Rediscovering Physics with BACON.3

Abstract

BACON.3 Is a production system that discovers empirical laws. The program usee 1 few simple heuristics to solve a broad range of tasks. These rules detect constancies and trends In data, and lead to the formulation of hypotheses and the definition of theoretical terms. BACON.3 represents data at varylna level• of description, where the lowest have been directly observed and the hi&hest correspond to hypotheaH that explain everything so far observed. The system can also run and relate multiple ewperlments, collapae hypotheses with Identical conditions, Ignore differences between similar concepts, and discover and lanore irrelevant variables. BACON.3 has shown its generality by rediscoverln1 versions of the Ideal aa• le>N, Kepler's third law, Coulomb's law, Ohm's law, and Gallleo's laws for the pendulum end constent eccel•ratlon.