The scientific method is a systematic, empirical process used to acquire knowledge and answer questions about the natural world through observation, experimentation, and analysis. It involves several key steps:

• Observation: Noticing a phenomenon or problem that sparks curiosity.
• Question: Formulating a clear, testable question based on the observation.
• Hypothesis: Creating an educated guess or prediction that can be tested.
• Experiment: Designing and conducting experiments to collect empirical data.
• Analysis: Examining the data to determine whether it supports or refutes the hypothesis.
• Conclusion: Drawing conclusions and refining the hypothesis as needed, which may lead to broader scientific theories if repeatedly validated.

This iterative process helps ensure objectivity, minimizes bias, and allows scientists to build reliable and accurate explanations of how things work. It is broadly applied across scientific disciplines and has been fundamental in advancing knowledge since at least the 17th century