What is an experiment? Probably each of us had to deal with this concept. But not everyone knows that experiments are carried out not only in scientific institutions. They can be done at school and at home too. Experiments can even be mental. So what is this experiment? Let's figure it out.
What does the dictionary say?
The dictionary offers two options for the meaning of the word "experiment".
In one of them, the object under study is defined as an experiment set in scientific conditions. Here are examples of the use of the word in the indicated meaning:
Example 1: “In the book by V. A. Gilyarovsky “Psychiatry” about professor of psychiatry De Crinis, it is said that as a result of precise scientific experiments, he found that in the body of cats under the influence of fear, the amount of grape sugar and adrenaline significantly increases "".
Example 2: “When physicists started experimenting with thermonuclear weapons, they were well aware that this was a huge risk, since such experimentshave not yet been carried out by anyone.”
Second option
About what an experiment is, the second option says that, except for scientific, it can be any experience and any attempt to produce something in one way or another (no matter in what environment).
Example 1: "The mother was very unhappy with her daughter's behavior, and she flew into a lot for the experiments that Marina conducted on her he alth in order to lose weight."
Example 2: “When Ivan Ilyich was asked about how he feels about raising funds for the homeless, he, after grimacing, replied that in principle he has nothing against charitable experiments, although he is not enthusiastic about them”.
To understand what an experiment is, the study of synonyms will help.
Synonyms
Among them are:
- attempt;
- experience;
- test;
- test;
- experimentation;
- research;
- check;
- testing;
- testing;
- probe.
As you can see, there are quite a few of them.
Next, for a better understanding of what an experiment is, consider the origin of the word.
Etymology
According to the Max Vasmer Dictionary, the origin of the studied object can be traced back to its Proto-Indo-European roots. Linguistic researchers managed to identify the stem per in the Proto-Indo-European language, the meaning of which is “to lead, conduct.”
As a side notefor those who are especially interested in the etymological direction, we note that this language is considered by scientists as the ancestor of the languages \u200b\u200bbelonging to the Indo-European family, and was created by reconstruction. According to the version, which is by far the most common, its carriers lived in the Volga and Black Sea steppes.
Returning to the origin of the word "experiment", it should be noted that in the Proto-Indo-European language, the verb periri was obtained from the indicated stem per, meaning "to taste, experience." Then he moved to the Latin language, where he combined with the lexeme ex (from, outside), resulting in a new verb experiri, the meaning of which is “try, experience”. From him came the Latin noun experīmentum, denoting trial (experience, practice), which was borrowed into Russian through the German experiment in the 18th century, and at first as a medical term.
Experiments for kids
They can serve as a good help in understanding the world of a small person. Moreover, they arouse genuine interest in children. Here are examples of such experiments.
- Dancing coin. You need to take a bottle and a coin so that you can cover the bottle neck with it. Place an unopened empty bottle in the freezer for a few minutes. Wet a coin with water and cover the neck of the bottle taken out of the freezer with it. After a few seconds, there will be a bouncing of the coin, which will hit the neck of the bottle and at the same time make sounds similar to clicks. Explanation. The coin risesair compressed in the freezer and occupying a smaller volume. As the air heats up, it expands, flipping a coin.
- Personal rainbow. You will need a container with water (basin, bath), a mirror, a flashlight and a sheet of white paper. Water is poured into a container, at the bottom of which a mirror is placed, and the light of a flashlight is directed at it. When light reflects on paper, a rainbow appears on it. Explanation. As you know, a light beam contains several colors, and while passing through water, it breaks up into its constituent parts in the form of a rainbow.
- Volcano. Need items such as tray, plastic bottle, sand, food coloring, vinegar, soda. For the entourage, a small plastic bottle needs to be covered with clay or sand, building a semblance of a volcano. To cause it to erupt, two tablespoons of soda are poured into the bottle, one-fourth cup of warm water is poured in and a small amount of food coloring is added. At the end, pour in one fourth cup of vinegar. Explanation. When soda comes into contact with vinegar, a violent reaction begins, in which water, s alt and carbon dioxide are released. Bubbles of gas push out the contents of the bottle.
