in a particular field

Key Concepts

• Empiricism is the idea that knowledge comes from experience and observation
• Objectivity is the principle of minimizing personal bias in scientific research
• Replication involves repeating experiments to verify results
• Peer Review is the evaluation of research by experts in the same field

Learn about the different branches of science, including natural sciences, formal sciences, and applied sciences. Understand the subfields and examples of each branch.