PHY 101: Intro to Physics - Ch. 1 Homework

What is the test for whether a hypothesis is scientific or not? A hypothesis is scientific if it is possible to prove it wrong, A hypothesis is scientific if it is possible to prove it right, A hypothesis is scientific if it can be written as an equation, A hypothesis is scientific if the appropriate scientific body says it is,

A hypothesis is scientific if it is possible to prove it wrong

In daily life, we see many cases of people who are caught misrepresenting things and who soon thereafter are excused and accepted by their contemporaries. How is this different in science? A scientist who lies in a scientific publication will suffer professional excommunication, A scientist who proposes a hypothesis that is eventually disproven is never allowed to be a scientist again, A scientist who disagrees with current theory is never allowed to be a scientist again, A scientist who makes a mistake is never allowed to be a scientist again,

A scientist who lies in a scientific publication will suffer professional excommunication

A theory in the field of science is: Unchangeable, A synthesis of a large body of well-tested knowledge, An educated guess, Less than a fact,

A synthesis of a large body of well-tested knowledge

Once the distance to a remote object is determined via triangulation, one can measure the angular diameter of the object and convert that to an actual diameter. For relatively small angular diameters of a few degrees or less, the corresponding linear diameter can be approximated using the following expression: Diameter = Distance×(Angular Diameter)/(57.3 degrees) The figure illustrates that the diameter of a remote object increases with its distance and its measured angular diameter. Consider the Moon and Sun. Their angular diameters are both equal to about 0.5 degrees. If the Sun is roughly 400 times more distant than the Moon, how much bigger is the Sun's diameter than the Moon's? About 400 times smaller About 800 times bigger About 400 times bigger

About 400 times bigger

Briefly, what is science? Science describes the order in nature and the causes of that order, Science is a way of knowing about the world and making sense of it, Science creates testable laws and theories, All of the above,

All of the above

Eratosthenes' measurements of Earth's size involved: A pillar's shadow in Alexandria, A deep well in Syene, Surveying the distance between Alexandria and Syene, All of the above,

All of the above

The geocentric model, in all of its complexity, survived scientific scrutiny for almost 1,400 years. However, in modern astronomy, scientists seek to explain the natural and physical world we live in as simply as possible. The complexity of Ptolemy's model was an indicator that his theory was inherently flawed. Why, then, was the geocentric model the leading theory for such a long time, even though the heliocentric model more simply explained the observed motions and brightness of the planets? Choose all that apply: Ancient astronomers did not observe stellar parallax, which would have provided evidence in favor of the heliocentric model, The complexity of the geocentric model was appealing to most ancient astronomers, The heliocentric model did not make noticeably better predictions than the geocentric model, From Earth, all heavenly bodies appeared to circle around a stationary Earth, The geocentric model conformed to both the philosophical and religious doctrines of the time,

Ancient astronomers did not observe stellar parallax, which would have provided evidence in favor of the heliocentric model, The heliocentric model did not make noticeably better predictions than the geocentric model, From Earth, all heavenly bodies appeared to circle around a stationary Earth, The geocentric model conformed to both the philosophical and religious doctrines of the time,

In the figure below, label the essential components used to triangulate the distance to the tree located on the opposite side of the river (assume the baseline remains constant). Choices: Baseline, Distance to Object, Right Angle, Angle that Increases with Increasing Distance to Object, Angle that Decreases with Increasing Distance to Object, Label A

Angle that Decreases with Increasing Distance to Object

In the figure below, label the essential components used to triangulate the distance to the tree located on the opposite side of the river (assume the baseline remains constant). Choices: Baseline, Distance to Object, Right Angle, Angle that Increases with Increasing Distance to Object, Angle that Decreases with Increasing Distance to Object, Label E

Angle that Increases with Increasing Distance to Object

In the figure below, label the essential components used to triangulate the distance to the tree located on the opposite side of the river (assume the baseline remains constant). Choices: Baseline, Distance to Object, Right Angle, Angle that Increases with Increasing Distance to Object, Angle that Decreases with Increasing Distance to Object, Label D

