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When I used to teach High School I always taught that Technology was
applied science.  Thus the chalk that I'd fling through the air was
technology.  Describing its arc, and why is broke into a dozen pieces -
that was science.

Thus if you don't include procedures, or non-man-made tools as technology,
then it is quite possible to do a science experiment without technology
(you don't need the mass of two rocks, or a timing device, all you need are
your ears and hands to drop two rocks and see if they hit the ground
simultaneously).  However, the more refined we get, the more technology we
utilize - be it a tape measure, a stick of defined length of "stick" (no
need to use traditional units), a stop watch or a scale.

-William

William Katzman                    "The important thing is to never stop
questioning." -A. Einstein
Director of Exhibits               "Are you sure about that Al?" -His wife.
Catawba Science Center
ph: (828) 322-8169 x307
fax:(828) 322-1585
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-----Original Message-----
From:   (Charles Stout) [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
Sent:   Tuesday, June 08, 2004 11:40 AM
Subject:        Re: technology in science

ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
institutions.
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I would include procedures as tools, but in response to the rock question:

Assuming that dropping two rocks is a gravity experiment, let's start with
simple apparati: What are you going to use to measure the distance from the
dropping point to the earth and ensure that they are the same? What are you
going
to use to measure the size and mass of the rocks? What are you going to use
to
measure the time from the drop to the impact? Then the procedure: How many
times will you repeat the experiment until you are satisfied that the
results
are valid? What different circumstances, say different heights, will you
use in
your experiment?

Charlie


In a message dated 6/8/04 11:29:21 AM, [log in to unmask] writes:


> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
> institutions.
>
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*****
>
>
> I had always envisioned technology as a created system or device -- eg, a
> tool built for a purpose.  Thus, designing and completing an experiment
in
> which
> two rocks are dropped at the same time and observed as they fall, since
it
> doesn't require "a technological tool" would be different from, say,
> observing an
> ant using a magnifying glass (which does require a technological tool).
>
> Is this incorrect?
> Any apparatus or procedure one would use to conduct experiments and
measure
> the results is technology. You can't do Galileo's gravity experiments or
> Darwin's research without technology.
>
> Lisa Jo Rudy, Writer/Consultant
> 625 Chelten Hills Drive
> Elkins Park, PA 19027
> www.lisarudy.com
> 215-635-9735
>
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