science, theory, & paradigm shifts paradigm shifts i

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Science, Theory, & Paradigm Shifts Paradigm Shifts I

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Page 1: Science, Theory, & Paradigm Shifts Paradigm Shifts I

Science, Theory, & Paradigm ShiftsParadigm Shifts I

Page 2: Science, Theory, & Paradigm Shifts Paradigm Shifts I

 A COMET TALE: The Ort Cloud

The Ort Cloud is an icy debris field left over from the creation of our solar system.

• At the edge of solar system

• Half way to nearest star

• Billions of individual objects

• Object 100 miles (163.93 km) in diameter

Page 3: Science, Theory, & Paradigm Shifts Paradigm Shifts I

 A COMET TALE: …The Ort Cloud

This icy debris field contains the remains of the primordial dust cloud that collapsed and gave birth to our sun.

• Through a process called accretion, stars are forged and planets constructed.

• All of the stuff in our solar system originated from this stellar nursery.

• The ort cloud contains the left-over raw materials used in this creative process.

Page 4: Science, Theory, & Paradigm Shifts Paradigm Shifts I

 A COMET TALE: The Ort Cloud

Our star (the sun) generates a solar wind containing charged particles and other gasses.

• Solar wind interacts with interstellar gas and dust creating a “bow shock”

• The bow shock region of space is considered the “city limit” of our solar system and the beginning of inter-stellar space.

• The ort cloud and everything in it lies beyond the bow shock region of space.

Page 5: Science, Theory, & Paradigm Shifts Paradigm Shifts I

 A COMET TALE: …The Ort Cloud

Occasionally a nearby star disturbs the ort cloud, sending objects hurtling toward our sun.

• Ort cloud objects are disturbed by the gravity of a neighboring star. Some fall toward our sun.

• As these objects come closer to the Sun, it’s solar wind will heat the object and cause it to melt.

Page 6: Science, Theory, & Paradigm Shifts Paradigm Shifts I

 A COMET TALE: …The Ort Cloud

As object melts, a tail of debris forms, creating a comet.

• A comet forms as a result of debris emitted by the object as it melts.

• Solar wind pushes the debris away from the object forming a tail.

• Tail can extend for hundreds of millions of miles and is often visible from earth.

Page 7: Science, Theory, & Paradigm Shifts Paradigm Shifts I

 A COMET TALE: Messengers of the gods.

The ancients viewed comets as messengers of the gods.

The ancients are right about comets being messengers:

• What our solar system is made of…

• Primordial conditions of our solar system

• Where all the water came from

The ancients are wrong about comets being messengers:

• Omens that influence the lives of individuals or groups of people…

• Telling of the fate of kingdoms or crops…

Page 8: Science, Theory, & Paradigm Shifts Paradigm Shifts I

 A COMET TALE: …Messengers of the gods.

A comet lights the sky…

• Once every ten years on avg

• Some seen in daylight

• Tails can fill the sky

• Suddenly appear and disappear

To the ancients, their inability to predict the appearance and disappearance of comets led to a common interpretation that comets were significant.

Often comets were viewed as messengers of the gods.

Page 9: Science, Theory, & Paradigm Shifts Paradigm Shifts I

 A COMET TALE: …Messengers of the gods.

Throughout history, people have tried explaining comets.

• More than 2200 years ago the ancient Chinese classified comets into 29 separate types.

• The shapes observed by the ancients were striking enough to be recorded in myth.

• Comets were gods in the sky, and they were recorded globally by many cultures.

Page 10: Science, Theory, & Paradigm Shifts Paradigm Shifts I

 A COMET TALE: …Messengers of the gods.

Comets have been described in the mythology of many cultures as metaphors:

• Comet as a Dragon or Cyclops

• Comet as the sword “Excalibur”

Page 11: Science, Theory, & Paradigm Shifts Paradigm Shifts I

 A COMET TALE: …Messengers of the gods.

Natural science tells us that comets are natural…

…the ancients understood comets as being supernatural.

…even today, many people have paranormal beliefs about comets.

• Why do comets seem so important?

• Why the appeal to the supernatural?

Page 12: Science, Theory, & Paradigm Shifts Paradigm Shifts I

 A COMET TALE: My good sign, your bad sign.

In 1066 William the Conqueror saw a comet…

• Saw it as a sign foretelling victory.

• Invaded England after seeing comet.

• Commissioned a tapestry of battle.

• Comet is shown in the tapestry.

King William I saw the comet as a sign from God that he would be victorious.

King Herald saw the comet as a sign from God that his kingdom was doomed.

Page 13: Science, Theory, & Paradigm Shifts Paradigm Shifts I

 A COMET TALE: …My good sign, your bad sign.

