What is Science?
1. Search for knowledge and/or understanding
2. We often achieve understanding by stating general principles or
laws.
3. These principles must be testable experimentally.
"Anyone living in a house, if he is ignorant of its materials or
construction, its size and kind, its position and distinguishing
characteristics, is not worthy of being a guest in such a place.
Similarly, he who is born and brought up in the hall of the universe,
if he neglects to get to know the reason for its wonderful beauty
when he reaches maturity, is unworthy of that hall and, if it should
be possible, must be thrust out of it."
The Concepts of Science course should:
1. Be truly interdisciplinary
2. Bridge the gap between the sciences and the humanities
3. Focus on the impact of science upon everyday life
We shall take an interdisciplinary
approach
Sample Questions from Old Exams:
The following statement has been made: "For every mile you drive
your car, 1 pound of carbon dioxide is released." In the space below,
outline the computations a scientist would use to reach such a
conclusion. Would this statement apply to all cars? If not, what
qualifying remarks should be be added to the above statement?
We have spent a great deal of time discussing various aspects of
light. In the space below, write an essay in which you discuss the
nature of light, its role as an energy source and some of the effects
of its interaction with the earth's atmosphere.
In science, situations often arise in which two theories have been
put forth to explain data or observations. The ideal way in which to
choose between opposing theories is to devise an experiment which
will exclude one. Write an essay in which you discuss a situation in
which this has occurred and describe the definitive experiment.
Newton and Galileo were major players in the elucidation of the
workings of the solar system. If you could speak to either of these
men now, what are some of the things you would tell them about recent
developments concerning the solar system?
We have calculated that burning 100g of methane releases 1314 kcal of
energy. Many people have advocated using hydrogen as a fuel. Hydrogen
has a heat of combustion of 57 kcal/mol.
a. Write the balanced equation for the combustion of hydrogen to give
water
b. Calculate how much energy would be released by burning 100 g of
hydrogen
c. Which fuel (hydrogen or methane) gives off more energy per gram of
fuel?
d. Aside from the energy given off, there is another reason to use
hydrogen as a fuel. Discuss this reason briefly.
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