Study Points ⚫ What did Copernicus do? ⚫ What did Brahe contribute to the heliocentric vs. geocentric debate? ⚫ Define perihelion and aphelion. ⚫ Considering Kepler's three laws of planetary motion (don’t memorize them): ⚫ What is the shape of a planet’s orbit? (First Law) ⚫ When a satellite orbits the Earth, does it move faster at perigee or apogee? When a comet orbits the Sun, does it orbit faster at perihelion or at aphelion? (Second Law) ⚫ Define period (from science)? In our solar system, what planet has the longest period? The shortest? Which planet orbits with the highest speed? Slowest? (Third Law) ⚫ What did Galileo notice about the Moon, the Sun, Jupiter, and Venus? What did he conclude from these observations? ⚫ Why does Venus exhibit phases but Mars does not? (Hint: Draw the Sun as well as Venus, Earth and Mars in their orbits. Shade in Venus and Mars. What do they look like from Earth’s view?) ⚫ State Newton's Universal Law of Gravity. If the mass of 1 of the 2 objects increases, what happens to the gravitational force between the objects? If the distance between the 2 objects increases, what happens to the force? ⚫ How can you tell if a process is science (what parts are needed)? ⚫ When science uses the term “theory” such as the “Theory of Evolution,” is that a weak or a strong statement? What backs up any theory in science?
Transcript
Study Points⚫ What did Copernicus do?
⚫ What did Brahe contribute to the heliocentric vs. geocentric debate?
⚫ Define perihelion and aphelion.
⚫ Considering Kepler's three laws of planetary motion (don’t memorize them):
⚫ What is the shape of a planet’s orbit? (First Law)
⚫ When a satellite orbits the Earth, does it move faster at perigee or apogee? When a comet orbits the Sun, does it orbit faster at perihelion or at aphelion? (Second Law)
⚫ Define period (from science)? In our solar system, what planet has the longest period? The shortest? Which planet orbits with the highest speed? Slowest? (Third Law)
⚫ What did Galileo notice about the Moon, the Sun, Jupiter, and Venus? What did he conclude from these observations?
⚫ Why does Venus exhibit phases but Mars does not? (Hint: Draw the Sun as well as Venus, Earth and Mars in their orbits. Shade in Venus and Mars. What do they look like from Earth’s view?)
⚫ State Newton's Universal Law of Gravity. If the mass of 1 of the 2 objects increases, what happens to the gravitational force between the objects? If the distance between the 2 objects increases, what happens to the force?
⚫ How can you tell if a process is science (what parts are needed)?
⚫ When science uses the term “theory” such as the “Theory of Evolution,” is that a weak or a strong statement? What backs up any theory in science?
⚫ Ex - General Theory of Relativity⚫ Explains WHY gravity works
⚫ Includes the Law of Gravity AND more
⚫ Explains the precession of Mercury’s perihelion
⚫ Predicts the existence of Black Holes
Theory
⚫ Explains why things happen*
⚫ Includes laws
⚫ Allows predictions of new tests of itself
⚫ Supported by many scientists
⚫ Supported by many testable predictions
⚫ Can never can be proven but has not been disproven
⚫ Can always be modified, based on new
data/information*
Exercise
⚫ Can you investigate this using science?
⚫ If so, does science support the idea?
⚫ If not, why not? (what hallmarks?)
Ex –
People get nuttier during a full Moon.
Exercise
⚫ Can you investigate these using science?
⚫ If so, does science support the idea?
⚫ If not, why not?1. A car can skid on ice.
2. Your personality is determined by the position of the Sun, Moon, and Planets when you were born.
3. The universe and its contents evolve/change.
4. God exists. (philosophy, not science)
⚫ Test the idea and look for evidence.
Observation Projects
OBSERVATION PROJECTS: 135 points available, 100 pts maxAll Observations due by midnight (11:59pm) on their due date.
You can hand in the observation during class, email a picture by midnight, or
submit on D2L Assignment Submissions.✓ Earth-Sun Scale Model Due Jan. 28 (10 points) Make scaled model & take picture❑ Sunset – Part 1 Due Feb. 18 (10 points) Take 1st picture of sunset (same location)❑ Moon Phases Due Mar. 5 (10 points) Observe 4 phases & record in table❑ Planetarium (Plan) Due May 5 (10 points) See a show Feb. 4❑ Stargazing (SG) Due May 12 (20 points) Go stargazing & write report❑ Telescope (Tel) Due May 12 (20 points) Look through a telescope ❑ Moon Craters (MC) Due May 12 (10 points) Look at moon craters
FUTURE: (don’t start yet)❑ Student Conference Start Feb. 25; Due Feb. 27 (occurs on Feb. 25) (5 points)❑ Astrophysics Lecture or Report Start Mar. 19; Due Apr. 21 (10 points) Attend
lecture Apr. 14 or write report ❑ Sunset – Part 2 Start Apr. 7; Due Apr. 28 (10 pts) 2nd sunset picture, same location❑ Astronomy News Evaluation Start Mar. 31; Due May 5 (20 pts) New report
