Merrimack College Astronomy 1101

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1 Merrimack College Astronomy 1101 Spring 2017 Ralph P. Pass 1

2 APOD 1/23/2017 2

3 Any Questions? From today s news? 3

4 Any Questions? From Homeworks: If stars are different colors based on their temperature, are there any green stars? What does the RA (right ascension) mean? How do astronomers measure the magnitude of stars? Why is it that the stars with a higher percentage rate of mass in regards to Sirus (sic) aren t considered brighter? Does the apparent or absolute magnitude determine the brightness of a star? 4

5 Any Questions? From Homeworks: does the list change as time goes on? Why for some of Visual magnitudes is there a negative magnitude while others have a positive magnitude? do astronomers take gravity lensing into account, and can this affect the luminosity rating we assign? 5

6 Field Trip #1 Field trip to the Museum of Science for a Planetarium show January 31, 2017 Leave from Cascia Hall Parking lot in a Yellow School Bus at 6:00pm SHARP Return by 9:00pm If you are meeting us there, be in the lobby at 6:45pm 6

7 Planetarium Show How many are not coming? Anyone with friends or family they would like to bring? 7

8 Suggestions for MoS Field Trip Leave at 9am return at 4pm Saturday or Sunday? Date preference? 8

9 Bonus Point Opportunity Latitude and Longitude of Merrimack College Due 01/26/2017 9

10 Objectives Scientific Method What it is How it is done How to recognize it Astronomy What is up there What it looks like How to find it 10

11 Expectations I Appreciation for the sky Appreciation for Scientific Method Understanding of Scientific Method in the History of Astronomy Understanding of how to do science Seeing not just looking, describe what you see! Do not pre-suppose anything when I ask you, What do you see? (different than What is this? ) Do not overlook the obvious! 11

12 What do you see? 12

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17 Expectations II Recognition of constellations Names and location of stars Understanding of planets Understanding of basic motion of bodies Understanding and recognition of objects Understanding cosmologies 17

18 Star Patterns to Know Constellations Bootes, Cygnus, Pegasus, Orion, Leo Reading Left to right these are the constellations going East. You could start the list with any of the five. And I could ask you the sequence going left, reading left to right Asterisms Big Dipper 18

19 Recognition of Constellations I 19

20 Recognition of Constellations II 20

21 Recognition of Constellations III 21

22 Orion 22

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24 Leo 24

25 Bootes 25

26 Planets What is a planet Fundamental characteristics Moons Borderline cases 26

27 Basic motion of bodies Orbits Apparent motion Absolute motion 27

28 Understanding and Recognition of Objects I Stellar Birth 28

29 Understanding and Recognition of Objects II Stellar Death 29

30 Understanding and Recognition of Objects III Clusters 30

31 Understanding and Recognition of Objects IV Galaxies 31

32 Understanding Cosmologies Why this is a fundamental question Why every culture has cosmologies Why I think this is the most astounding aspect of science 32

33 Eras of Astronomy Time Age of Watching Age of Observing Age of Exploring Galileo 1610 Hubble

34 What do you see? Then What is this? 34

35 This?? 35

36 Binocular View 36

37 Some Images 37

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39 What Is This? 39

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41 What do you see? 41

42 More of Same 42

43 Couple of More Images 43

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46 How to do Science Scientific Method Natural Curiosity about: shapes and sizes of things 46

47 Scientific Method An iterative way of explaining our environment based on observations, theory, predictions, and more observations The more observations that match a theory s predictions and the more predictions made, the more we view the theory as a LAW A Scientific Theory must be falsifiable! That is, you must be able to construct experiments to test the theory. You cannot prove a vague theory wrong, Richard Feynman 47

48 Scientific Method II Observation(s) New Conceive Theory Continuing Observations Make Predictions Update Theory Comparison really bad Compare Results Comparison close but not exact Discard Theory 48

49 Scientific Method - III Observations are typically based on measurements Numbers are put into the theory in the form of equations and numeric predictions made For example distance = velocity * time If velocity is 10 and time is 5 then distance is 50 49

50 Scientific Method - IV One of the key elements of theory development is Occam s Razor Named after William of Ockham, born in Ockham in Surrey (England) about 1285 He said plurality should not be assumed without necessity Or as we say today keep it simple, stupid It is used when there are multiple theories (or explanations) for the observations, then the simplest is the theory of choice. 50

Sharpening a Pencil (Rube Goldberg) Rube Goldberg gets his think-tank working and evolves the simplified pencil-sharpener. Open window (A) and fly kite (B).

51 Sharpening a Pencil (Rube Goldberg) Rube Goldberg gets his think-tank working and evolves the simplified pencil-sharpener. Open window (A) and fly kite (B). String (C) lifts small door (D) allowing moths (E) to escape and eat red flannel shirt (F). As weight of shirt becomes less, shoe (G) steps on switch (H) which heats electric iron (I) and burns hole in pants (J). Smoke (K) enters hole in tree (L), smoking out opossum (M) which jumps into basket (N), pulling rope (O) and lifting cage (P), allowing woodpecker (Q) to chew wood from pencil (R), exposing lead. Emergency knife (S) is always handy in case opossum or the woodpecker gets sick and can't work. 51

52 Caution Colloquial use of the word theory is different than the scientific use of the word theory Compare hypothesis and theory Compare guess and theory 52

53 Things to ask about a 'Scientific Theory' Is it falsifiable? What are the observations? Can the observations be replicated? Does it work in all situations? What new observations can be made to support the theory (or prove it wrong)? 53

54 Remember Science is not wrong just because a new observation causes a revision or complete rework of a theory Theories are not set in concrete!!!!! 54

55 Getting ready for Thursday 55

56 And one more thing 56

5E Lesson Plan Template

5E Lesson Plan Template Handout Authors: Ashley Thornburg Austin Ross Title of Lesson: The Life Cycle of Stars Date of Lesson: Wednesday March 14, 2012 Length of Lesson: 40-45 minutes Name/Level of Course: Science 8 th Source