AST- 105 1st EditionLecture 2Outline of Last LectureI. Sun and EarthII. The Scientific MethodIII. ConstellationsOutline of Current Lecture I. Astronomy vs. AstrologyII. The Rules of Scientific NotationIII. Light and MatterCurrent LectureI. Astronomy vs. Astrology a. Astrology- horoscopes, psychic readings, etc. i. Astrology is an ancient superstition not based on the scientific method. It is not tested by observation or experiment. b. Astronomy- a natural science that is the study of celestial objectsi. Astronomy is a modern science based on the laws of physics and verified by observation and experiment. II. The Rules of Scientific Notationa. Scientific Notation- a special way of writing numbers that are too large to be written in decimal form.i. Rule for Large Numbers:1. Insert a new decimal point so that the number is greater than or equal to 1 and greater than 10. 2. Count the number of places to the right of the decimal.a. This is the exponent of 10. ii. Rule for Small Numbers:1. Insert a new decimal point so that the first nonzero digit is greater than or equal to 1 and greater than 10. 2. Count the number of places to the left of the decimal. a. This is the negative exponent. III. Light and Mattera. Radiation- a means of transporting energy across space.i. Astronomers learn about the universe by analyzing radiation received.b. Light is a form of electromagnetic radiation: Electric and magnetic disturbances that travel as a wave through space. c. Light has properties of both waves and particles. d. The Speed of Lighti. c = 186,000 miles/secondc = 300,000 km/sc = 3 x 10^5 km/sc = 3 x 10 ^8 m/sii. The speed of light is the absolutely speed limit of the universe. Nothing can travel
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