Ways of Knowing

Philosophy of Thought

http://users.aristotle.net/~asta/science.htm

http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/0709/CFHQS_coop_36.jpg

Religious vs Scientific Knowledge Religious

Seeks answers to questions including the ultimate questions (What is my purpose? What is the meaning of life? Is there a supreme being? etc.)

Scientific Can only seek

answers about the natural world but cannot answer ultimate questions (Is there a god? What is the meaning of life?)

Religious vs Scientific Knowledge Religious

Seek predictions on any event based on faith and belief

Scientific Seek predictions

about future natural events based on observational evidence and testing

Religious vs Scientific Knowledge Religious

The rules may vary among the different religions

Scientific Has a set of rules

that must be followed in order to be called science

Religious vs Scientific Knowledge Religious

Explanations are based on beliefs and faith and seek to understand and follow an ultimate purpose

Scientific Explanations are

based on observation, evidence, and testing

Religious vs Scientific Knowledge Religious

Explanations can include supernatural forces

Scientific Explanations

cannot include supernatural forces

Religious vs Scientific Knowledge Religious

Hypotheses need not be part of the religion nor be tested nor proved or disproved

Scientific The hypothesis

used in tests must be able to be disproved

Religious vs Scientific Knowledge Religious

Is a belief system and seeks truths

Scientific Is not a belief

system nor seeks truths

Religious vs Scientific Knowledge Religious

Knowledge may not change greatly over time, but may be swayed by culture

Scientific Knowledge may

change as new data arises

Religious vs Scientific Knowledge Religious

Accepted knowledge does not need peer review or verification

Scientific All knowledge

must have peer review and verification

The Universe

The BIG Picture

Concepts in Cosmology The Cosmological

Principle: any observer in any galaxy sees the same general features of the universe as any other.

Homogeneity: Matter is uniformly spread throughout space.

Isotropy: The universe looks the same no matter in which direction one looks.

Universality: The laws of physics that work on Earth work the same in every part of the universe.

http://www.twosteptidewater.com/photo-album/universe.jpg

Universe formed 13.7GYA

Calculations refined in 2003

http://www.astromax.org/astrocourse/cosmology.htm

Concepts in Cosmology Red-Shifted light

from galaxies means that the galaxies are receding from us.

The entire universe is expanding.

http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap000419.html

Concepts in Cosmology “Raisin bread model"

Assume that you are on a particular raisin. As the loaf of bread expands in baking, the raisins that are closest to you appear to recede. The farther raisins appear to recede even faster. Those furthest away, fastest of all. Yet the bread actually expands at a constant rate. This model, with stars and galaxies as the raisins, and the universe itself as the bread, explains the red shift.

http://whatscookingamerica.net/Bread/BreadPhotos/RaisinBreadRise1.jpg

Red Shift

http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/physical_science/magnetism/images/visible_spectrum_waves_big_jpg_image.html

http://snap.lbl.gov/science/darkenergy.php

http://www.gcsescience.com/pun42.htm

Concepts in Cosmology Big Bang Theory:

Leads to a point of common origin for all matter

This point of common origin is where everything came into being in a single instant

Because time and space originated in the Big Bang, it did not occur in any specific location of space

Every point in the universe was there when the Big Bang occurred, and therefore, every point in the universe is where the Big Bang happened

The cosmic microwave background radiation is the echo of the Big Bang.

Concepts in Cosmology Big Bang Theory:

(cont) As the universe expanded,

the wave stretched-out, much like a phone cord is stretched as you walk away from the base

The stretched-out wave would be very long and have very low energy

Two scientists, A. Penzias and R. Wilson, discovered this radiation, experimental verification of the Big Bang.

2 billion years after the big bang

http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap960907.html

Concepts in Cosmology Future of the

Universe Big Crunch: If universe

is greater than the critical density, collective gravity of all the matter in the universe will stop expanding and begin to contract.

Expanding Universe: If universe less than the critical density (current scientific theory), then universe will expand forever.

http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap080210.html

Teaching Science Follow your

students’ curiosity Do not limit to just

the benchmark standards

Engage in inquiry as well as reading, technology, and discussion