Understanding Science and New Materials: A Comprehensive Look
Science: A System of Knowledge
Science is a system of knowledge about a specific sector of reality, obtained in a rational way, which has specific working methods and criteria for checking and verification. Its functions are to explain facts, predict possibilities, and dominate nature.
Empirical Sciences vs. Formal Sciences
- Empirical sciences focus on the study of observable facts verifiable by experience.
- Formal sciences study abstract objects and ideals, which arise from the human mind and are not found in nature.
The Hypothetico-Deductive Method
The hypothetico-deductive method is formed from the amalgamation of the deductive method and the inductive method. The steps followed for this method are:
- Observation of a fact or problem, i.e., not explained by existing theory.
- Formulation of a hypothesis to explain why an event occurs.
- Deduction of the consequences of the hypothesis, which predicts what will occur if such an explanation is correct.
- Contrast or verification of the consequences deduced from the hypothesis.
- Confirmation or refutation of the hypothesis.
Epistemology: The Philosophy of Science
For the philosophy of science, science itself is an object of study. The discipline that studies how scientific knowledge is produced is epistemology (philosophy of science). Its tasks are:
- To remove the main philosophical implications of scientific theories.
- To analyze what assumptions are built on scientific work in each period and how they influence the type of current theory.
- To examine strictly scientific issues, such as defining some concepts that distinguish scientific knowledge from other knowledge.
The Problem of Scientific Knowledge
According to Einstein’s assumptions, theories and scientific models are a construction of the mind of the scientist.
Philosophers like Hume and Kant began to doubt the possibility of knowing reality as it is in itself, without the vision of the observer being conditioned by any subjective element.
To the quantum physicist Bohr, any description involves a choice of the measuring apparatus, a specific way of asking.
The New Materials
The depletion of materials and new needs have been finding a response in the technological development of new materials.
Materials are classified into five major families:
a) Metals
Metals show high electrical and thermal conductivity, high density, and malleability. Some of the most widely used metals are:
- Aluminum: Used as raw material to manufacture beverage cans, aluminum foil, metalwork, and aircraft.
- Zinc: Used in the manufacture of batteries, paints, and dyes.
- Tin: Used for soldering electronic circuits.
b) Semiconductors
These are materials that can behave as conductors or insulators of electrical current. The most representative is silicon, which is a staple in the electronics industry.
c) Ceramics
Ceramics tend to be complex silicates characterized by their low electrical and thermal conductivity, so they are often used as insulators. There are two types:
- Conventional ceramics (e.g., glass, pottery, china).
- Advanced ceramics (e.g., fiber optics, insulation boards on spacecraft).
d) Polymers
Polymers are the result of the union of synthetic organic molecules. They have low density, low melting temperature, and are derived primarily from petroleum. These include plastics, rubber, and silicone.
e) Composites
These materials are made from metals, ceramics, and polymers. Their properties vary, so that specific properties are obtained, mainly light weight, toughness, and resistance to high temperatures. These materials are being used in the chassis and bodies of cars, motorcycles, and airplanes.