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Transcript of Chapter 1 The Way of Science. Sections 1.1- Stardust: An Invitation to Science 1.2- Observing the...
Chapter 1
The Way of Science
Sections
• 1.1- Stardust: An Invitation to Science• 1.2- Observing the Night Sky• 1.3- Ancient Greek Theories: An Earth-Centered
Universe• 1.4- Copernicus's Theory: A Sun-Centered
Universe• 1.5- Kepler's Theory: a Sun-Focused Universe• 1.6- Science: A Dialogue Between Nature and
Mind• 1.7- The Copernican Revolution: Dawn of the
Modern Age
1.1- Stardust: An Invitation to Science
• -We literally came from the stars, therefore we are connected to the rest of the universe. It is human nature to question the physical phenomena that we encounter everyday.
• -Reasons for learning science-• 1. Expand awareness• 2. Develop social values appropriate to the scientific
age• -The problems and the solutions of our time are
bound up with science and its close relative, technology. Thats why we all this the scientific age.
• -Physics- Is the study of phenomena that, like falling, are universal.
1.2- Observing the Night Sky• -This book's most important
theme is the study of the nature of science itself.
• - The Scientific Process- is often described as several activities that scientists sometimes practice.
• - Astronomy- The scientific study of the stars and other objects in space, and has been closely associated with physics.
• - Astrology- The belief, rejected by science for over two centuries, that events on Earth are influenced by the positions and motion of the planets.
1.2
1.3- Ancient Greek Theories: An Earth-Centered Universe
• - This figure shows the heavenly objects circling a motionless Earth. This is also known as the
Pythagorean theory of the universe.
1.3 Facts• - It was thought that the stars kept pace with one another because they were all
attached to the inside surface of a single transparent spherical shell that rotates around the Earth once a day.
• - The known planets were thought to move in a uniform circular motion.• - Uniform circular motion- Motion in a circle at an unchanging or uniform speed.• - A philosophical-mathematical-religious group led by Pythagoras developed this
Pythagorean theory of the universe.• - Pythagorean theory of the universe- The earliest Greek theory. The stars, sun,
and moon, and each of five planets circle Earth on uniformly spinning, transparent, Earth-Centered spheres to which each is attached.
• - These Pythagoreans formed a secretive cult that believed passionately in the importance of abstract ideas.
• -Pythagoras believed that the most perfect ideas were mathematical because they could be stated so precisely yet abstractly.
• - Retrograde motion- A temporary change in the direction that a planet moves relative to the stars, as seen from Earth.
• - Aristarchus’s Theory- A sun-centered theory that was rejected because it seemed to conflict with everyday observations.
Retrograde Motion and Aristarchus’s Theory
1.4 – Copernicus’s Theory: A Sun-Centered Universe
• - Copernicus’s Theory- A sun-centered theory, similar to Aristarchus’s. The planets, including Earth, circle the sun, and Earth spins on its axis. This theory explained to East-to-West motion of the heavenly bodies.
• - Like Pythagoras, Copernicus also believed in a uniform circular heavenly motion.
• - Copernicus’s theory was kept a secret until he was on his deathbed for fear of criticism.
1.5- Kepler’s Theory: A Sun-Focused Universe
• - It was not until Johannes Kepler (1571-1630) that Aristotle's work was completely eclipsed. Driven by the need to explain the highly accurate observations of planetary motion made by Tyco Brahe (1546-1601), Kepler replaced Aristotle's circular orbits with ellipses .
• - Kepler’s Theory- states that rather than moving in sun-centered circles, each planet moves in a sun-focused ellipse.
1.6- Science: A Dialogue Between Nature and Mind
• - Observation- refers to the data-gathering process.
• - Measurement- is a quantitative observation• - Experiment- is an observation that is
designed by humans in a controlled environment.
• - Theory- is a well-confirmed framework of ideas that explains what we observe.
• - Model- is a theory that can be visualized. • - Hypothesis- an educated suggestion or
guess, a tentative theory.
1.7- The Copernican Revolution: Dawn of the Modern Age
• The Copernican revolution- The rejection of the idea that Earth is at the center of, and therefore basically different from, the rest of the universe.
• The Copernican viewpoint- The view that Earth is not a unique place in the universe, that the same principles of nature apply throughout the universe.
• Galaxy- A large aggregation of stars. Most galaxies, such as our own Milky Way, have a disk like shape and revolve about their centers.
1.7
• The universe is estimated to contain somewhere near 100 billion galaxies. 100,000,000,000.( WOW!!!)
• 70 years after Copernicus’s death, the Catholic church pronounced his theory was incorrect and opposed to Scripture.