PRE VNOS/VOSI-ASTR

Barbara

1. In your view, what is astronomy and how is it different from other sciences?

Astronomy is the study of the universe – the stars, the planets, the interstellar matter and all other matter.

It is different than other sciences because it is difficult to determine exact answers – distances, mass, forces etc. Also, much of what you study now is from the past.

2. What does a star look like? How certain are astronomers about the structure of a star? What specific evidence do you think astronomers used to determine what a star looks like?

A star looks like a ball of gas. It does not have a definite outer border. Astronomers are fairly certain of the composition of the stars by looking at it through a spectroscope and seeing the absorption & emission lines. Telescopes are also help to determine the shape & structure.

3. Some astronomers believe that the universe will expand forever; others believe that it will stop expanding and start contracting, and some believe that it will expand until it gradually stops but will not contact. How are these different conclusions possible if all astronomers are looking at the same observations and data?

All of these theories are possible because there is usually no way to fully understand the explosion and creation of the universe because of the vast distance of matter and the fact that what is way out there is really in the past.

1 4. Does the development of scientific knowledge, including astronomy, require experiments? a) If yes, explain why and give an example to defend your answer.

Yes. I said, “yes” in a general matter. It doesn’t always require experiments like scales, test tubes, and microscopes – sometimes it involves numerous calculations and manipulations of other’s data and conclusions. b) If no, explain why and give an example to defend your answer.

5. What types of activities do astronomers do to learn about the universe? Be specific about how they go about their work.

Astronomers use spectroscopy to look at absorption & emission lines to determine composition. They also use extremely powerful telescopes to determine shape & structure. The telescope results can also be used w/other mathematical techniques to determine distance.

6. What astronomers choose to study and how they learn about the universe may be influenced by a variety of factors. How do astronomers decide what and how to investigate? Describe all the factors you think influence the work of astronomers. Be as specific as possible.

Astronomers choose to study things that interest them or what may be the main focus of their lab or university department. They may also have limitations based on available equipment. Astronomers use scientific inquiry to determine how to investigate.

2 7. a) Write a definition of an scientific astronomical observation.

A “S.A.O.” is an observation of some astronomical phenomenon discovered during a scientific investigation.

b) Give an example from something you have done or heard about in astronomy that illustrates your definition of a scientific astronomical observation?

Seeing a comet across the night sky while stargazing.

c) Explain why you consider your example to be a scientific astronomical observation.

Because it is an observation in the universe I saw during a scientific assignment.

8. An astronomer notices that with their unaided eye they see more blue stars in the night sky than red stars. Using a telescope they also find more blue stars than red stars. This person concludes that blue stars are more common than red stars. a) Do you consider this person’s investigation to be scientific? Explain why or why not.

No. It involved only one aspect of an inquiry – visual. b) If you do not think their work was scientific, how would you change the investigation to be scientific?

Look at it in other ways – not just visual.

9. Some people have claimed that all scientific investigations, including astronomy, must follow the same general set of steps, or methods, to be considered science. Others have claimed there are different general methods that scientific investigations can follow. What to you think and why?

There are different general methods that scientific investigations can follow. Science is a general term – they are not all looked at the same.

3 10. a) If several astronomers, working independently, ask the same question (for example, what was the Universe like 10 billion years ago?) will they necessarily come to the same conclusions? Explain why or why not.

No, there are different ways to look at it and we can’t really prove either right or wrong, just theorize.

b) Does your response to a) change if the astronomers are working together? Explain.

No.

11. a) What does the term “data” mean in astronomy?

Collected numbers & observations.

b) Is “data” the same or different from “evidence”? Explain.

Different.

12. a) What is “astronomical data analysis”?

Analyzing data furnished by astronomy.

b) What is involved in doing “astronomical data analysis”?

Observations & Measurements & Drawing conclusions.

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