Exam 1 Nsci

Question 1

Geocentric Model

Answer 1

• Earth is the center of the universe.

- sun, planets, and stars orbit around the earth

Question 2

Retrograde Motion

Answer 2

Retrograde motion was when planets would move westward for a few weeks rather than eastward

We see apparent retrograde motion when we pass by a planet in its orbit

Question 3

Heliocentric model

Answer 3

Sun is the center of the universe.

 - this makes retrograde motion easy to understand

Question 4

Hallmark of Science # 1

Answer 4

Modern science seems explanations for deserved phenomena that rely solely on natural causes.

PROBLEM: what is meant by the word natural ?

Question 5

Hallmark of Science #2

Answer 5

Science progresses through the creation and testing of models of nature that explain the observations as simply as possible

Question 6

What is Occam’s Razor ?

Answer 6

Occam’s Razor is when there is more than one possible explanation, choose the simplest

Question 7

Hallmark of Science #3

Answer 7

Hallmarks Science #3 is a scientific model must make testable predictions about natural phenomena that would force us to revise or abandon the model if the predictions do not agree with observations.

-it has to tell you something that you don’t already know. Otherwise, Occams’s Razor leaves us with nothing

Question 8

What is a hypothesis?

Answer 8

Hypothesis is an educated guess

Question 9

What is a Theory?

Answer 9

Theory has a different meaning in science than in everyday life .

• theory is not the same as hypothesis
• theory explains a wide variety of observations with a few simple principles
• theory is supported by a large compelling body of evidence
• theory has not failed any crucial test of its validity

Question 10

Solar system

Answer 10

• Sun
• Planets: Terrestrial and Jovian
• Dwarf Planets
• Moons
• Asteriods - Asteriod belt
• Comets: Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud

Question 11

Formation of Solar system

Answer 11

• Gravitational Collapse
• Disk- Angular Momentum
• Condensation
• Accretion
• Gravity/Planetesimals

Question 12

Solar system in order of INCREASING distance from the sun :

Answer 12

1. Mercury
2. Venus
3. Earth
4. Mars
5. Asteriod Belt
6. Jupitar
7. Saturn
8. Uranus
9. Neptune
10. Kuiper Belt (Comets)
11. Pluto ( Dwarf Planet)
12. Oort Cloud (Comets)

Question 13

Solar System in order of SMALLNESS :

Answer 13

1. Asteriods and Comets
2. Pluto
3. Mercury
4. Mars
5. Venus
6. Earth
7. Neptune
8. Uranus
9. Saturn
10. Jupitar
11. Sun

Question 14

What is Astronomical Unit ?

Answer 14

Is the average distance between the earth and the sun .

-150 million kilometers

Question 15

What is a Star ?

Answer 15

A star is a ball of hot gas that glows because of its high temperature .

• the sun appears to be bright because it’s closer

Question 16

What is a Galaxy ?

Answer 16

• Galaxy is a large group of stars
• group of stars that orbit around a common center
• there are about 100billion galaxies in the observable universe
• there are about 10^22 star in the observable universe

Question 17

What are the universal laws ?

Answer 17

The universal laws are physics and chemistry.

Biology is not know to universal