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Old 17-01-2011, 05:46 PM
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barx1963 (Malcolm)
Bright the hawk's flight

barx1963 is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Mt Duneed Vic
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As I understand it "facts" from a science point of view are verifiable statements about the world/universe. For example "water molecules consist of 2 hydrogen atoms and 1 oxygen atom" or "gravity is always attractive" or "the distance from the earth to the moon is x kms".

A theory is a model or an approximation of the world/universe that makes useful predictions. It is falsifiable in the sense that if a new fact emerges that cannot be explained by the existing theory, the theory needs to be changed or even discarded. Notice that a model is only ever regarded as an approximation, while it may often be startling accurate, it can still be regarded as applicable in a limited set of circumstances. Hence Newtons theories on motion and gravitation breakdown once speeds close to that of light come into play, but work with amazing precision at other speeds. Relativity breaks down at the extreme microscopic scale where quantum effects occur, but at the large scale is incredibly useful and accurate.

Scientists take sets of "facts" to construct models, which have explanatory and predictive power, but because these models are only ever approximations and are falsifiable, I don't think you can give them the status of facts.

Malcolm
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