HPS 106: History and Philosophy of Science Module 1

Study Notes

Course Overview

Course Title: AEFUNAI HPS 106: History and Philosophy of Science
Module Focus: Man and His Cosmic Environment/Natural Resources
Instructor: Prof. A.C. Ekwe
Start Date: July 2024
Ground Rules: Punctuality, preparation, respect, and no phone calls allowed.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Use concept maps to explain the cosmos (universe).
Create well-labelled diagrams of the solar system.
Provide examples of Earth’s uniqueness.
Illustrate the layers of Earth's atmosphere and Earth's subdivisions.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Quescussion for interactive questioning.
Think-pair-share for collaborative learning.
Buzz groups for engaging discussions.
Brainstorming sessions to generate ideas.
Minute papers for quick reflections.
Role plays for experiential understanding.

Instructional Materials

Multimedia projectors, whiteboards, video clips, pictures, and PowerPoint slides.

Cosmic Environment

The cosmos encompasses everything from microscopic particles to massive galaxies.
Human survival relies on air, heat, water, and other natural resources from Earth and the sun.

The Expanding Universe

Edwin P. Hubble (1889-1953) discovered that galaxies are moving away from each other, indicating a constantly expanding universe.
Hubble founded extragalactic astronomy, studying galaxies outside our own.
The Hubble Telescope is pivotal for intergalactic research, complemented by the James Webb Telescope.

Galaxies

Visible on clear nights, galaxies appear as clusters of stars; the Milky Way is the most familiar.
The Milky Way contains approximately 200 billion stars, giving it a hazy appearance from Earth.
Galaxies vary in shape: spiral, elliptical, and irregular, classified by Hubble.

Solar System Formation

The sun is an average star with significant properties, including having its own planetary family.
Two theories on solar system formation:
- Early theory: Near-collision with another star caused material to coalesce into planets.
- Modern theory: Formed from a spinning cloud of gas and dust that condensed to create the sun at its center and planets around it.

Solar System Classifications

Inner (terrestrial) planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars.
Outer (Jovian) planets: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune.
Pluto is classified as a dwarf planet due to not meeting specific criteria outlined by the International Astronomical Union (IAU).

Components of the Solar System

Moons are natural satellites; all planets except Mercury and Venus have them.
The asteroid belt lies between Mars and Jupiter, containing space rocks that orbit the sun.
Meteors are pieces of rock or metal, and meteorites land on Earth after burning up in the atmosphere.
Comets like Halley's Comet have unique characteristics, including visible coma and tails when near the sun.

Earth - The Unique Planet

Life exists only on Earth due to vital cycles: water, rock, carbon dioxide, and oxygen.
Earth's shape is an oblate spheroid, bulging at the equator.

Earth's Atmosphere and Solar Rays

Atmosphere protects from harmful solar radiation; consists of five layers:
- Troposphere
- Stratosphere (contains the ozone layer)
- Mesosphere
- Thermosphere/Ionosphere/Magnetosphere
- Exosphere

Earth's Rotation and Revolution

Rotation effects: causes day and night; takes 24 hours for one complete spin.
Revolution effects: causes seasons; takes approximately 365.25 days to orbit the sun.
The sun and moon rotate and orbit within the solar system, each with specific periods.

Description

This quiz covers the first module of the HPS 106 course, focusing on man's cosmic environment and natural resources. You will explore the fundamental concepts that shape our understanding of science and its relationship with the universe. Prepare to engage with key philosophical ideas as well as historical contexts.