Ways of Knowing
Philosophy of Thought
http://users.aristotle.net/~asta/science.htm
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/0709/CFHQS_coop_36.jpg
Religious vs Scientific Knowledge Religious
Seeks answers to questions including the ultimate questions (What is my purpose? What is the meaning of life? Is there a supreme being? etc.)
Scientific Can only seek
answers about the natural world but cannot answer ultimate questions (Is there a god? What is the meaning of life?)
Religious vs Scientific Knowledge Religious
Seek predictions on any event based on faith and belief
Scientific Seek predictions
about future natural events based on observational evidence and testing
Religious vs Scientific Knowledge Religious
The rules may vary among the different religions
Scientific Has a set of rules
that must be followed in order to be called science
Religious vs Scientific Knowledge Religious
Explanations are based on beliefs and faith and seek to understand and follow an ultimate purpose
Scientific Explanations are
based on observation, evidence, and testing
Religious vs Scientific Knowledge Religious
Explanations can include supernatural forces
Scientific Explanations
cannot include supernatural forces
Religious vs Scientific Knowledge Religious
Hypotheses need not be part of the religion nor be tested nor proved or disproved
Scientific The hypothesis
used in tests must be able to be disproved
Religious vs Scientific Knowledge Religious
Is a belief system and seeks truths
Scientific Is not a belief
system nor seeks truths
Religious vs Scientific Knowledge Religious
Knowledge may not change greatly over time, but may be swayed by culture
Scientific Knowledge may
change as new data arises
Religious vs Scientific Knowledge Religious
Accepted knowledge does not need peer review or verification
Scientific All knowledge
must have peer review and verification
The Universe
The BIG Picture
Concepts in Cosmology The Cosmological
Principle: any observer in any galaxy sees the same general features of the universe as any other.
Homogeneity: Matter is uniformly spread throughout space.
Isotropy: The universe looks the same no matter in which direction one looks.
Universality: The laws of physics that work on Earth work the same in every part of the universe.
http://www.twosteptidewater.com/photo-album/universe.jpg
Universe formed 13.7GYA
Calculations refined in 2003
http://www.astromax.org/astrocourse/cosmology.htm
Concepts in Cosmology Red-Shifted light
from galaxies means that the galaxies are receding from us.
The entire universe is expanding.
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap000419.html
Concepts in Cosmology “Raisin bread model"
Assume that you are on a particular raisin. As the loaf of bread expands in baking, the raisins that are closest to you appear to recede. The farther raisins appear to recede even faster. Those furthest away, fastest of all. Yet the bread actually expands at a constant rate. This model, with stars and galaxies as the raisins, and the universe itself as the bread, explains the red shift.
http://whatscookingamerica.net/Bread/BreadPhotos/RaisinBreadRise1.jpg
Red Shift
http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/physical_science/magnetism/images/visible_spectrum_waves_big_jpg_image.html
http://snap.lbl.gov/science/darkenergy.php
http://www.gcsescience.com/pun42.htm
Concepts in Cosmology Big Bang Theory:
Leads to a point of common origin for all matter
This point of common origin is where everything came into being in a single instant
Because time and space originated in the Big Bang, it did not occur in any specific location of space
Every point in the universe was there when the Big Bang occurred, and therefore, every point in the universe is where the Big Bang happened
The cosmic microwave background radiation is the echo of the Big Bang.
Concepts in Cosmology Big Bang Theory:
(cont) As the universe expanded,
the wave stretched-out, much like a phone cord is stretched as you walk away from the base
The stretched-out wave would be very long and have very low energy
Two scientists, A. Penzias and R. Wilson, discovered this radiation, experimental verification of the Big Bang.
2 billion years after the big bang
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap960907.html
Concepts in Cosmology Future of the
Universe Big Crunch: If universe
is greater than the critical density, collective gravity of all the matter in the universe will stop expanding and begin to contract.
Expanding Universe: If universe less than the critical density (current scientific theory), then universe will expand forever.
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap080210.html
Teaching Science Follow your
students’ curiosity Do not limit to just
the benchmark standards
Engage in inquiry as well as reading, technology, and discussion