Unit 3 Flashcards
What was the influence of basic science on later applied scientific innovations?
Although more economically profitable, applied science could not occur without initial basic scientific research
During the 20th century, what was the emphasis in science?
Science as a profit-making business
What basic science was Einstein responsible for?
Energy and mass
What basic science was Rutherford responsible for?
Divisible atom
What applied science came out of the findings of Einstein and Rutherford?
Nuclear weapons and power
What basic science was Fleming responsible for?
Inhibition of bacterial growth
What applied science came out of the findings of Fleming?
Antibiotics
What basic science we’re Franklin and Wilkins responsible for?
X-ray diffraction images of DNA
What basic science were Watson and crick responsible for?
Deduction of the double helix of DNA
What applied science came out of the findings of Franklin, Wilkins, Watson and crick?
Sequencing of human genome (leading to medical diagnoses and therapeutic strategies)
How did the idea of solo scientists change during the 20th century?
Change from solo scientists to collaborative teams with research budgets
How does the large amount of money and specialized equipment needed for modern science potential he have a negative affect on science?
By changing it from being about the pursuit of knowledge to an assembly line of patentable products
What was Albert Einstein’s great discovery?
Theory of Relativity: That physical properties such as time, space, and mass are not absolute, but, rather, are relative to a specific reference system
How did Albert Einstein we define light?
As discrete particles called quanta, light causes the release of electrons when shone on certain materials
What is special about special relativity? (1905)
It only applies to systems under uniform velocity: space, time, mass, and energy are linked.
What is one of the consequences of E= MC squared?
Mass and energy can be converted into each other.
What is the maximum speed for any object?
The speed of light in a vacuum (approximately 300,000 km/s)
In what year did Einstein publish his general theory of relativity?
1915
How was the general theory of relativity different from the special theory of relativity?
Is extended special relativity so it encompassed systems undergoing acceleration. It also demonstrated the connection between gravity and special relativity.
What 3 things did the general theory of relativity predict?
- Black holes
- Variation in the orbits of planets
- The ability of massive sources of gravity, such as the sun, to bend light.
When was the third prediction in the general theory of relativity proven to be true?
In 1919 when a solar eclipse was observed
What did the unified field theory try to connect?
The forces of electromagnetism and gravity
Why were Einstein’s questions remarkable?
Because the things he questioned were mistakenly regarded as being too obvious to require clarification or analysis (Infeld)
Genetics
Science of heredity
Darwin was correct in assuming that variation allowed for gradual change over time. What was he mistaken about?
He was not successful in correctly identifying the genetic mechanism responsible for this variation or its transmission to subsequent generations
Who was Gregor Mandel and what kind of experiments did he do?
He was an Austrian monk, the father of genetics, he did experiments with pea plants
What understanding did Mendels research lead to?
It like to understanding “gene” as the unit of heredity
What two genetic principles came out of Mendel’s research?
- The principle of segregation
2. the principle of independent assortment
What was Mendel’s belief regarding why certain traits skipped a generation?
pairs of traits
What did Mendel discover regarding inheritance?
Inheritance of one parental trait was independent of inheritance of the other
Mendel was able to describe how traits are transmitted to subsequent generations. What was he not able to discover?
He was not aware of the nature of the genetic material that encoded these inherited traits (we now know it is DNA)
How does DNA encode the amino acid sequence of proteins?
Through a three letter code
What is the concern with manipulating DNA in the laboratory?
studying the building blocks of human life can lead to attempts to manipulate life at its fundamental level
When was the concept of atoms first proposed?
During the fifth century BC
Who developed the atomic theory of matter in 1808?
John Dalton. Atoms were thought to be solid and indivisible
Who discovered electrons?
JJ Thompson
Who discovered alpha and beta radiation?
Ernest Rutherford
Who was the first to split the atom?
Ernest Rutherford
What was discovered about the atom in 1932?
Neutrons - The full picture is a central positively charged nucleus is surrounded by clouds of negative electrons that possess both wave and particle like properties
Why is our understanding of the atom not complete?
Because the scientific model of the atom is continually evolving
The findings of what two great thinkers led to the realization that if the atom could be split tremendous amounts of energy would be released?
Rutherford and Einstein. Although, Rutherford did not support the idea of practical applications of nuclear energy
Who produced the first nuclear chain reaction splitting one atom causing the splitting of others in 1942?
Enrico Fermi
What were the two great advances in medicine?
- Improved treatment of disease: antibiotic treatment for bacterial infections, vaccinations for debilitating childhood diseases such as polio
- Safer surgery: successful organ transplants
Medicine =
Basic + applied science
What was the Babbage difference machine?
An early form of the computer. It was more of a curiosity and had functions more like a calculator
How did IBM’s mark one computer keep program instruction separate from information storage within the device?
Punch cards
What was the first digital computer?
ENIAC
How did basic research into semi conductors help with early computers?
It enabled the computers vacuum tubes to be replaced with smaller transistors and silicon chips
Why was much of the early development of the computer overshadowed by secrecy of war?
Because they were used as code-breakers and for munitions calculations
What were computers initially designed for?
To increase speed, accuracy, and efficiency of calculation and data storage
What responsibility is carried by the potential of scientific innovations?
Responsibility for the effects of those innovations
What is one potential reason why scientific inquiry could come to an end?
Society may eventually reach a point where it is no longer willing to supply funds for research
Name three motivations of science
- The pursuit of knowledge
- Potential financial gain
- To further political ends, such as war
How do you cultural influences of contemporary society affect science?
- Which scientific experiments are performed
- How science is performed
- What is done with the consequences of scientific innovation
Whose Experment helped Rutherford prove that an atom had a small nucleus?
Ernest Marsden
Why were peaceful uses of atomic energy not pursued earlier?
They were of little immediate use or importance to our world at war
Why was the atomic bomb an instrument for peace according to Oppenheimer?
Because it showed that war was obsolete
More specialization in medical care equals more…
Cost
Greater spending on medical care, higher number of doctors, and greater cost of pharmaceuticals does not equal what?
Higher life expectancy
How much of the worlds population is affected by TB?
Over 30%
Why is information technology seen as for better and for worse?
Because it carries both enormous possibilities for the betterment of human life and also dangers which can, as yet, be only dimly perceived and impossible to place in perspective
What was a major breakthrough in information technology?
The transistor which used semi conductor materials (silicon)
What two results came out of the introduction of silicon chips?
- Lower cost machines
2. Smaller machines
What two countries led the way in IT advancements?
The USA and Japan
Why was it difficult to stop people linking to ARPANET?
Because TCP/IP software was public domain
