Ok. I gotcha, whitefork. Good question.
Mathematics is the language of science. I forget who said it, so I'll take credit (and royalties) for it. =)
When we make measurements, we are able to put numbers to obseved phenomena. The formulating of hypotheses and the checking of those hypotheses, and the creation of theory all involve mathematics to a great degree.
If you are able to write an equation to describe how different variables interact (e.g. force, mass, and acceleration), then you have summed up a lot of information in one short sentence.
There are two types of theories in science: descriptive and fundamental (with a lot of grey area between them). Descriptive theories just say what is happening. Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion are an example of this type, as they just say the planets move in ellipses, etc. Fundamental theories unite different descriptives into one. Newton's Laws of Motion are an example of this second type, for they unite, among others, Kepler's Laws into one overarching law. Descriptive theories are predictive, but for a much more limited realm than are fundamental theories.
Oops... sorry I went off on a tangent. Students used to love it when I did that, because it meant at least 5 minutes of uninterrupted nap time. =)
Mathematics is the language of science. I forget who said it, so I'll take credit (and royalties) for it. =)
When we make measurements, we are able to put numbers to obseved phenomena. The formulating of hypotheses and the checking of those hypotheses, and the creation of theory all involve mathematics to a great degree.
If you are able to write an equation to describe how different variables interact (e.g. force, mass, and acceleration), then you have summed up a lot of information in one short sentence.
There are two types of theories in science: descriptive and fundamental (with a lot of grey area between them). Descriptive theories just say what is happening. Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion are an example of this type, as they just say the planets move in ellipses, etc. Fundamental theories unite different descriptives into one. Newton's Laws of Motion are an example of this second type, for they unite, among others, Kepler's Laws into one overarching law. Descriptive theories are predictive, but for a much more limited realm than are fundamental theories.
Oops... sorry I went off on a tangent. Students used to love it when I did that, because it meant at least 5 minutes of uninterrupted nap time. =)