Baseline

One way to triangulate the distance to many remote objects, such as stars, is to observe the shifts in their location relative to more distant background objects. This apparent shifting of an object's location with respect to the background objects is known as parallax. Parallax is represented in the figure, where the top image shows the parallax shift that is observed along a baseline that runs from one side of Earth to the other. The bottom two images show what the observer sees from opposite sides of Earth. Using triangulation, the distance to the object can be calculated with simple trigonometric relations. Use the figure to determine how the measured parallax changes in the following situation: As the distance to the object increases, parallax: Increases, Decreases, Remains the Same,

Decreases

In the figure below, label the essential components used to triangulate the distance to the tree located on the opposite side of the river (assume the baseline remains constant). Choices: Baseline, Distance to Object, Right Angle, Angle that Increases with Increasing Distance to Object, Angle that Decreases with Increasing Distance to Object, Label B

Distance to Object

What is the role of equations in this book? Equations are guides to thinking and show connections between concepts, Equations are interesting side notes about scientific concepts, Equations will be derived to make you understand science, Equations are for plug-and-chug calculations,

Equations are guides to thinking and show connections between concepts

Pseudoscience is best characterized as being: An alternate view to be taken seriously, New age, Fake, All of the above,

Fake

Copernicus's heliocentric model and Ptolemy's geocentric model were each developed to provide a description of the solar system. Both models had advantages that made each an acceptable explanation for motions in the solar system during their time. Sort each statement according to whether it is an advantage of the heliocentric model, the geocentric model, or both: Planetary orbits and motions based on Greek ideologies of perfect form and motion, Rooted in widely accepted religious beliefs regarding Earth's place in the universe, Explained planetary motions and brightness changes most simply, Predicted planetary positions accurately over relatively short time periods,

Geocentric: Rooted in widely accepted religious beliefs regarding Earth's place in the universe, Heliocentric: Explained planetary motions and brightness changes most simply, Both: Predicted planetary positions accurately over relatively short time periods, Planetary orbits and motions based on Greek ideologies of perfect form and motion,

Two competing models attempt to explain the motions and changing brightness of the planets: Ptolemy's geocentric model and Copernicus' heliocentric model. Sort the characteristics according to whether they are part of the geocentric model, the heliocentric model, or both solar system models: This model is Earth-centered, Retrograde motion is explained by epicycles, The brightness of a planet increases when the planet is closest to Earth, This model is Sun-centered, Retrograde motion is explained by the orbital speeds of planets, Epicycles and deferents help explain planetary motion, Planets move in circular orbits and with uniform motion,

Geocentric: This model is Earth-centered, Retrograde motion is explained by epicycles, Heliocentric: This model is Sun-centered, Retrograde motion is explained by the orbital speeds of planets, Both: Epicycles and deferents help explain planetary motion, Planets move in circular orbits and with uniform motion, The brightness of a planet increases when the planet is closest to Earth,

An educated scientific guess is A: Hypothesis, Theory, Either of these, Neither of these

Hypothesis

One way to triangulate the distance to many remote objects, such as stars, is to observe the shifts in their location relative to more distant background objects. This apparent shifting of an object's location with respect to the background objects is known as parallax. Parallax is represented in the figure, where the top image shows the parallax shift that is observed along a baseline that runs from one side of Earth to the other. The bottom two images show what the observer sees from opposite sides of Earth. Using triangulation, the distance to the object can be calculated with simple trigonometric relations. Use the figure to determine how the measured parallax changes in the following situation: As the size of baseline increases, parallax: Increases, Decreases, Remains the Same,

Increases

Why are students of the arts encouraged to learn about science and science students encouraged to learn about the arts? Knowing both the arts and sciences makes for a wholeness in the way we view the world, Scientists need to relax by viewing art and artists need the discipline of learning science, Scientists need to learn to draw and artists need to learn how to solve equations, Scientists need to learn how to write and writers need to learn what is impossible to do according to science,

Knowing both the arts and sciences makes for a wholeness in the way we view the world

Must people choose between science and religion? No, scientific and religious beliefs are incompatible, Yes, religion and science are completely antithetical, No, there is no contradiction in being scientific and religious in one's thinking, No, religion and science are essentially the same.

