Colorado Technical University online

Science in Society

February 13, 2012

Carmen Rivera

Phase 5 IP

Colorado Technical University Online

Abstract

In 1912, Albert Wegener developed the theory of Continental Drifts, however, His only theory was by looking at the map of the world and that the map showed how these continents fit together like a puzzle. He called this Pangaea. Other Scientist did not accept this hypothesis because the lack of evidence Wegener had. By 1960 many scientist continue to work on this hypothesis and found evidence to support Wegener's idea that the continents do move. This new evidence helped to develop Plate tectonics. Through more research and added information to each other's work, they came up with the confirmation that the continents do indeed move. And because of the movement of these plates, there are earthquakes and volcano eruptions and mountains are formed.

The scientific method is the development by which scientists, together attempt to suggest a precise exemplification of the world. There are four steps to this process which helps us understand the natural world around us through experiments and observation. Human intellects and human intelligent aren't really suitable for science, so the scientific method is intended to compensate for what human lack.

Energy that is created from natural sources and is produced over and over again is called Renewable energy. Nonrenewable energy is reserved from the resources that are obtainable on the earth in inadequate amounts that will disappear in several years from now. The decision that science makes in the process of nonrenewable energy is very important. The repetition practice of using renewable energy is imperative to our environment and our planet.

The theory of Continental Drifts was developed in the first part of the 20th century, by Alfred in 1912. His hypothesis was that continents moved around the Earth's surface and they were once united together as a single continent. His only theory was by looking at the map of the world. Like South Africa and Africa can fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. Wegner called this supercontinent Pangaea, which means all land. He proposed that Pangaea broke up long ago and that the continents then moved to their present locations. Francis beacon also had this same theory in 1620; however had no real reason for this opinion. Wegener deliberated that mantle convection was a probable dynamic mechanism, but later excluded that hypothesis in approval of tidal forces as the source of Pangaea's destruction and titled his hypothesis continental drift. Wegener's theory of continental drift was mostly condemned on both geological and geophysical grounds. Scientists did not trust that the continents can move. However, oceanographic confirmation and progress of plate tectonic theory in the 1960s have justified Wegener's simple assumption that modern continents are drifted fragments of Pangaea. This theory helped shape the plate tectonics. (Emporia.edu)

They did not accept Wegener's theory, because he did not have any confirmation to clarify how these movements of the continents accrued. In 1960, Oceanographer and geologists found evidence to support some of Wegener's idea that the continents do move. This came from new evidence, geological proof. This information was obtained by the summaries of the oceans floors, maps of rock magnetisms, and data on rock ages. (Trefil, Hazen, 2010).

In the course of World War II, a navy officer, Harry Hess and American geophysicist, mapped out for the first time the ocean floors to seek out enemy submarines. This theory helped to develop Plate tectonics. These naval maps presented mountain ranges of many different shapes, sizes, and locations. These are called mid-ocean ridges. Hess speculated that new ocean floors were created at the ridges, and the continents were being pushed away from each other during this development. Scientist believed that Wegener's hypothesis was somewhat correct.

They did believe that the continents where separated, however not by plowing through the ocean floor, but by part of the developing ocean floor. This is called Sea-floor spreading. Though this hypothesis was just a theory, they needed more evidence to support what was called the geo-poetry. They added more information too each other's work and came up with evidence to clarify the sea-floor spreading theory. They came to realized that there where these magnetic patterns in the rocks on each side of the ridges and scientist were able to read them. They determined that the patterns on each side where a match. (tclauset.org)

The scientific method is the development by which scientists, together attempt to suggest a precise exemplification of the world. No one person can claim to have created the scientific method. It was acknowledged and established as the natural method of attaining dependable knowledge. Initially, scientific method was named the experimental method. (Charleswardle.com) The expression "scientific" was developed in the 19th century. Many Scientist, philosopher's and psychologist have added to the improvement of the Scientific method such as, Isaac Newton, Galileo, Aristotle, Charles Darwin, and Albert Einstein just to name a few. (Scientific method.com)

The Scientific Method entails of four steps. Observations, Hypothesis, Predictions, experiment. There are no requirements for observation. The observations are what the original theory (hypothesis) is constructed on. The process of the scientific method confirms that this hypothesis doesn't turn out to be a believed theory without calculating the rest of the requirements. Proper observations are more possible to produce a beneficial hypothesis and well documented observation. A rational clarification of how the hypothesis was resulting from those observations will help to be valuable to other scientists. The hypothesis will develop into the theory and need to consequently have positive characteristics. The significant characteristic is it must be conceivable, by experimentation or a different innovation, to demonstrate that it is wrong. The predictions need to have the prospective to demonstrate the hypothesis wrong.

Next are the prediction and the Individual obligation that the predictions need to support the hypothesis. With a humble hypothesis, this will look evident. But with additional difficult hypotheses, it turns out to be problematic. Human intellects and human intelligent