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How to Estimate Like a Scientist
Flowchart of the estimation process.
Click to zoom
Estimation follows a logical sequence to verify if our answers make sense.
Learn the value of approximate reasoning to check if results make sense, and recognize that real-world problems require mixing different branches of science.
Estimation of daily air intake.
Why approximate answers are often enough.
Exact values are not always necessary in science, especially in the early stages of reasoning. Often, an approximate estimate is enough to tell us whether a result is reasonable or completely impossible.
Learning to estimate helps you build intuition, detect calculation errors, and develop confidence in your thinking. Science values careful reasoning much more than purely accurate calculations!
Flowchart of the estimation process.
Estimation follows a logical sequence to verify if our answers make sense.
Connecting physics, chemistry, biology, and math.
After Grade 10, science is often divided into physics, chemistry, biology, and earth science.
However, it's important to remember that these divisions are just made by humans to help organize knowledge. The natural world itself has no such boundaries!
A real world solution requires knowledge of multiple disciplines
Consider something as common as a surgical mask. Understanding how it truly works requires knowledge from various different subjects.
Apply interdisciplinary thinking to a mask.
When designing a surgical mask, scientists rely on electrostatic attraction to catch particles and study the properties of polymer fibres. Which two branches of science are primarily being used in these specific steps?