Science and The Night Sky Overview
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Questions and Answers

What is the process of observing nature, creating a hypothesis, making a prediction, and testing the prediction called?

The scientific method

A group of stars forming a pattern in the sky is called a constellation.

False (B)

What is the path the sun travels through the stars called?

The ecliptic

What is our only natural satellite?

<p>The Moon</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does "sidereal" mean in astronomy?

<p>&quot;With respect to the fixed stars&quot;</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does "sydonic" mean in astronomy?

<p>&quot;Between alignments of the Sun, Earth, and a third object&quot;</p> Signup and view all the answers

Ancient Greeks were known for their scientific approach, emphasizing observations and experiments.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The main problem with the early geocentric model was explaining the retrograde motion of planets.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Copernicus's heliocentric model was immediately accepted and embraced by the scientific community.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did Tycho Brahe use to determine the distance of a supernova?

<p>Parallax</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who formulated Kepler's Laws of planetary motion?

<p>Johannes Kepler</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who is credited with being one of the first to point a telescope at the sky?

<p>Galileo Galilei</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who revolutionized physics by defining the force of gravity?

<p>Isaac Newton</p> Signup and view all the answers

Foucault's Pendulum provides evidence that Earth is rotating.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The plane of Earth's orbit around the Sun is known as the ecliptic.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Earth experiences seasons because our planet's axis of rotation is tilted.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

A solar day is exactly 24 hours, while a sidereal day is slightly longer.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

We always see the same side of the Moon because it is tidally locked, meaning its rotation period matches its orbital period.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

We experience lunar eclipses every month.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the local coordinate system fixed to a position on Earth?

<p>Altitude-azimuth (alt-az)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Scientific Method

A systematic process used to investigate natural phenomena, involving observation, hypothesis formulation, prediction, and testing.

Hypothesis

A testable explanation for an observation, often phrased as a statement.

Prediction

A statement about what will happen based on a hypothesis.

Occam's Razor

The principle that the simplest explanation is usually the best.

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Asterism

A recognizable pattern of stars within a constellation.

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Constellation

A region of the sky containing a pattern of stars and the surrounding area.

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Ecliptic

The apparent path the Sun traces across the sky over a year.

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Sidereal

Measured or referred to the fixed stars.

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Synodic

Measured or referred to the alignments of the Sun, Earth, and another celestial object.

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Retrograde Motion

The apparent backward movement of planets against the background stars.

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Epicycle

A smaller circle upon which a celestial body is thought to move, used in ancient theories to explain retrograde motion.

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Geocentric Cosmology

The belief that Earth is the center of the universe.

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Heliocentric Cosmology

The belief that the Sun is the center of the solar system.

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Maximum Elongation

The greatest angular distance between a planet and the Sun, as observed from Earth.

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Parallax

The apparent shift in the position of an object when viewed from different locations.

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Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion

Three fundamental laws that describe the motion of planets around the Sun.

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Kepler's First Law

Planets orbit the Sun in elliptical paths with the Sun at one focus.

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Kepler's Second Law

Planets sweep out equal areas in equal times.

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Kepler's Third Law

The square of a planet's orbital period is proportional to the cube of its average distance from the Sun.

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Moons of Jupiter

Natural satellites orbiting the planet Jupiter, observed by Galileo.

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Phases of Venus

Changes in the apparent shape of Venus as seen from Earth, supporting a heliocentric model.

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Force of Gravity

A fundamental force in physics that attracts objects with mass to each other.

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Foucault's Pendulum

A pendulum that demonstrates Earth's rotation.

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Seasons

Changes in the weather patterns caused by the Earth's tilted axis.

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Solar Day

The time it takes for the Sun to appear in the same position in the sky, approximately 24 hours.

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Sidereal Day

The time it takes for the Earth to complete one full rotation relative to the stars, approximately 23 hours 56 minutes.

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Tidally Locked

A celestial body where the rotation period is the same as the orbital period, resulting in always showing the same face.

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Solar Eclipse

An event where the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, blocking the Sun's light.

