PtysAstr 206 Section 2 Our Golden Age of Planetary Exploration Spring 2004

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Ptys/Astr 206 (Section 2)Our Golden Age of
Planetary ExplorationSpring 2004
http//marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/home/
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Course Details

• Adam Showman, Professor
• Adam Showman, SS 430, 621-4021,
  showman_at_lpl.arizona.edu
• Wednesday 200-300 PM, Thursday 315-415 PM
• Jade Bond, TA
• Jade Bond, SS 320, 621-1479, jbond_at_lpl.arizona.edu
  
• Monday-Thursday, 100-200 PM
• John Keller, RA
• John Keller, SS 334, 621-1632, jkeller_at_lpl.arizona
  .edu
• Tuesday 1000-1100 AM
• Course Homepage
• http//www.lpl.arizona.edu/undergrad/spring2004/Sh
  owman_206/

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Reading Assignment

• Section 1.6-1.8
• Box 1.2
• Box 1.3
• Section 5.1-5.4

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Grading

• Components of final course grade
• 10 Homework
• 20 In-class activities
• 25 Term Project
• 20 Midterm Exam
• 25 Final Exam
• Grade Breakdown (Percentage and/or Statistical
  Curve)
• A 90-100
• B 80-90
• C 70-80
• D 60-70
• E lt 60

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Academic Integrity

• Read the University of Arizona Code of Academic
  Integrity
• Plagiarism
• Submission of any written work that partially or
  fully duplicates material from the web, your
  fellow students, or any other source
• Collaboration
• You will work together on in-class activities and
  homework assignments
• UNIQUE WRITTEN RESPONSES MUST BE HANDED IN BY
  EACH STUDENT

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The Scientific Method

• STEP 1 Make observations
• STEP 2 Form hypothesis
• STEP 3 Create and conduct experiment
• STEP 4 Gather and analyze results
• STEP 5 Draw conclusions
• Not necessarily a step by step process
• Human pursuit to discover and understand natural
  phenomena through questioning, observation,
  experimentation, and objectivity

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Real Science

• STEP 1 Make observations
• STEP 2 Form hypothesis
• STEP 3 Create and conduct experiment
• STEP 4 Gather and analyze results
• STEP 5 Draw conclusions
• Not necessarily a step by step process
• Human pursuit to discover and understand natural
  phenomena through questioning, observation,
  experimentation, and objectivity

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Changing Nature of Science

• Limitations in data and in human understanding
  requires
• questioning
• skepticism
• objectivity
• openness to revision
• understanding that science is a process through
  which our understanding will hopefully continue
  to improve from generation to generation
• appreciation for fact that there is so much about
  which we have NO CLUE!

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Inclass Activity Checks Lab

• Randomly select 4 checks from envelope
• Complete Tentative Hypothesis 1

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Inclass Activity Checks Lab

• Randomly select 4 checks from envelope
• Complete Tentative Hypothesis 1
• Select 4 more checks
• Complete Tentative Hypothesis 2

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Inclass Activity Checks Lab

• Randomly select 4 checks from envelope
• Complete Tentative Hypothesis 1
• Select 4 more checks
• Complete Tentative Hypothesis 2
• Select 2 more checks
• Complete Tentative Hypothesis 3

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Inclass Activity Checks Lab

• Randomly select 4 checks from envelope
• Complete Tentative Hypothesis 1
• Select 4 more checks
• Complete Tentative Hypothesis 2
• Select 2 more checks
• Complete Tentative Hypothesis 3
• Collaborate with other groups
• Answer Followup Questions

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Important Elements of Scientific Process

• Tentativeness of scientific explanations
• Effects of limited data
• Importance of competing explanations
• Value of collaboration
• Influence of personal biases and experiences

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Examples of Scientific Discovery

• Plate tectonics
• Heliocentric universe
• Life on Mars
• Formation of the universe
• Genetics
• Biological evolution
• Structure and function of DNA
• Structure of the atom
• Nature of subatomic particles
• Gravity

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Tools for (Planetary) Science

• Electromagnetic Radiation Light!
• We let the universe rain its light onto our
  little planet
• We also travel to other planets to get a closer
  look
• Telescopes, cameras, radar, spectrometers,
  filters, etc
• Extraterrestrial samples
• Meteorites, micrometeorites, lunar rocks, sample
  return missions
• Earth based laboratory experiments and
  terrestrial analogues
• Scientific theory
• Fundamental forces, momentum, energy, entropy,
  etc.
• Models
• Computer simulations, mathematical models,
  predictive models

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Nature of Light
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Electromagnetic Waves
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Spectrum of Visible Light
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EM Spectrum
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Romers Observation Speed of Light