Question

Kepler used the precise observations of the positions and movements of the planets and labored many years to mathematically determine that the orbits of the six planets known at the time were in the shape of ellipses.

Galileo, performed experiments about the motions of objects and looked for patterns in their data. For example, Galileo found that the period of a pendulum was independent of the mass and amplitude but was dependent on the length of the string and gravity.

Albert Einstein's special theory of relativity, which was published in 1905, is a good example of how physicists ask questions and form hypotheses. Einstein never did a single experiment in this field in the laboratory. He used mathematics in his work.

Peter Higgs postulated that the universe was permeated by a field (Higgs field) that contains numerous uniformly distributed particles called Higgs bosons that cluster around other particles moving through the field. The Large Hadron Collider proved the existence of Higgs bosons.

a.) Describe deductive reasoning, including an example from one of the scientists above. Be sure to clearly explain your choice.

b.) Describe inductive reasoning, including an example from one of the scientists above. Be sure to clearly explain your choice.

Answer 1

a) Einstein's theory of relativity is a very good example of deductive reasoning for only by making two postulates i.e 1) there is no absolute frame of reference and 2) that the velocity of light is always constant and equal to the value 3*10⁸ m/s, he deduced all the important conclusions from the theory including length contraction and time dilation which have all been confirmed by experimentation.He came upon these experimental facts only by hypothesizing these 2 important postulates.

b)Galileo's work is a clear example of inductive reasoning since by his experiments on motion including that on pendulums he discovered all the important laws of gravitation including the fact that the acceleration due to gravity is almost the same for all points on the surface of the earth.Thus he was led to the hypothesis of gravitation from the experimental laws of motion.