EAS INTRO CONCEPTS

Question 1

THEORIES

Answer 1

• -Many hypotheses have been deemed true multiple times
• -hypothesis that explains many observations and passed many tests.
• -a well tested theory can break down into multiple laws

new observations can lead to modification of a theory with a new theory

Question 2

LAWS

Answer 2

• -apart of a theory that has survived testing
• -can be stated in a sentence or a math equation

Question 3

PRINCIPLES

Answer 3

• -generalizations with exceptions that can be understood
• -but know why the exception occurs
• -ex principle of superposition

Question 3

MODELS

Answer 3

• ○ Simplified version of how natural world works in which we can control the input variables
  § EX physical construction simulator of earth’s processes simplified; set of mathematical equations/algorithms in a computer simulation
  § EX weather forecasters increasingly rely on general circulation models, or global climate models. Once time has elapsed, we compare their results with new observations

Question 4

PARADIGMS

Answer 4

○The combination of a new theory with new ideas about what could and should be explained- different views on previously made theories
○ Revolutionary in a certain field
§ EX theory of plate tectonics;

Question 5

UNIFORMITARIANISM

Answer 5

○ Processes that operated in the Earth’s past can all be explained by processes that continue to operate at the present day

But, catastrophes happen and earth environments change

Question 6

PRINCIPLE OF ACTUALISM

Answer 6

The principle that events in the past can be explained in terms of** physical, chemical, or biological processes** and laws that operate at the present day