Question 1

A scientific theory [or scientific principle] could best be described as

Accepted Answer

A)  an idea that explains a large collection of observations of the natural world. 
B)  any mental picture, or idea, about the way that the natural world operates. 
C)  a tentative guess about the way the natural world operates. 
D)  an idea that has been proven by observations of the natural world. 
E)  an observed fact or collection of facts about the natural world. 
A)  an idea that explains a large collection of observations of the natural world. 
B)  any mental picture, or idea, about the way that the natural world operates. 
C)  a tentative guess about the way the natural world operates. 
D)  an idea that has been proven by observations of the natural world. 
E)  an observed fact or collection of facts about the natural world.

Question 2

The ancient Greeks noted that the planets

Accepted Answer

A)  moved in ellipses around the sun. 
B)  were a reddish color. 
C)  wandered around among the stars. 
D)  kept step with the stars. 
E)  Nonsense-- the Greeks didn't know anything about the planets. 
A)  moved in ellipses around the sun. 
B)  were a reddish color. 
C)  wandered around among the stars. 
D)  kept step with the stars. 
E)  Nonsense-- the Greeks didn't know anything about the planets.

Question 3

Suppose a "psychic" tells you that "At midnight tonight, everything will double in size." This statement is

Accepted Answer

A)  a scientific prediction that is probably false because the experimental evidence will probably disprove it [based on past experience]. 
B)  a nonscientific statement because no experiment can check it to determine whether it is true or false. 
C)  a scientific prediction that is certainly false. 
D)  a nonscientific statement because it is based completely on guess- work. 
E)  the greatest idea since sliced bread. 
A)  a scientific prediction that is probably false because the experimental evidence will probably disprove it [based on past experience]. 
B)  a nonscientific statement because no experiment can check it to determine whether it is true or false. 
C)  a scientific prediction that is certainly false. 
D)  a nonscientific statement because it is based completely on guess- work. 
E)  the greatest idea since sliced bread.

Question 4

One ancient Greek scientist, Aristarchus, had a theory about the layout of the universe that was quite different from the other Greek theories. According to Aristarchus's theory,

Accepted Answer

A)  there is no fixed center anywhere in the universe. 
B)  the Earth is held up by Hercules, who stands on a turtle, who stands on an elephant, who stands on Zeus, who is beginning to think that the whole thing isn't worth the effort. 
C)  Earth is at the center and other objects move around Earth in simple circles. 
D)  Earth is at the center, and the planets move around Earth in orbits that could be described as "circles- within- circles" or "loop- the- loops." 
E)  the sun is at the center and other objects, including Earth, move around the sun in simple circles. 
A)  there is no fixed center anywhere in the universe. 
B)  the Earth is held up by Hercules, who stands on a turtle, who stands on an elephant, who stands on Zeus, who is beginning to think that the whole thing isn't worth the effort. 
C)  Earth is at the center and other objects move around Earth in simple circles. 
D)  Earth is at the center, and the planets move around Earth in orbits that could be described as "circles- within- circles" or "loop- the- loops." 
E)  the sun is at the center and other objects, including Earth, move around the sun in simple circles.

Question 5

How is the sun situated in the universe?

Accepted Answer

A)  The sun is just one of a large number of stars, and is located on the fringes of the Milky Way galaxy, which itself is just one galaxy among many galaxies. 
B)  Earth is at the center of the universe, and the sun orbits around the earth. 
C)  The sun is an isolated star that is far outside of all the galaxies in the universe, and is thus not part of any galaxy. 
D)  The sun is at the center of the universe. 
E)  The sun is just one of many stars, and is located near the center of the rest of the stars in the universe. 
A)  The sun is just one of a large number of stars, and is located on the fringes of the Milky Way galaxy, which itself is just one galaxy among many galaxies. 
B)  Earth is at the center of the universe, and the sun orbits around the earth. 
C)  The sun is an isolated star that is far outside of all the galaxies in the universe, and is thus not part of any galaxy. 
D)  The sun is at the center of the universe. 
E)  The sun is just one of many stars, and is located near the center of the rest of the stars in the universe.