No, there is no contradiction in being scientific and religious in one's thinking

One way to triangulate the distance to many remote objects, such as stars, is to observe the shifts in their location relative to more distant background objects. This apparent shifting of an object's location with respect to the background objects is known as parallax. Parallax is represented in the figure, where the top image shows the parallax shift that is observed along a baseline that runs from one side of Earth to the other. The bottom two images show what the observer sees from opposite sides of Earth. Using triangulation, the distance to the object can be calculated with simple trigonometric relations. Use the figure to determine how the measured parallax changes the following situation: As the distance to background objects increases, parallax: Increases, Decreases, Remains the Same,

Remains the Same

In the figure below, label the essential components used to triangulate the distance to the tree located on the opposite side of the river (assume the baseline remains constant). Choices: Baseline, Distance to Object, Right Angle, Angle that Increases with Increasing Distance to Object, Angle that Decreases with Increasing Distance to Object, Label C

Right Angle

Clearly distinguish between science and technology. Science is applied technology, Technology solves problems, whereas science creates them, Science gathers the knowledge that technology uses for practical purposes, Technology can be helpful or harmful, while science is only helpful.

Science gathers the knowledge that technology uses for practical purposes

What test can you perform to increase the chance in your own mind that you are right about a particular idea? Write a clear explanation of your idea and share it with everyone to gather objections, Write down your own idea as an equation, See if you can state the objections of your opponents to their satisfaction, Read up on the validity of the axioms you assumed when you crafted your idea,

See if you can state the objections of your opponents to their satisfaction

Listed following are a series of statements that each make a claim. Classify these as either testable by accepted methods of science or non-testable by accepted methods of science. Be sure to note that this question does not ask whether a statement would pass or fail a test; it only asks whether it is testable in principle. Bacteria acquire resistance to antibiotics through changes in their DNA, Vince Young is the greatest quarterback of all time, Mars once had liquid water on its surface, There will be a solar eclipse next Tuesday at 11 a.m, Earth orbits the Sun every 365.25 days, Hurricane Katrina was an act of God, People born under the sign of Sagittarius are twice as likely to be teachers as anyone else,

Testable: Bacteria acquire resistance to antibiotics through changes in their DNA. Mars once had liquid water on its surface. There will be a solar eclipse next Tuesday at 11 a.m. Earth orbits the Sun every 365.25 days. People born under the sign of Sagittarius are twice as likely to be teachers as anyone else.

When the Sun was directly overhead in Syene, why wasn't it directly overhead in Alexandria? Gravity bends light, The Sun is a sphere, Syene is in a different time zone than Alexandria, The Earth is a sphere,

The Earth is a sphere

Why did Aristarchus choose the time of a half Moon to make his measurements for calculating the Earth-Sun distance? The Earth, Moon, and Sun formed an obtuse triangle at that time, The Earth, Moon, and Sun formed a straight line at that time, The Earth, Moon, and Sun formed a right triangle at that time, The Earth, Moon, and Sun formed an acute triangle at that time,

The Earth, Moon, and Sun formed a right triangle at that time

How does the Moon's diameter compare with the distance between Earth and the Moon? The Moon's diameter is equal to the distance between Earth and the Moon, The Moon's diameter is 1/2.5 times the distance between Earth and the Moon, The Moon's diameter is 1/110 the distance between Earth and the Moon, The Moon's diameter is 1/3.5 times the distance between Earth and the Moon,

The Moon's diameter is 1/110 the distance between Earth and the Moon

Earth, like everything else illuminated by the Sun, casts a shadow. Why does this shadow taper? The Earth is much larger than the Sun, All shadows taper, The Sun is much larger than the Earth, The Earth and the Sun are the same size,

The Sun is much larger than the Earth

What are the circular spots of light seen on the ground beneath a tree on a sunny day? These are blurry images of the point of light that is the Sun, These are images of holes in leaves, These are pinhole images of the Sun, These are images of holes formed by gaps between leaves,

These are pinhole images of the Sun

Which of the following are scientific hypotheses? Check all that apply. Tides are caused by the Moon, Earth rotates about its axis because living things need an alternation of light and darkness, Chlorophyll makes grass green.

Tides are caused by the Moon, Chlorophyll makes grass green

In daily life, people are often praised for maintaining some particular point of view, for the "courage of their convictions." A change of mind is seen as a sign of weakness. How is this different in science? When a scientist finds evidence that contradicts a law, then the law must be abandoned, Scientific laws are decided to be true by majority vote, Once a scientific law is discovered, it never changes, so you must change your mind to believe it, When a famous scientist restates a law, then the old law must be abandoned,

When a scientist finds evidence that contradicts a law, then the law must be abandoned