In 1219, Genghis Khan saw a comet…

• Saw it as a message to fulfill destiny• Waged war across Asia and Europe

• He fulfilled his destiny.

To the Mongols the comet symbolized victory.

To the vanquished the it symbolized death and defeat.

Page 14: Science, Theory, & Paradigm Shifts Paradigm Shifts I

 A COMET TALE: A Natural Explanation

In 1680 Sir Isaac Newton saw a comet…

• He saw a comet from Oct-Nov 1691 before it disappeared

• He saw another comet from mid Dec-Mar 1682 before it disappeared.

Sir Newton asked a profoundly simple question about what he had recorded:

“Were these two events caused by a single comet or by two?”

Page 15: Science, Theory, & Paradigm Shifts Paradigm Shifts I

 A COMET TALE: A Natural Explanation

In 1682 Sir Isaac Newton discovered gravity…

• How did he make this discovery?

• Many of us learned that he made the discovery while sitting under an apple tree when an apple fell onto his head.

• Newton got the idea of gravity from such personal experiences but he didn’t discover it that way.

• Newton discovered gravity by studying the behavior of a very famous comet.

Page 16: Science, Theory, & Paradigm Shifts Paradigm Shifts I

 A COMET TALE: A Natural Explanation

Was it one comet or two?

• Newton assumed that both events were caused by a single comet

• A single comet would disappear and reappear if it were in orbit around the sun just like the planets.

• By plotting the course of the comet across the sky, Newton found evidence to support his assumptions

• Newton observed that the comets orbit appeared to bend as it approached the sun.

• The bent orbit of the comet meant that an unseen force was changing the course of the comet and the closer the comet was to the sun the stronger the force appeared to be.

He called this unseen force: gravity.

Page 17: Science, Theory, & Paradigm Shifts Paradigm Shifts I

 A COMET TALE: A Natural Explanation

The power of a natural explanation for comets…

Newton had a new theory that comets were natural.

• Comets have closed circular paths just like planets.

• A comet with a certain orbit will one day return.

• The return of such a comet can be predicted by observing its path around the sun over time.

• If Newton could predict the return of a comet this would prove that it was natural.

Newton with the help of his friend Edmond Halley set out to predict the return date of the comet they saw.

Page 18: Science, Theory, & Paradigm Shifts Paradigm Shifts I

 A COMET TALE: A Natural Explanation

Predicting the return of a comet...

Newton and Halley compiled tables of all comet observations that they could find in human memory.

• They looked for patterns that repeated throughout history...

• Halley found three references to comets whose descriptions were identical...

• One in 1591, 1607, & 1682. 

• Each report was separated by 75 years. 

Convinced that these references were the same comet they had observed, they made a bold prediction that the comet would return again in late 1758.

Page 19: Science, Theory, & Paradigm Shifts Paradigm Shifts I

 A COMET TALE: A Natural Explanation

An extraordinary display of scientific bravado...

Neither Isaac or Halley lived to see if their prediction was right...

• In 1758...a comet was observed in the sky

• The comet was met with jubilation...

• The comet lost its supernatural cause

• This event was viewed as a triumph of science over the supernatural. 

•  

The comet was named "Halley's Comet" after the man who first saw the recurring pattern in the historical data.

Page 20: Science, Theory, & Paradigm Shifts Paradigm Shifts I

 A COMET TALE: A Natural Explanation

Truth trumps fiction...

When scholars look further back through historical records, Halley's comet was found to appear like clockwork.

• Genghis Khan saw a comet...it was not a personal message...it was Halley's comet.

• King William saw a comet...it was not a sign of his victory...it was Halley's comet.

For the first time, there was compelling evidence that comets were natural.

Page 21: Science, Theory, & Paradigm Shifts Paradigm Shifts I

 A COMET TALE: A Natural Explanation

Comets are natural things...

Comets became as predictable as the planets and stars. But...

• Many during Newton's time did not understand his theory; thus, comets remained a source of superstition for some...

• Today, a mountain of evidence exist telling us that comets are basically dirty snowballs and yet, paranormal belief about comets still exist.

The Heaven's Gate cult is a recent example of modern paranormal belief about comets.

Page 22: Science, Theory, & Paradigm Shifts Paradigm Shifts I

 A COMET TALE: A Natural Explanation

Scientific discoveries change the way we think about nature...

In the realm of science, Newton's laws of gravitation were so profound and useful that these laws became the foundation of a new cosmology.

• Newton's theory of gravitation allowed scientist to predict the existence of undiscovered planets in our solar system.

• Newton's discovery worked so well, that it became standard practice for all scientist who studied the cosmos. 

• The wide-spread adoption of Newtons theory by other scientist is called a PARADIGM SHIFT.