Assignment #1

Introduction to Physics (Physics 1010)

Adam Johnston

Due: Friday, September 5th

 

Part I: Survey

Go to the web page: http://stilt.genetics.utah.edu/lessons/unit_two/

On this page you will find a set of lessons for learning something about genetics and addictions.  You are free to explore these pages as you please (the “Rat Race” link is especially entertaining), but the item that concerns this assignment is a questionnaire that gets at your ideas about how science works in general.

Under the “Engagement” heading, select the link “Nature of science pre-assessment.”  Upon doing this, you will be asked for your name, followed by your city.  Select “Ogden, UT” as your city, so that you will then be able to select Weber State as your school, “Johnston, A.” as your instructor, and “Intro Physics 1010” as your class.  (If you don’t see all of these options immediately, don’t worry, they’ll pop up after you’ve entered the city, followed by the school, etc.).  Continue through all of the prompts, questions, and responses.  All told, this should take you about 30 minutes to complete.  When you are finished, you may explore the remainder of this particular site, although you are not required to do so.

The survey program will record your participation so that the instructor can give you credit for this part of the assignment.  Your individual responses will not be graded.  These are simply meant to get you to start thinking about what science is and how it works.

  

Part II: The scientific method?

Spielberg and Anderson describe some of the scientific method in the first chapter, especially on page 12.  There they state, “. . . despite the ambiguities and inconsistencies of individual scientists in their own ways, the demands of the scientific method enumerated above must be satisfied.”  What on earth do they mean by this?  Explain why it’s permissible for an individual scientist to have “ambiguities and inconsistencies” and still be a part of the scientific process.

Your answer should be legible (typed would be great!) and will probably be about half a page in length.