Final answer:
Science is the systematic study of the natural world based on observation, experimentation, and logical analysis, striving to explain natural phenomena through the scientific method. The scientific method includes forming hypotheses, conducting experiments to test them, and refining the hypotheses based on the outcomes of the experiments.
Step-by-step explanation:
Science is a methodical approach to acquiring knowledge about the natural world, employing strategies that emphasize observation, experimentation, and logical reasoning. It involves posing questions that arise from observing the world, then seeking to answer these questions using evidence and systematic methodology known as the scientific method.
The general goal of science is to understand phenomena in the natural world and gather reliable knowledge about it. Scientists operate on several basic assumptions, such as the idea that natural events occur in consistent patterns that are understandable through observation and reasoning. Additionally, science presumes that the universe is a vast single entity where the same fundamental principles apply everywhere, and that these principles can be discovered by anyone, anywhere, so long as they use the prescribed scientific methods.
The scientific method often begins with the formation of a scientific hypothesis, which is a potential and testable explanation for a natural phenomenon, derived from prior knowledge and observation. An experiment is then designed to test this hypothesis by making predictions that can be verified or falsified through systematic observation and experimentation.
An example of a scientific question that could be investigated with an experiment might be "Does the amount of sunlight affect the growth rate of a plant?" On the other hand, a question like "What is the most beautiful flower?" cannot be investigated scientifically as it deals with subjective judgement rather than objective measurement.