ASTR 101 Midterm: Unit 1 Lecture Outline Astro
Document Summary
Science: a body of knowledge and a process. Theory: a well-tested explanation of a general set of phenomena; makes predictions that survive repeated and varied testing. Paradigm: valid ideas that fall too far outside of the general patterns of thought. Pseudoscience: false science ; claims about the natural world that seem to be based on observational evidence but do not treat evidence in a truly scientific way. The scientific method: observe hypothesize predict test conclude. Bit messy sometimes scientists should weigh all the data and publish the strengths and weaknesses of their hypothesis (in a perfect world). Evolution is : fact: dna and fossil records, well-tested hypothesis: natural/sexual selection, a theory: keeps passing the test. People in central africa learned to predict rainfall patterns by observing the moon. Gnomons/obelisks: stake in the ground, watch the shadow: first astronomical observatory, different track every day of the year. Summer solstice: sun highest, most north; rises north of east.