Question 6

A defining feature of "pseudoscience" is

Accepted Answer

A)  it does not use proper scientific methodology. 
B)  it gives the appearance of being scientific. 
C)  Both of the above. 
D)  it is unusual, or odd. 
E)  All of the above. 
A)  it does not use proper scientific methodology. 
B)  it gives the appearance of being scientific. 
C)  Both of the above. 
D)  it is unusual, or odd. 
E)  All of the above.

Question 7

Our primary reason for studying the theories of Ptolemy, Copernicus, and Kepler in this course is

Accepted Answer

A)  to learn about the methods and the validity of science. 
B)  as a foundation for our later study of Newtonian physics. 
C)  to learn some history of physics and astronomy. 
D)  so that we can understand the structure of our solar system. 
E)  to see how these early theories of atomic physics compare with more recent studies. 
A)  to learn about the methods and the validity of science. 
B)  as a foundation for our later study of Newtonian physics. 
C)  to learn some history of physics and astronomy. 
D)  so that we can understand the structure of our solar system. 
E)  to see how these early theories of atomic physics compare with more recent studies.

Question 8

In Copernicus's theory, retrograde planetary motion is explained as

Accepted Answer

A)  the backward part of the planet's loop- the- loop orbits around Earth. 
B)  due to the back- and- forth or "oscillatory" motion that planets make as they move along their circular orbits around Earth. 
C)  due to the natural wandering of the celestial sphere of background stars. 
D)  a result of Earth's motion: as Earth passes another planet, that planet appears to move backward as seen against the background stars. 
E)  Actually he didn't have an explanation for this. 
A)  the backward part of the planet's loop- the- loop orbits around Earth. 
B)  due to the back- and- forth or "oscillatory" motion that planets make as they move along their circular orbits around Earth. 
C)  due to the natural wandering of the celestial sphere of background stars. 
D)  a result of Earth's motion: as Earth passes another planet, that planet appears to move backward as seen against the background stars. 
E)  Actually he didn't have an explanation for this.

A scientific theory [or scientific principle] could best be described as

The ancient Greeks noted that the planets

Suppose a "psychic" tells you that "At midnight tonight, everything will double in size." This statement is

One ancient Greek scientist, Aristarchus, had a theory about the layout of the universe that was quite different from the other Greek theories. According to Aristarchus's theory,

How is the sun situated in the universe?

A defining feature of "pseudoscience" is

Our primary reason for studying the theories of Ptolemy, Copernicus, and Kepler in this course is

In Copernicus's theory, retrograde planetary motion is explained as

Atoms: the Nature of Things

How Things Move: Galileo Asks the Right Questions

Why Things Move As They Do

Newtons Universe

Conservation of Energy: You Cant Get Ahead

Second Law of Thermodynamics: and You Cant Even Break Even

Light and Electromagnetism

Electromagnetism Radiation and Global Climate Change

The Special Theory of Relativity

The General Theory of Relativity and the New Cosmology

The Quantum Idea

The Quantum Universe

The Nucleus and Radioactivity: an New Force

Fusion and Fission: and a New Energy

The Energy Challenge

Quantum Fields: Relativity Meets the Quantum

Filters

Exam 1: The Way of Science: Experience and Reason

A scientific theory [or scientific principle] could best be described as

The ancient Greeks noted that the planets

Suppose a "psychic" tells you that "At midnight tonight, everything will double in size." This statement is

One ancient Greek scientist, Aristarchus, had a theory about the layout of the universe that was quite different from the other Greek theories. According to Aristarchus's theory,

How is the sun situated in the universe?

A defining feature of "pseudoscience" is

Our primary reason for studying the theories of Ptolemy, Copernicus, and Kepler in this course is

In Copernicus's theory, retrograde planetary motion is explained as

Atoms: the Nature of Things

How Things Move: Galileo Asks the Right Questions

Why Things Move As They Do

Newtons Universe

Conservation of Energy: You Cant Get Ahead

Second Law of Thermodynamics: and You Cant Even Break Even

Light and Electromagnetism

Electromagnetism Radiation and Global Climate Change

The Special Theory of Relativity

The General Theory of Relativity and the New Cosmology

The Quantum Idea

The Quantum Universe

The Nucleus and Radioactivity: an New Force

Fusion and Fission: and a New Energy

The Energy Challenge

Quantum Fields: Relativity Meets the Quantum

Filters