Introduction to HONORS 227 & Science as a Way of Knowing Dr. Harold Geller Dr. George Taylor George Mason University

Chapter 1 and Other Stuff The Syllabus Grading Laboratory Work A Personal Response System (iClickers) Science as a Way of Knowing Units of length, mass and time Metric Prefixes

Science: A Way of Knowing Chapter 1 Great Idea: Science is a way of asking and answering questions about the physical universe

Chapter Outline The Role of Science The Scientific Method Other Ways of Knowing The Organization of Science

The Role of Science

Making Choices –Ask questions, make observations, form conclusions –Applied in a more formal, quantitative way equals science

Why Study Science? Most powerful tool for understanding Incorporates basic ideas and theories Provides framework for new questions Provides unparalleled view of order and symmetry of the universe and its workings

The Scientific Method also known as The Process of Doing Science

Observation History –Greek Philosophers –Middle Ages Observation –no manipulation Experiment –manipulation

Identifying Patterns and Regularities Measurement-better description Data-table or graph Patterns emerge Describe: –In words –In equation form –In symbols

Mathematics: The Language of Science Description –General –Mathematical Mathematics –Equation –Description

Prediction and Testing Predictions –Hypothesis, Theory, Law –Must be quantitatively testable Testing –Do not prove or disprove –Define range of validity Every law and theory of nature is subject to change, based on new observations

The Scientific Method in Operation Cycle –Not rigid Believe results –No preconceptions No true starting place Results must be reproducible Cycle is continuous

Other Ways of Knowing

Different Kinds of Questions Cannot always use scientific method Art –Can use science to address age of painting Not for style of painting Not for beauty, etc. Religion –Faith vs. experiment Not a conflict between science & religion when kept in these realms

Pseudoscience –Belief, dogma –Ideas not testable Evaluation of a claim 1.Are the ‘facts’ true as stated? 2.Is there an alternative explanation? 3.Is the claim falsifiable? 4.Have claims been tested? 5.Do claims require unreasonable changes in accepted ideas?

The Organization of Science

Divisions of Science Disciplines –Historical –Modern Approach –Field researcher –Experimentalists –Theorists

The Branches or Disciplines of Science Physics –Fundamental aspects of nature Chemistry –Atoms in combination Biology –Living systems Astronomy –Objects in space Geology –Earth

The Web of Knowledge Center –Laws of nature –Apply to all areas Areas Interconnected –All branches integrated

Basic Research, Applied Research, and Technology Basic Research –Expand knowledge Applied Research –Direct application Technology Conservation Medicine

Funding for Science US Government –$130 billion –NSF, NIH, DOE, DOD, EPA, NASA, NOAA Apply for funds –Grant proposal Ranked by independent scientists Highly competitive

Communication Among Scientists Collaboration Scientific Meetings Peer reviewed Journals –Cornerstone of science

Science as a way of knowing & understanding the universe - constructing testable theories/models Scientific Method –A reiterative process based on observations, logic, and skepticism Hypothesis –A concept or idea that seems to explain a phenomenon or set of observations Model –A set of hypotheses that have withstood observational or experimental tests Theory –A set of related hypotheses can be pieced together into a self consistent description of natural observations Laws of Physics –Theories that accurately describe the workings of physical reality, and have stood the test of time and been shown to have great and general validity

The basic unit of angular measure is the degree (°).

Angular Measurements Subdivide one degree into 60 arcminutes –minutes of arc –abbreviated as 60 arcmin or 60´ Subdivide one arcminute into 60 arcseconds –seconds of arc –abbreviated as 60 arcsec or 60” 1° = 60 arcmin = 60´ 1´ = 60 arcsec = 60”

Powers-of-ten notation is a useful shorthand system for writing numbers

iClicker Question Which measurement of an average classroom door is closest to 2 meters? A.Thickness B.Width C.Height D.Surface area E.Volume

Common Prefixes for Powers of Ten FactorNameSymbol (billion) 10 9 Giga-G (million) 10 6 Mega-M (thousand) 10 3 kilo-k (hundredth) centi-c (thousandth) milli-m (millionth) micro-  (billionth) nano-n

Astronomical distances are often measured in astronomical units, light- years or parsecs Astronomical Unit (AU) –One AU is the average distance between Earth and the Sun –1.496 X 10 8 km or million miles Light Year (ly) –One ly is the distance light can travel in one year at a speed of about 3 x 10 5 km/s or 186,000 miles/s –9.46 X km or 63,240 AU Parsec (pc) –the distance at which 1 AU subtends an angle of 1 arcsec or the distance from which Earth would appear to be one arcsecond from the Sun –1 pc = 3.09 × km = 3.26 ly

Science is an adventure of the human mind