SCIENTIFIC METHOD

 SCIENTIFIC METHOD:

The specific method of promoting the knowledge is called scientific method.

OR

The method which is used for finding the truth is known as scientific method.

  The main components of scientific method are given below:

1)                     Observation:

It means to examine carefully an event or the natural processes.

2)                     Accurate Measurement:

The 2_nd step is to record accurate experimental data. In this way the correctness of data is judged by a number of research workers.

3)                     Analysis:

Analysis starts form the recorded data. An effort is made to find out the causes of the event and to look for a relationship among the various physical quantities effective in the event.

4)                     Hypothesis:

Based on analysis a few number of assumptions are made to explain the observed event. This step is called hypothesis. Hypothesis may be true or false.

5)                     Experiment:

In order to check the hypothesis an organized process is performed called experiment.

6)                     Theory:

A hypothesis that is successful but not tested by different experiments is called theory.

7)                     Prediction:

A theory is analyzed carefully and then, certain prediction is made about any unknown aspect of nature.

8)                     Law:

The prediction is verified through a series of new experiments. If it is found to be correct then such theory becomes a law.

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Deformation

6a) state that a force may produce a change in size and shape of a body.

         A force can change both the size and shape of a body. This process is called deformation. Though we will mainly study only elastic deformation, this post covers the basics of elastic deformation as well as plastic deformation.

• Elastic deformation

        In elastic deformation, an object changes its size or shape when a force is applied on it. However, once the force stops acting on the object, the object returns to its original shape and position.
        Stretching a spring is a form of elastic deformation. You apply a force, and the size of the spring increases. However, once you stop applying the pulling force, the spring returns to its original shape.

• Plastic deformation

       In plastic deformation, an object is permanently damaged, and does not return to its original size or shape even when the force that caused the deformation stops acting on it.
       Stretching a spring is elastic deformation. However, you might have noticed that if you apply a force too large on the spring, and stretch it too much, the spring is permanently misshaped. Now, it won't return to its original size. This is an example of plastic deformation.

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Stability and Center of Mass

(f) describe qualitatively the effect of the position of the center of mass on the stability of simple objects.

As in most occasions, the center of mass and the center of gravity of an object act at the same point, we can consider the effects of center of gravity on the stability of an object.



The center of gravity of an object affects its stability in two ways.

1. Position of center of gravity

The lower the center of gravity of an object is, the stabler it is. Objects with higher center of gravity are easier to topple than objects with lower center of gravity. In the following picture, car 1 is less stable than car 2, because it has a higher center of gravity



                                                             2. Area of base

An object with a big base area is less likely to fall or topple over, than an object with a small base area. You might have observed this in your everyday life e-g tall glassware like mugs with small base areas fall over easily compared to mugs with a larger base area.

Furthermore, these two factors combine to decide the stability of an object. An object would fall over, if it's center of gravity does not pass through its base when it is tilted. Look at the following picture.

 

When the first car is tilted, its center of gravity no longer acts through its base. Therefore it would topple over. But the second car would not topple, as its center of gravity still acts through its base.

Same is the scenario with the red bus.

From here, we can deduce that.

1. If the base area of an object is large, it is less likely to topple over because the center of gravity would still act through the base even when the object is tilted.
2. If the center of gravity of an object is low, it is less likely to topple over because the gravity would still act through the base even when the object is tilted.

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