PSC1121: PHYSICAL SCIENCE (Physics in Films). ASSIGNMENT: “THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD”. Deadline: Monday February 24 2014

Before starting the assignment you should have read Chapter 1 from your book and/or your Instructor’s notes and you should have understood the concept of the Scientific Method and the difference between Science and Pseudoscience. Choose and watch one the following movies (or another movie of your own interest related to the topic of the Scientific Method and/or Science and Pseudoscience. A number of the movies listed below are available at “YouTube”. Then write an essay where among others you:

• Describe how Pseudoscience appears in the movie and who claims such beliefs. • Describe how the Scientific Method is used or could be used to explain the topic of interest in the film. • Feel free to express your opinions and expand to the topic as you wish. • If applicable, describe situations from your personal life where you or someone else used the scientific method and/or another situation where you (or someone else) became victims of pseudoscience.

“The Name of the Rose” (1989) with Sean Connery, Christian Slater. Warner Home Video.

The movie is about a murder mystery during the Medieval Ages, taking place in an Italian monastery. Pay attention to the various characters appearing in the movie (the monks, the Holy Inquisitor, the Franciscan monk William of Baskerville etc) and to the way they are trying to explain the happenings in the convent. How is the Scientific method being used?

“The Happening” (2008) with Mark Wahlberg, Zooey Deschanel, 20 th Century Fox.

The plot of the film revolves around a (World Wide?) epidemic leading humans to suicide and loss of consciousness. How is the Scientific Method used or could be used in the film? Can you distinguish any pseudoscience appearing in the movie?

“Detective Dee and the Mystery of Phantom Flame” (2012) with Mark Andy Lau, Carina Lau. Vivendi Entertainment.

This is Chinese action movie. The film is about a series of bizarre murders in Medieval China involving spontaneous combustion. A medieval Chinese Knight turned investigator is called to solve the crime. Distinguish between Scientific and pseudoscientific beliefs among the various movie characters related to the murders. Who is using the Scientific Method and how, in order to solve the mystery?

“Sherlock Holmes” (2009) Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law. Warner Brothers.

Detective Sherlock Holmes along with his partner Dr. Watson are after a serial murderer. The culprit Blackwood is finally arrested sentenced to death and executed. However after a series of events his tomb is found empty and rumors of a living dead Blackwood are circulating. Holmes and Dr. Watson are set to solve the mystery. Are there any pseudoscientific events in the film? Is Holmes using the Scientific Method to solve the mystery of living dead Blackwood??

“Apollo 18” (2012) with Warren Christie, Lloyd Owen. The Weinstein Company.

The film presents an alternate version of the Apollo 18 mission to the Moon. The mission fails because of alien parasites supposedly occupying the Moon. The parasites thwart the Apollo Mission and present a danger to humanity. Do you see any pseudoscientific theories in the movie? Could these “theories” have been tested for the validity?

“Red Lights” (2012) with Sigourney Weaver, Robert De Niro, Millennium Entertainment.

In the movie a Scientist (Psychologist) with her assistant are investigating Paranormal Phenomena. Is the claim of such phenomena scientific or Pseudoscientific? Could the Scientific Method be employed to provide evidence for their validity and how

INSTRUCTIONS AND COMMENTS:

• Your report should be more than one and a half page, but not more than four pages. It should be single spaced. • Your paper must be submitted through TurnItIn where it will be checked for plagiarism. Your Instructor in the syllabus has written the TurnItIn class Key and password. • You will not be penalized for personal statements and /or beliefs even if they are contrary to science and to the scientific method. The assignment is open to a constructive dialog on the issue. • The assignments will be ranked as excellent (100%), acceptable (50%) and unacceptable (0%). The more effort you make the higher the credit. As you see I give most of the points as an effort to boost your final grade. Therefore make an effort to produce an original work within the allocated time. Requests for assignment extensions will not be entertained. • Do not plagiarize. A student is expected to uphold the rules of ethics and Academic Integrity.