6-4 project part one
Submit your Project Part One Planning Document. For additional details, please refer to the
Project Part One Guidelines and Rubric
document.
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SCI 200 Project Part One Guidelines and Rubric
Overview
Basic scientific literacy is essential for understanding real-world applications of the natural sciences. As a consumer and voter, you will be faced with issues that
require a basic understanding of science. For example, you might ask yourself the following questions: How can genetically modified foods affect my health?
Should scientists be held liable for not predicting earthquakes that led to human casualties, as they were in Italy in 2012? Is anthropogenic climate change real?
Is fracking a concern where I live? Because of the prevalence of natural science issues such as these, it is important to understand basic natural science concepts
and how they impact our daily lives.
The project for this course has two parts. In Part One, you will conduct a research investigation that examines an issue in the natural sciences. You will identify
appropriate resources for investigating the issue you select, use these resources to develop a question related to the issue, and apply natural science principles
to the issue and question. In addition, you will identify an audience who would be interested in the selected issue. In Part Two, you will develop a presentation
for the audience you identified in Part One. In your presentation, you will explain how scientific thinking has impacted you and your audience, supporting your
claims with evidence.
Part One of this project addresses the following course outcomes:
Illustrate the impact of scientific thinking on personal and professional experiences
Select appropriate and relevant science resources in investigating contemporary issues in the natural sciences
Communicate effectively to specific audiences in examining fundamental aspects of the natural world
Apply essential principles of the natural sciences in addressing critical questions related to the natural world
Prompt
Select a contemporary issue in the natural sciences to investigate. You may select an issue that was discussed in the course, or you may select your own, with
instructor approval. You could consider using your topic and question from Perspectives in the Natural Sciences if they are something you would like to
investigate further for this project. After selecting an issue, you will conduct a research investigation, identifying appropriate resources for researching the issue,
developing a question related to the issue, and applying principles of natural science to your issue and question. You will submit your planning document as a
written report.
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Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed:
I. Introduction: In this section, you will discuss your natural science issue and select resources that you can use to research the issue. This will lead you to
the development of a research question related to your issue. Specifically, you should:
a. Describe the issue in the natural sciences that you have selected to investigate. Why is this issue significant?
b. Describe at least three science resources that you could use to investigate the issue you selected. Your sources must be relevant to your issue
and must be of an academic nature appropriate for the issue. In your description, consider questions such as: What are the similarities and
differences in the content of your sources? What makes them appropriate and relevant for investigating your issue? What was your thought
process when you were searching for sources? How did you make choices?
c. Based on your review of science resources, develop a specific question related to the issue you selected. In other words, what would you like to
know more about?
II. Body: In this section, you will use the natural science resources that you selected to investigate your question, focusing on an appropriate audience and
the scientific principles related to the issue. Make sure to cite your sources. Based on your research:
a. Identify an audience that would be interested in your issue and the question you developed. For example, who would benefit most from hearing
your message, or who could best help in addressing the issue?
b. Describe how and why you can tailor your message to your audience, providing specific examples. For example, will your audience understand
scientific terminology and principles, or will you need to explain them? How will you communicate effectively with your audience?
c. Identify the natural science principle(s) that apply to your question and issue. For example, if your issue is global climate change, the principle
you might identify is that the sun is the primary source of energy for Earth’s climate system.
d. Explain how the principle(s) you identified apply to your issue and question. In other words, how are the natural science principle(s) you
identified relevant to your question and issue?
III. Conclusion: In this section, you will conclude your research investigation by discussing future directions for the debate on your issue. Specifically, you
should:
a. Formulate a hypothesis that addresses the question you developed. Make sure your hypothesis is based on your investigation of your question.
b. Explain how a natural scientist would go about collecting evidence to support or refute the hypothesis you formulated. In other words, what
would the next steps be if a natural scientist were to continue researching your hypothesis? Make sure to support your response with the
natural science resources that you selected.
IV. Provide a reference list that includes all of the science resources you used to investigate your issue and question. Ensure that your list is formatted
according to current APA guidelines (or another format, with instructor permission).
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Project Part One Rubric
Guidelines for Submission: Your planning document should be 3–5 pages, double spaced, with 12-point Times New Roman font and one-inch margins. You
should use current APA guidelines (or another format approved by your instructor) for your citations and reference list.
Critical Elements Exemplary (100%) Proficient (85%) Needs Improvement (55%) Not Evident (0%) Value
Introduction: Issue
Meets “Proficient” criteria, and
description is exceptionally
clear and contextualized
Describes selected issue in
natural sciences and its
significance
Describes selected issue in
natural sciences and its
significance but with gaps in
detail or clarity
Does not describe selected issue
in natural sciences and its
significance
9.5
Introduction: Science
Resources
Meets “Proficient” criteria, and
description of resources
demonstrates strong
understanding of information
needed to investigate issues in
the natural sciences
Describes at least three
relevant and appropriate
science resources that could be
used to investigate selected
issue
Describes at least three science
resources that could be used to
investigate selected issue but
with gaps in appropriateness,
relevance, or detail
Does not describe at least three
science resources that could be
used to investigate selected issue
9.
