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 ( ) that Aristotle's work was completely eclipsed. Driven by the need to explain the highly accurate observations of planetary motion made by Tyco Brahe ( ), 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.