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Physics 103

Dr. Tyler E. Nordgren

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Organization• Lecture two days a week (MW):

– 1 hour and 20 minutes– Lectures available on class website

• Lab one day a week (Thurs. or Fri.):– Thurs. am, Thurs. pm, Fri. pm– 2 hours and 50 minutes in AHON 117

• Possible evening activities:– Telescope viewing on ASTRO deck.– Trip to a dark sky location.– Something else?

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Grading• Homework: 20%• Quizzes: 15%• Labs: 10%• Class citizenship: 5%• Exams: 30%

– 3 exams, lowest grade dropped

– Each exam 15%• Final: 20%

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Grades

Final Grades:> 90% 3.7-4.0 A

89% - 80% 2.7 – 3.3 B79% - 70% 1.7 – 2.3 C69% - 60% 0.7 – 1.3 D< 59% 0.0 F

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Grades

Final Grades:“C Acceptable. The quality of work was acceptable meeting minimal course standards but was not exceptional.” University of Redlands Catalog 2012-2014

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Structure

• Homework assigned every day.• 9:30 am homework due electronically• In class:

– Lecture– Concept questions– In-class discussion

• New homework assigned.

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Homework & Quizzes• Assigned every class on class website:

www.masteringastronomy.com• Due 9:30 morning of every class.• Takes about 30 minutes.• You will get instant feedback and

grade.• I will tailor class lecture to homework.• At end of week, a short quiz.

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Class Rules

• See hand-out and website.• You are adults and responsible for ALL

rules.• A few in particular:

– No late homework is accepted.– No admittance to lab once started.– No make-up exams.

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General Astrology

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Goals• Learn:

– How the Heavens affect your daily life.• We will:

– Cast horoscopes.– Predict auspicious days and events.– Identify compatible mates.

• The ancients did it, so can you!

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Astronomy

2/18/1996

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Concept QuestionI am taking this class because I:

1. want to be an astronomy minor.2. love the night sky and so would be here

even if it wasn’t a requirement.3. love the idea that the stars and planets

foretell our future so I check my horoscope daily.

4. need this as my M1 or M3 to graduate (but I still love the night sky).

5. need this to graduate and I hate all the other science options, so maybe this won’t suck as much.

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Goals

• What is science?• What is the scientific method?• Does the scientific method work?• What does the scientific method

assume?• What is not a scientific argument.

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Science as a tool

• Science is a tool for answering why and how.

• “I have high cholesterol, what should I do?”– Take cholesterol lowering medication.– Consult my astrologer.– Pray to the god Baal and sacrifice a goat.

• How do you choose what to do?• What is your criteria for the “best”

solution?

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Tests and Theories

• Science is a tool for telling you what works!

• How do you know if your theory (idea, model, hypothesis) is right?– You can test it!– I make a claim, you can test that too.

• A scientific theory must do three things:– Explain what is seen.– Predict what will happen in the future.– Be falsifiable.

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The Scientific Method1. Observe an event.2. Develop a model (or hypothesis) which

makes a prediction.3. Test the prediction.4. Observe the result.5. Revise the hypothesis.6. Repeat as needed.7. A successful hypothesis becomes a

Scientific Theory.

model

test

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Medical ScienceScientific Method

High Cholesterol

Observation Patient has high cholesterolHypothesis (prediction)

Certain chemicals may dissolve cholesterol deposits.

Test Give 100 patients these chemicals, give 100 patients placebo.

Observe result Same number lower their cholesterol as placebo patients.

Revise hypothesis?

Try different combo of chemicals.

New test? Re-run medical test. Observe results.

Scientific Theory

Lipitor reduces cholesterol.

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Everyday ScienceScientific Method Making Spaghetti Sauce

Observation Spaghetti sauce should be red.

Hypothesis (prediction)

Maybe try a tomato sauce.

Test Heat pot of tomato sauce.

Observe result Taste the sauce - bland.

Revise hypothesis? Use tomato sauce and garlic!

New test? Add garlic, taste - not so bland.

Scientific Theory The Final Recipe.

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A Theory’s Power

• A successful theory means:– Applies to the future (the prediction)– You don’t have to keep doing the test.

• Example:– Lipitor: No more trials– Recipe: No more trial and error

• Can you think of an example of the scientific method from your daily life?

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Science is Reproducible

• Anyone must be able to reproduce the claims of your result.– Cookbooks

• (In)Famous examples:– Cold Fusion– “Wow!” SETI signal

• The conservative nature of Science.

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Recap: Theories, Guesses, Laws

• What does the word “Theory” mean to you?“A conjecture; guess” (Webster’s

Dictionary)• Does it mean the same to a scientist?

“A model which has been born out by repeated tests and observation.”

• Is a Theory less than a Law?“Evolution is just a theory, it is not a

fact.”• Do Theories “grow up” to be Laws?

“Einstein’s Theory of Relativity”

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Concept Question• Which of these statements is true.

1. A theory becomes a Law after it has been proven correct.

2. A theory becomes a Law if it is supported by the results of enough experiments.

3. A Law that is refuted by experimental results becomes just a theory.

4. The movement of the Earth around the Sun and the formation of the Universe in the Big Bang are theories.

5. We should withhold judgments on theories until they become Laws.

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Limitations of Science

• Key to the scientific method is The Test.• Q: What can and cannot be tested?• Q: What is and is not reproducible?• A: Magic, the Divine, matters of faith cannot

be tested and are not reproducible.• Result:

1. Science is the search for natural or material explanations to the Universe.

2. Science is limited to those questions of which natural or material explanations can be applied.

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Assumptions of Science

• The Universe isn’t random.– Miracles versus the Unlikely– The same test done by you, me, yesterday and

tomorrow should all give the same result.• Natural or material explanations are sufficient

to describe the world.– Unknown versus Unknowable– “God of the Gaps”– Personal Experience

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Concept Question

• Given these assumptions and limitations is Science a Belief like Religion or Philosophy?1. Yes2. No

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Semester Goals

• What is science?• What are the stars?• What are Black Holes?• Where did the Universe Come from?• Is there alien life in the Universe?

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Tonight

• Go outside at 5:57pm (internet/iPhone for time).

• Look North East and 60o above the horizon.

• At 5:59pm what do you see?• Send me an email telling me (briefly)

what you saw.

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Homework #1

• Due Wednesday 15-Jan:• Read Bennett Chapter 3 and article on my

faculty website:http://www.redlands.edu/academics/college-of-arts-sciences/undergraduate-studies/astronomy/16243.aspx

• Do: Login to www.MasteringAstronomy.com• Course ID: Nordgren2014• Do: HW1