SMFT 548 Atomic Theory September 1, 2004
“If the Universe is the answer, what
is the question?”
Leon Lederman, The God
Particle
EXERCISE: List five major questions you believe early humans probably asked about the world around them?
Discussion: What questions did you propose?
Some possible questions:
What
are the lights in the heavens?
Is
there a pattern in their movement?
How
big is the world?
What
are the forces that cause things to happen?
What
is the basic material of which things are made?
Class
Symposium: What were some of the ideas
from the Greeks that form the foundation of Science? What did each of these Greeks suggest as the nature of matter and
how the world worked? On what did they
base their ideas?
Thales ( 624-550 BC) _________________
Anaximander
( 610-~550 BC) _________________
Anaximenes
(pupil (?) of Anaximander) _________________
Heraclitus
(536-470 BC) _________________
Pythagoras
of Samos (560-480 BC) _________________
Empedocles
(490-430 BC) _________________
Parmenides(
510-440 BC) _________________
Leucippus
(? 470-390 BC) _________________
Democratus
( 460-385 BC) _________________
The Nature of Matter: What is meant by Continuous v Discontinuous?
Gathering
Information, Detecting Patterns, Interpreting Data and Building Models
Methods and
materials for making cubic centimeter and/or cubic decimeter
What volumes of
water will your sample hold?
1 cc (cubic centimeter) = _________-
1 cubic decimeter = _____________
Metric Units: Length,
Volume, Mass, Time
Gathering
Data and Building Models to Explain the Data
Laboratory 9: Building Models to
“Explain” Behavior
Challenge: You have a set of clay objects labeled A-K. Without breaking the objects, determine
whether all the objects have the same composition. In your lab book:
Describe the procedure your group will use to make that determination.
Make a table in which to systematically record the data that you obtain
and record the
data for all trials
that your group does.
Based on quantitative data you have gathered, are there patterns of
behavior that would
indicate that some of
the objects are of similar composition?
Devise a model, either verbal or pictorial, to account for the variation
in the composition
of the objects.
Demonstration: Egg Demonstration
Discussion:
How do you avoid “jumping to conclusions”/How to build scientific models?
What is a scientific model and how
does one “build” such a model?”
Define a
question.
Gather
data/Information on Observable Behavior
Look for Patterns
of Behavior
Propose a model
that will account for the behavior.
DEMO: The Golf Ball Demonstration
Laboratory 10(Done as an
AT-HOME-LAB): Did You Make the Golf
Ball Float?
Challenge: Given the materials at this station, make the golf ball
float. Describe your ideas on what
might work and record the procedure your team decides to use to attempt to
solve the problem.
Make a table in which
to systematically record the data that you obtain and record the data for all
trials that your group does.
What
models did you build to explain the data you got on the clay samples?
Discussion: Solving Problems
Find
a question or problem that needs an answer.
Example: Are all
the samples made of the same material?
Gather
all the information you can find about the situation.
Propose
an idea that you think might solve the problem.
Gather
data and keep a record of your ideas and your results.
Propose an answer to the question.
Propose a “model” to explain the
behavior of the system.
This course
explores humanity’s search for understanding the nature of the world and the
whole universe. The questions that have been raised over the centuries have led
to the development of our model for the way the world works and each of us who
teaches science at any level, K-graduate school, is attempting to bring a new
generation into humanity’s search for understanding of the nature of the
universe.
Long Distance Mystery
Solutions: Work in pairs to solve this
mystery. Three different solutions are
given out in plastic pipet dispenser bulbs A, B, and C to one member of the
pair. Plastic pipet dispenser bulbs
1,2, and 3 are given to the other member of the pair. The three containers contain the same set of solutions but not
in the same order. The student pair
must determine which of the numbered solutions matches up with the solutions
with letters.
Use the well-plate or a piece of
plastic to mix the solutions two at a time to determine the reactions that
occur with combinations of the materials.
Be sure to have an organized way to keep track of your information.
ONE CATCH: Each student will check the solutions he or she has and can only
communicate results on behavior with their partner by “text” messaging, sending
written notes sharing information. The
team has 5 “free” messages to each other, additional messages cost points.
Be ready to share your results with
the class.
Homework
Assignments
Day3 1.
Looking for Patterns: Long-term
astronomy observation exercise
2. Select one teaching experience that you have
used or that you know about that
addresses at least one of the ideas
introduced in this week’s classes.
Bring a copy of
the experience(a lab, a
demonstration, a lesson idea) to class to be shared with the
other members of the class.
2.
Read
through Chapter 3 of The God Particle and prepare for a “Class
Symposium” Assignment: Sign up to
become the “Resource Person” for one of these Natural Philosophers. Please check at least two additional sources
(in addition to Lederman.)
___________Aristotle
___________Archimedes
___________Lucretius(Roman)(~1AD)
___________Alchemy
Contributions of the Arabic World _________ Schools of Jundishapur and Bagdad
_________ Jabir ibn Hayyan(Geber) 8th century AD
_________ Al-Raze(Rhazes) 865-924 AD
_________ Avicenna
_________ Maimonides 1135-1204 AD
4.
Read the Prologue (p1-10) and pages 11-15 of Hewitt.
Laboratory
9 Building Models to “Explain” Behavior Lab Sheet
Part A:
Challenge: You have a set of clay objects labeled A-J. Without breaking the objects, determine whether all the objects
have the same composition. In your
lab book:
Describe the procedure your group will use to make that determination.
Make a table in which to systematically record the data that you obtain
and record the data for all trials that
your group does.
Based on quantitative data you have gathered, are there patterns of behavior that
would indicate that some of the objects are of similar composition?
Devise a model, either verbal or pictorial, to describe the composition
of the objects.
Laboratory
10 Make the Golf Ball Float: Notes from Bob Becker on Floating Golf Balls
(Attached)
Laboratory
11 Bob Becker’s Mystery Solutions Lab
(Attached)