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Moon Phases

Moon Phases. And some basic ideas about science and the scientific method. Who can tell me…. What the moon looks like when you observe it?. How were you able to draw the moon?. It’s not visible from here in the class room! You did it from memory?

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Moon Phases

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  1. Moon Phases And some basic ideas about science and the scientific method

  2. Who can tell me… • What the moon looks like when you observe it?

  3. How were you able to draw the moon? • It’s not visible from here in the class room! • You did it from memory? • But let’s say we want to know what the moons of Jupiter would look like from Jupiter? • Would doing it from memory help? • What we really want…

  4. Is what scientists call a THEORY • In this case a theory that can predict what (any) moon should look like when observed. • Regardless of where the moon is and where it is observed from!

  5. THEORY • In the context of science, the word THEORY has special meaning. The FreeDictionary says: • the·o·ry \`thē-ə-rē, `thir-ē\ Noun, plural the·o·ries • 1. A set of statements or principles devised to explain a group of facts or phenomena, especially one that has been repeatedly tested or is widely accepted and can be used to make predictions about natural phenomena. • 2. The branch of a science or art consisting of its explanatory statements, accepted principles, and methods of analysis, as opposed to practice: a fine musician who had never studied theory. • 3. A set of theorems that constitute a systematic view of a branch of mathematics. • 4. Abstract reasoning; speculation: a decision based on experience rather than theory. • 5. A belief or principle that guides action or assists comprehension or judgment: staked out the house on the theory that criminals usually return to the scene of the crime. • 6. An assumption based on limited information or knowledge; a conjecture. A set of statements or principles devised to explain a group of facts or phenomena, especially one that has been repeatedly tested or is widely accepted and can be used to make predictions about natural phenomena

  6. Conjecture and Hypothesis also have only one meaning when used in a scientific sense • con·jec·ture • 1. Inference or judgment based on inconclusive or incomplete evidence; guesswork. • 2. A statement, opinion, or conclusion based on guesswork. • hy·poth·e·ses • 1. A tentative explanation for an observation, phenomenon, or scientific problem that can be tested by further investigation. • 2. Something taken to be true for the purpose of argument or investigation; an assumption. • 3. The antecedent of a conditional statement.

  7. It’s a fact… • You can NOT prove a theory to be true! • In math, you can prove a theorem to be true – that is something different

  8. By the way… • Galileo Galilei (1564 – 1642) is credited with formalizing what we now call the scientific method

  9. Models • When scientists develop theories, they usually create a model to describe the physical observations they make • Models don’t have to be perfect, they only have to be good enough to cover the domain of the theory

  10. Let’s play a game • You are scientists and your job is to develop a theory • You make an accidental observation • From those observations you will make a hypothesis • From the hypothesis you will create more experiments • And repeat until you have a theory • Remember, among other things a theory must have predictive value!

  11. Here’s the universe and your accidental observation 2 ? TRUE 4 6

  12. Your turn…

  13. Can you… • think of a theory that everyone was sure was correct but 228 years later was shown to not be correct?

  14. Newton’s theory of gravity, 1687

  15. Einstein’s theory of general relativity, 1915

  16. What we came here for… • Develop a theory that will predict what the moon will look like each day of the lunar cycle • AND… • Where to find the moon in the sky given we know what it looks like

  17. How to measure and record your data • Going to measure distance in fist widths • This is about 10 degrees • We’re going to practice this in a few minutes • Going to use the sun as your reference point • Going to do this for 4 weeks

  18. NEVER, EVER… Look at the sun without specially designed eye protection!

  19. What to record for your data • Position of the moon relative to the sun • Appearance of the moon • Date/time observation made Moon Sun 6 fists March 99, 2008 4PM

  20. Bonus items • Sketch in the appearance of the markings on the moon • Indicate in which direction(s) the sun and moon are (E, SE, S, SW, W) when you observed them

  21. How to measure • Use one hand to cover the sun • Measure in fists from the sun to the moon • Measure 3 times, record each, and average them • If they are far apart in the sky • From horizon to horizon is 180 degrees or 18 fist widths… • So you can measure ‘up’ from the horizon for both and subtract from 18. • Remember horizon means straight in front of you, not the visible horizon (like tree tops, roofs, etc.)

  22. Hints • Moon will rise today (17 Mar 08) at 2:38PM • Each day it rises about an hour later (3:50PM on Tuesday, 3:59 PM on Weds) • You will not get data every day • Clouds, bed time, and ???? • Think about what your theory is, and the model that you might use to demonstrate the theory

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