Lab The Scientific Method

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School

Moraine Valley Community College *

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101

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Chemistry

Date

Feb 20, 2024

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docx

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Uploaded by CorporalMorning13222

Lab: The Scientific Method Objectives: Upon the completion of this lab the student will be able to:  Read and comprehend (at least on a basic level) an advanced scientific research paper  Evaluate original research in terms of the Scientific Method  Showcase an understanding of the Scientific Method  Summarize the research conducted by a scientist in simple terms Background The step by step process is originally attributed to Galileo Galilei, though it is likely the beginnings of the concept came about by Sir Francis Bacon, who was highly influenced by Galileo. The step-by-step process of the method is: 1. Observation: Make an observation and recognize some question or puzzle which needs to be solved. 2. Hypothesis: Make a hypothesis, or educated guess, that might resolve the puzzle or answer the question. You would then predict the consequences of this hypothesis. 3. Experiment: Perform experiments or make calculations that test the predictions. 4. Data Analysis: Analyze the data found in the experiment. 5. Conclusion: Draw a conclusion from the experiment and determine whether it proves or disproves the hypothesis. If a hypothesis is able to stand up to experimentation, as well as its predictions, it could be elevated to the rank of scientific theory, which is an idea which has built up a large body of evidence in support, has made predictions, and also had those predictions successfully tested. It is here where the party begins. Once something is accepted as a scientific theory, many of the world’s best scientists will do whatever it takes to prove it wrong. In this lab you will choose a piece of original, published research, and try to understand it through the lens of the scientific method.

Procedure 1. Go to the website https://arxiv.org/ . Select a field of research for physics and view the list of recently published work in that field. Choose an article that you are interested in, but it can be no more than two months old. 2. Read the article. I know that a lot of this research can be advanced, but you can still likely try to get a feel for what the research author(s) are trying to accomplish. 3. Who are the lead authors, what journal was this published in, etc.? P. M. W. Kalberla and it was published in the Astronomy & Astrophysics section 4. Summarize the article below. Write a strong, detailed paragraph. The researcher delved into the mystery of those filamentary structures in the interstellar space between stars. Some scientists thought they were dense structures, while others believed they were caused by velocity fluctuations. To figure this out, they used a model called VDA, but it turns out that what they thought were velocity caustics may not actually be so. The study suggests that these structures are more likely related to the cold neutral medium and not affected much by turbulent velocity. Essentially, the way we thought about these structures might need a rethink. This study helps us understand more about the space between stars and how certain structures are connected to cold gas and magnetic fields.

5. What observation did the author make that led to them wanting to do this research? The researcher observed filamentary structures in the interstellar medium and noticed conflicting information about whether they were density filaments or velocity caustics 6. What is the author’s hypothesis before conducting the research? The author's hypothesis is centered on the interpretation of filamentary structures in the diffuse interstellar medium. Some argue these structures are real physical entities, while others propose they are velocity caustics caused by turbulent velocity fluctuations. The study aims to discuss and compare these opposing positions regarding the nature of these structures. 7. Describe the author’s experimental design. What equipment did they use, and why? What kind of data were they hoping to take? The author used math techniques to explore caustics, specifically defining them as Morse complexes. They applied a tool called the Hessian matrix to identify filamentary structures in data related to the interstellar medium. Additionally, they used methods like velocity channel analysis (VCA) and velocity decomposition algorithm (VDA) to separate velocity and density information in their observations. This helped them understand filamentary structures in space better. 8. Describe the author’s data analysis.

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The author studied data related to the interstellar medium, focusing on structures like filaments and using a model called VDA. They compared this model with existing ideas, addressing aspects like velocity, density, and filament characteristics in the diffuse interstellar medium. The analysis revealed discrepancies and raised questions about the model's accuracy in representing certain features of space. 9. Were they able to draw a conclusion from the data? Did it prove or disprove their hypothesis? Yes. The author looked at some data about filamentary structures in space. They used a method called Velocity Decomposition Algorithm (VDA) and found that these structures seem more related to density rather than turbulent velocity, challenging what some other theories suggested. 10. Is this research expected to lead to a future research project? If so, in what way? It points out conflicts in different theories. This might spark more research to figure out why there are differences and refine our understanding of the interstellar medium.