Assignment 1 - Due 2/19/2002

 

Please write all answers in complete sentences, and use proper grammar and spelling!

• A student walks into this class soaking wet.  Imagine at least four ways (hypotheses) that the student could have gotten wet.  For each idea, can you find a test to prove or disprove each hypothesis?  Assume that you cannot speak to the student: you have to find out using experiments or observations.
  
  
  
• Find an example, from either historical or current events, of when an "expert" said something that was totally wrong.
  
  
  
• The logical fallacy known as ad hominem attacks are very common in the United States today.  Find an example of an ad hominem attack in a news article (Be sure to bring in the article).  Articles about politics are a good source of these.
  
  
  
• Go to the class website at  http://burro.astr.cwru.edu/johnf/clc.html  and look up the link to the Astronomy Picture of the Day website.  What picture is displayed there on the date you did this assignment?  Be sure to give the date.  Also, using the calendar link on that web page, what picture was available on March 25, 2001?
  
  
  
• Go to the following web site:  http://www.badastronomy.com/bad/misc/badpole.html   Summarize the misconception that is discussed on this web page.  Do you know anybody (including yourself or your friends and family) that has this misconception?
  
  
  
• Finally, write a paragraph telling me exactly what you would like to learn about in each of the two topics that were chosen in class.  Be as specific as you can, so I can better plan this course!