Learning From Contemporary Physics Experiments: Problems and Solutions

Physics has been deemed experimental science since it emerged as a science during the Enlightenment period. In this talk, early views on physics experiment will be briefly outlined and emphasis will be put on methodologies for learning from experiment as well as objections raised to the view that experimental results are accepted solely on the basis of reasoned judgment. I will discuss multiple roles physics experiments play in relation to theory; interconnections between computer simulations and experimentation; problems of big science experiments. Application of strategies to determine whether an experiment can be considered a good one will be illustrated by example.