The Exact Sciences

Question 1

Not all the scientists were Muslims and not all were Arabs. T/F

Answer 1

true; Hunayn bin Ishaq was a Christian and many others were Persian.

So how come their enterprise was called “Arabic”?

By the 11th century al-Biruni, the great Persian scientist was describing the Arabic language as the language most suited for scientific expression.

Question 2

who was al-Biruni?

Answer 2

the great Persian scientist

Question 3

why were The Arabs were particularly interested in astronomy and medicine and mathematics?

Answer 3

• Astronomical knowledge helped in calculating the prayer time, determining the direction of prayer determining the monthly calendar.
• Mathematical knowledge helped in calculating shares of inheritance and many other practical need.

However, Arabic sciences soon went beyond the obvious practical needs and scientists involved in the discussion of various issues especially problems inherited for the Greeks.

Question 4

where was Most of the early information was derived from (Arithmetic: “Hisab”)

Answer 4

• Euclid’s Elements
• Nicomachus’ Introduction
• Indian sources ex. Arabic numerals

Question 5

who were the Main figures who contributed to the development of Mathematics?

Answer 5

• al-Khawarizmi,
• ‘ Umar al-Khayyam
• Nasir Ad-din al-Tusi
• the three sons of Musa bin Shakir
• Ibn al-Haytham.

Question 6

Eucledean

Answer 6

• Arabic geometrician formulated and proved some non-Euclidean theorems. But they did not imagine the possibility of non –Euclidean geometry.

Question 7

how did Non-Euclidean geometry form?

Answer 7

Arabic research forms part of the history of the “parallels problem” whose investigation finally lead to the discovery of non-Euclidean geometry.

Question 8

Eucledean vs. Non-Euclidean geometry:

Answer 8

WhileEuclidean geometryseeks to understand thegeometryof flat, two-dimensional spaces,non-Euclidean geometrystudies curved, rather than flat, surfaces. AlthoughEuclidean geometryis useful in many fields, in some cases,non-Euclidean geometrymay be more useful.

Question 9

what book had a great influence on all Arabic research in astronomy.

Answer 9

Ptolemy’s book Almagest

Question 10

true or false? They devised new models of planetary movements and developed new observational and computational techniques tools like astrolabes used for measuring the altitudes of heavenly bodies.

Answer 10

true

Question 11

what is Zijes : (Astronomical tables)?

Answer 11

is the generic name applied to Islamic astronomical books that include parameters used for astronomical calculations of the positions of the Sun, Moon, stars, and planets.

Question 12

where were The greatest centers of production of zījes?

Answer 12

Baghdad under the Abbasid caliphs especially al-Ma’mun in the 9th century.

Question 13

where were the centers of astronomical research in the Islamic world ?

Answer 13

Baghdad, Shiraz, Cairo, Maragha and Samarkand.

Question 14

who was the first to conclude that Ptolemy’s models were falseand need to be replaced?

Answer 14

Ibn al-Haytham

Question 15

who produced alternative planetary models that were more accurate in describing planetary motion.

Answer 15

Al-Tusi I the 13th century and later Ibn al-Shatir and others from the school of Maragha

Question 16

who is al-Khwarizmi?

Answer 16

al-Khwarizmi (ca. 8th–9th centuries) was a mathematician, geographer and astronomer.

• He was instrumental in the adoption of the Indian numbering system later known as Arabic numerals
• He developed algebra, by introducing methods of simplifying the equations.
• He used Euclidian geometry in his proofs. Europe first became acquainted with Arabic algebra through the translation of the first part of Al-Khawarizmi’s Kitab al-Jabr wal-muqabala.

Question 17

who was ‘Umar al-Khayyām?

Answer 17

• ‘Umar Al-Khayyam (d. 1131) was a Persian polymath, mathematician, astronomer and poet.
• He is the author of the renowned poems Rubaiyyat al-Khayyam.
• he derived general methods for solving cubic equations and even some higher orders.

Question 18

who was Ibn al-Haytham?

Answer 18

ibn al-Haytham (965–1040), also known as Alhazen, was a scientist born in Basra, Iraq .

He worked in several fields, but is now known primarily for his achievements in astronomy and optics.

He made significant contributions to the principles of optics, as well as to physics, astronomy, mathematics,, philosophy, and to the scientific method.

Question 19

who proved that rays of light travel in straight lines, and carried out various experiments with lenses, mirrors, refraction, and reflection.

Answer 19

Ibn al-Haytham

Question 20

bn al-Haytham also gave the first clear description and early analysis of the?

Answer 20

camera obscura.