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Physics 103

Physics 103. Dr. Tyler E. Nordgren. 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:

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Physics 103

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  1. Physics 103 Dr. Tyler E. Nordgren

  2. 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?

  3. Grading • Homework: 20% • Quizzes: 15% • Labs: 10% • Class citizenship: 5% • Exams: 30% • 3 exams, lowest grade dropped • Each exam 15% • Final: 20%

  4. Grades Final Grades: > 90%  3.7-4.0 A 89% - 80%  2.7 – 3.3 B 79% - 70%  1.7 – 2.3 C 69% - 60%  0.7 – 1.3 D < 59%  0.0 F

  5. 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

  6. Structure • Homework assigned every day. • 9:30 am homework due electronically • In class: • Lecture • Concept questions • In-class discussion • New homework assigned.

  7. 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.

  8. 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.

  9. General Astrology

  10. 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!

  11. Astronomy 2/18/1996

  12. Concept Question I am taking this class because I: • want to be an astronomy minor. • love the night sky and so would be here even if it wasn’t a requirement. • love the idea that the stars and planets foretell our future so I check my horoscope daily. • need this as my M1 or M3 to graduate (but I still love the night sky). • need this to graduate and I hate all the other science options, so maybe this won’t suck as much.

  13. 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.

  14. 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?

  15. 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.

  16. model test The Scientific Method • Observe an event. • Develop a model (or hypothesis) which makes a prediction. • Test the prediction. • Observe the result. • Revise the hypothesis. • Repeat as needed. • A successful hypothesis becomes a ScientificTheory.

  17. Medical Science

  18. Everyday Science

  19. 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?

  20. 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.

  21. 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”

  22. Concept Question • Which of these statements is true. • A theory becomes a Law after it has been proven correct. • A theory becomes a Law if it is supported by the results of enough experiments. • A Law that is refuted by experimental results becomes just a theory. • The movement of the Earth around the Sun and the formation of the Universe in the Big Bang are theories. • We should withhold judgments on theories until they become Laws.

  23. 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: • Science is the search for natural or material explanations to the Universe. • Science is limited to those questions of which natural or material explanations can be applied.

  24. 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

  25. Concept Question • Given these assumptions and limitations is Science a Belief like Religion or Philosophy? • Yes • No

  26. 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?

  27. 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.

  28. 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

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