SCNC1112

Introducing Science and

Course Overview
 The One Idea:

Science is the best tool to explore nature over all

length scale, all time scale and all energy scale.
 Outline of this lecture
• Describing nature in different length scale
• Describing nature in different time scale
• Describing nature in different energy scale
 Neutrons
Galaxies

Graphene
Sun-Earth system

Ocean wave

E.Coli bacteria

Hummingbird
 Radius of a proton Hubble Scale
(0.85 x 10-15m) (~ 1026m)

Error of
measurement
~0.5%

Size of observable universe:

Age of universe (~14 billion years)x
Size of proton measured by laser speed of light (c)
spectroscopy of “muonic hydrogen”

While the exact

value may not
matter,
quantitative
arguments do.
 Planck Scale Hubble Scale
(~ 10-35m) (~ 1026m)

Length scale in which current Size of observable universe:

theories of Quantum Mechanics Age of universe (~14 billion years)x
and Gravity cannot co-exist speed of light (c)

While the exact

value may not
matter,
quantitative
arguments do.
Life
(~ 10-5m, or 10 m)
 The Powers of Ten film
• Made in 1977 by the Eames Office and still very enjoyable!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fKBhvDjuy0
• An updated remake by the National Air and Space Museum a
few years ago: Cosmic Voyage
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-xcc2vGE7s
• Power of ten website: http://htwins.net/scale2/

“Eventually everything
connects – people, ideas,
objects”
Charles and Ray Eames
 Scientific Notation

1 km = 103 m = 1,000 m (3 zeros)

1 m = 10-6 m = 0.000001 m (6 decimal places)
 Understanding nature
Planet Earth and
Fundamental structure
the Universe
of matter

From atoms to
nanoscience

Living organism:
its mechanism,
origin, and
interaction with
its environment
 Understanding nature
Planet Earth and
the Universe ? Fundamental structure
of matter

From atoms to
nanoscience

Living organism:
its mechanism,
origin, and
interaction with
its environment
 Understanding nature
• Time: another perspective for exploring different phenomena

The Big History of the

Earth and Life on Earth
 Understanding nature
• Time: another perspective for exploring different phenomena
The Big History of
13.6 Billion the Universe
years
Time since big bang
 Understanding nature
• Time: another perspective for exploring different phenomena
Quantum vibration in ammonia
Orbital period of the Sun around (NH3) molecule: 2.1 x 10-11 s
Milky Way: 220 million years

Migrations of homo sapiens out of

Africa: 200,000 years ago Functioning of nerve cells:
Homo sapiens
Neanderthals
2 x 10-3 s
Early Hominids

Ray of light travels from the Sun

Full cycle of large water currents to the Earth and back: 998 sec =
on Earth: 1,000 years 16min 38 sec
 The Cool Down of the Universe

T = 5108K T = 3000K T = 2.72548

± 0.00057K

Temperature is directly related to energy

15
 Neutrons:
Galaxies:
How do we know they are
What caused galaxies to have
made of three quarks?
different shapes?

Graphene:
Sun-Earth system: Why does it have such electric
What’s the role of the Earth’s and mechanical properties?
magnetic field?

Ocean wave:
How do these waves affect the
Earth’s temperature?

E.Coli bacteria:
Why some E.coli were so
Hummingbird: harmful to human?
How can they maintain this
“suspension in air” position?
 Neutrons:
Galaxies:
Why neutron weighs much
How long does it take the
more than its three quarks?
galaxies to form?

What is science?
Graphene:
Sun-Earth system: What kind of applications does
Science is a way of asking and
What is the best way to extract
energy coming from the Sun?
it have?

answering questions about the

Ocean wave:
Where does the Earth get the
natural world.
energy to initiate the waves?

E.Coli bacteria:
What are the biochemical
Hummingbird: processes going on inside?
What dictates their bright
colors?
 What’s not science:
Pseudoscience
• Astrology / Numerology: is a legitimate theory but
proven to be wrong
• UFO (unidentified flying objects): lack of supporting
evidence
• ESP (extra-sensory perception): lack of supporting
evidence
• Feng Shui (風水): can be falsified
 What’s not science:
Limitations of science
• Languages: self consistent expression for
communication
• Artistic expressions: music, art, drama are not
subjected to scientific testing
• Criteria: efficiency, beauty, expressiveness (power)
• Ethics (even though science often provides the
background context in helping us make ethical
decisions)
 The One Idea:
Science is the best tool to explore nature over all
length scale, all time scale and all energy scale.

The idealized
scientific
method

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