SCIENCE MATTERS it is just plain fun

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SCIENCE MATTERSit is just plain fun

• Hon 251 - Dr. Williams
• Sacha St. Hill
• 16 January 2006

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SCIENTIFIC LITERACY

• Being able to understand the scientific issues
  which pervade the society and affects you.
• Understanding scientific concepts today will
  prepare you for the future
• It is not an in depth knowledge of the sciences,
  but merely a functioning definition of a
  scientific fact
• It is a mix of facts, vocabulary, concepts,
  history and philosophy
• Intense study in one structured field of science
  does not constitute literacy.
• Scientific literacy ? technological literacy

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WHY IS IT IMPORTANT

• The Civic argument - scientific issues are at the
  forefront in the modern society, and for a
  properly functioning democracy, the public must
  be educated
• The Aesthetic argument - we live in a world
  governed by very few laws of nature, yet the
  world is harmonious and in sync, this should be
  appreciated. Do not take it for granted
• The Intellectually coherent argument -
  scientific findings alters the thinking of the
  time, allows the public to become enlightened,
  and increases critical thinking

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KNOWING
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SCIENTISTS

• The universe is to complex to understand all at
  once
• Different types of scientific study
• Astronomers, Biologists, Chemists, Physicists,
  Geologists
• Physicists are the generalists, different fields
  rely on basic physical principles
• Chemists are pragmatists
• Geologists are earth scientists, with a love for
  the outdoors
• Biologists study the most complex system - life

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CHAOS vs PREDICTABILITY

• Newton was able to combine the few laws and
  present a structured predictable universe. The
  future was completely and comfortably
  predictable.
• Edmond Halley (1656-1742) tested Newtons
  theories and was able to prove the predictability
  of the universe.
• Systems are so complex that to predict accurately
  the outcome, is impossible. However utilizing
  mathematical precision to initial conditions will
  allow for predictability to some level. E.g.
  Weather forecasting
• The Butterfly effect melting of the polar ice
  caps and increasing sea levels around the world

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SCIENTIFIC METHODS

• Prior to modern scientists, they were referred to
  as armchair scientists, now realize have to
  employ observation and experimentation
• Science involves incorporation than revolution

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INCORPORATION
Albert Einstein
Sir Isaac Newton
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Unification Theory ???
?
Maybe ME!!
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SIR ISAAC NEWTON

• 1642 1727
• Modern science started with him acknowledging
  that the universe was like a clock
• Newton developed the 3 Laws of Motion which he
  used to describe everything

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Types of Motion

• Uniform Motion anything that stands still or
  moves in a straight line at constant speed is in
  uniform motion
• Acceleration any change in motion, when
  something, speeds up, slows down or changes
  direction

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3 LAWS OF MOTION

• Stated separately but work together
• Every body continues in its state of rest, or of
  uniform motion in a straight line, unless it is
  compelled to change that state by forces
  impressed upon it. (Law of inertia)
• Force mass x acceleration
• Mass how much there is .e. g.
• refrigerator more mass
• pebble less mass
• Weight an objects weight dependent on gravity
  e.g.
• things weigh less in space
• The greater the force the greater the
  acceleration
• To every action force there is an equal and
  opposite reaction force

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GRAVITY and GALILEO

• 1564 1642
• Galileo was the father of experimental science.
  
• He disproved Aristotles theory that objects of
  different mass fall at different speeds
• Celestial gravity Force that holds the planets
  in their orbits
• Terrestrial gravity Force that makes things
  fall to the centre of the earth

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JOHAN KEPLER

• 1571 1630
• Keplers Laws of Planetary Motion
• Incorporated the works of Tycho Brahe to discover
  how planets moved in their orbits, not in a
  circular motion but eliptical.

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NEWTONs LAW OF UNIVERSAL GRAVITATION

• Between any two objects there is an attractive
  force proportional to the product of the two
  masses divided by the square of the distance
  between them.
• E.g. An apple falling to the ground. The
  gravitational pull of the earth makes the apple
  fall, but the apple also has its own
  gravitational pull
• The Law of gravity states that everything exerts
  a gravitational force, the earth being the
  biggest.
• The sun and moon are the only two heavenly bodies
  that can exert a bigger force on us than other
  familiar objects

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CITATIONS

• Science Matters
• Wikipedia.org
• www.cvc.org
• www.torre.duomo.pisa