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Lunar Eclipse

An event where the Moon passes through the Earth's shadow, becoming partially or fully obscured.

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Altitude-Azimuth (Alt-Az) Coordinate System

A local coordinate system used to locate celestial objects, based on altitude and azimuth.

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Altitude

The angle above the horizon, measured in degrees, used to locate celestial objects.

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Azimuth

The angle to the right of North, measured in degrees, used to locate celestial objects.

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Right Ascension (R.A.)

The angle east of the vernal equinox, measured in hours and minutes, used to locate celestial objects.

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Declination (Dec.)

The angle north or south of the celestial equator, measured in degrees, used to locate celestial objects.

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Electromagnetic Spectrum

The range of all types of electromagnetic radiation, including visible light.

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Spectroscopy

The study of the interaction of light with matter, used to identify elements and analyze celestial objects.

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Blackbody Spectrum

The radiation emitted by an ideal object that absorbs all wavelengths of light, depending only on its temperature.

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Photon

A particle of light, carrying energy.

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Refracting Telescope

A telescope using lenses to focus light, where the total length is the sum of focal lengths.

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Reflecting Telescope

A telescope using a mirror to focus light.

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CCD (Charge-Coupled Device)

An electronic sensor used in telescopes to capture images of celestial objects.

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Study Notes

Science as a Process and Body of Knowledge

  • Science is both a process and a body of knowledge
  • The scientific method involves observing nature, creating hypotheses, making predictions, and testing those predictions
  • Results may lead to rejection or refinement of hypotheses
  • Occam's razor suggests simpler theories are preferable

The Night Sky

  • A group of stars forming a pattern is called an asterism
  • A constellation encompasses a star pattern and surrounding area
  • The Moon appears about 1/2 degree across from Earth
  • Stars appear to move in circular paths around the North Star
  • The Sun's apparent path through the stars over a year is called the ecliptic
  • We use leap years because a year isn't a whole number of days
  • Today's calendar is Gregorian and our only natural satellite is the Moon
  • Phases of the Moon occur due to different parts being illuminated as seen from Earth
  • Sidereal refers to alignments with fixed stars
  • Synodic refers to alignments between Sun, Earth, and a third object

History of Astronomy

  • Ancient Greeks didn't fully utilize observation and experimentation in their approach
  • Their cosmology relied on the idea that everything moved in perfect circles
  • A key problem was explaining retrograde motion of planets (planets appearing to move backward in the sky)
  • Ptolemy attempted to resolve this with the concept of epicycles, a complex geometric model
  • Later, advances in technology led to these models becoming less useful

Telescopes and other concepts

  • Copernicus developed a heliocentric model of the solar system.
  • Tycho Brahe's accurate observations were crucial for later astronomers.
  • Kepler's laws describe planetary motion in elliptical orbits.
  • Galileo used the telescope to observe celestial bodies, supporting the heliocentric model.
  • Newton developed the law of universal gravitation
  • Newton's prism experiment demonstrated that white light is a combination of all visible colors
  • Ole Rømer measured the speed of light
  • Thomas Young's double-slit experiment confirmed the wave nature of light,
  • James Clerck Maxwell showed light is a wave of electric and magnetic fields
  • Kirchhoff discovered that heated elements emit unique emission spectra, and light passing through a gas showed unique absorption spectra
  • Spectral lines are unique to each element,
  • A blackbody spectrum emitted by matter is based on its temperature.
  • Telescopes can be reflecting or refracting and brighten, resolve, and magnify images.
  • Today, images are captured using CCDs (charge-coupled devices) and telescopes can detect wavelengths beyond the visible spectrum.
  • Electromagnetism is the spectrum beyond visible light.

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Scientific Method & Astronomy PDF

Description

Explore the fundamental principles of science as a process and a body of knowledge, emphasizing the scientific method and Occam's razor. Additionally, delve into the wonders of the night sky, including asterisms, constellations, the phases of the Moon, and the Sun's ecliptic path.

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