Predictive power

Another example of the predictive power of theories or models is Dmitri Mendeleev's use of his periodic table to predict previously undiscovered chemical elements and their properties. Though largely correct, he misjudged the relative atomic masses of tellurium and iodine.

Moreover,

Another example of predictive power is the prediction of Einstein's theory of general relativity that the path of light would bend in the presence of a strong gravitational field. This was experimentally verified by an expedition to Sobral in Brazil and the Atlantic island of Príncipe to measure star positions during the solar eclipse of May 29, 1919, when observations made by the astrophysicist Arthur Eddington seemed to confirm Einstein's predictions.^[2] Although the measurements have been criticized by some as utilizing flawed methodology,^[3] modern reanalysis of the data^[4][5] suggests that Eddington's analysis of the data was accurate. Later, more precise measurements taken by radio interferometry confirmed the predictions to a high degree of accuracy.^[6]

Applications

The predictive power of a theory is closely related to applications.^{[according to whom?]}

General relativity not only predicts the bending of light but also predicts several other phenomena. Recently, the calculation of

If a theory has no predictive power, it cannot be used for applications.^{[citation needed]}

See also

• Accuracy paradox
• Forecast verification
• Inductive probability § Removing theories without predictive power
• Predictive probability of success § Relationship with conditional power and predictive power
• Probability of success
• Problem of induction
• Social identity theory § Predictive power
• Statistical model validation

References