5
Introduction: Specific
Question
Meets “Proficient” criteria, and
response demonstrates insight
into connection between
research and question
Develops specific question
related to selected issue and
based on review of science
resources
Develops specific question
related to selected issue, but
question is not based on review
of science resources
Does not develop specific
question related to selected issue
9.5
Body: Audience
Meets “Proficient” criteria, and
identification of audience
demonstrates insight into issue
and question
Identifies an audience that
would be interested in issue
and question, citing source(s)
Identifies an audience, but
audience is not appropriate for
issue and question, or there are
gaps in citation
Does not identify an audience 9.5
Body: Message
Meets “Proficient” criteria, and
response demonstrates
sophisticated understanding of
how to effectively
communicate with specific
audience
Describes how and why
message can be tailored to
audience, providing specific
examples and citing source(s)
Describes how and why
message can be tailored to
audience but with gaps in
examples or citation
Does not describe how and why
message can be tailored to
audience
9.5
Body: Identify
Principle(s)
Meets “Proficient” criteria, and
response demonstrates insight
into essential natural science
principles
Identifies natural science
principle(s) that apply to issue
and question, citing source(s)
Identifies natural science
principle(s) that apply to issue
and question but with gaps in
accuracy or citation
Does not identify natural science
principle(s) that apply to issue
and question
9.5
Body: Explain
Principle(s)
Meets “Proficient” criteria, and
response demonstrates insight
into essential natural science
principles
Explains how identified
principle(s) apply to issue and
question, citing source(s)
Explains how identified
principle(s) apply to issue and
question but with gaps in
detail, clarity, or citations
Does not explain how identified
principle(s) apply to issue and
question
9.5
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Critical Elements Exemplary (100%) Proficient (85%) Needs Improvement (55%) Not Evident (0%) Value
Conclusion:
Hypothesis
Meets “Proficient” criteria, and
response demonstrates
understanding of scientific
thinking
Formulates hypothesis that
addresses question and is
based on investigation of
question
Formulates hypothesis that
addresses question, but
hypothesis is not based on
investigation of question
Does not formulate hypothesis
that addresses question
9.5
Conclusion: Natural
Scientist
Meets “Proficient” criteria, and
response demonstrates
understanding of scientific
thinking
Explains how a natural scientist
would go about collecting
evidence to support or refute
hypothesis
Explains how a natural scientist
would go about collecting
evidence to support or refute
hypothesis, but explanation has
gaps in clarity, detail, or logic
Does not explain how a natural
scientist would go about
collecting evidence to support or
refute hypothesis
9.5
Reference List
Provides reference list that
includes all science resources
used to investigate issue and
question, and list is formatted
according to current APA
guidelines (100%)
Provides reference list that
includes all science resources
used to investigate issue and
question, but list has gaps in
adherence to current APA
formatting guidelines
Does not provide reference list
that includes all science resources
used to investigate issue and
question
9.5
Articulation of
Response
Submission is free of errors
related to citations, grammar,
spelling, syntax, and
organization and is presented
in a professional and easy-to-
read format
Submission has no major errors
related to citations, grammar,
spelling, syntax, or organization
Submission has major errors
related to citations, grammar,
spelling, syntax, or organization
that negatively impact
readability and articulation of
main ideas
Submission has critical errors
related to citations, grammar,
spelling, syntax, or organization
that prevent understanding of
ideas
5
Total 100%
RUNNING HEAD: ASTROMETRY 1
ASTROMETRY 2
Astrometry
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation
Date
Astrometry is the science of measuring the precise position of stars and monitoring their movements such as periodic shifts and any wobble at the stars’ positions. The specialists for the measurement of stars are referred to as astronomers, and they use a variety of techniques to track different earth objects. To find planetary items or to measure the distances of the stars, astronomers usually use telescopes or large area cameras, which are used to take clear pictures at various determined intervals (Penoyre, et al, 2020).
Then they study these images and detect solar system objects using their movements around the background of the stars because they are stagnant. Suppose any activity is observed per unit time. In that case, the astronomers look at the parallax, which could be caused by the earth movement during this time and consequently, the heliocentric distance to this object is calculated (Deller, et al, 2019). With the photographs’ help taken over a set period, and the calculations are done on the object, any unusual movement is obtained.
Astrometry is the earliest method that was used for the search of extrasolar planets. It is a very effective method because it can be applied to many stars, unlike photometry. Astrometric is significant because its measurements are used in the constrain of specific models in celestial mechanics. Besides, this technique is useful in other areas, such as galactic astronomy and stellar dynamics. It is also essential in the cosmic distance ladder because it is used to establish the parallax distance for the stars found in a milky way.
References
Deller, A. T., Goss, W. M., Brisken, W. F., Chatterjee, S., Cordes, J. M., Janssen, G. H., … & Lyne, A. (2019). Microarcsecond VLBI pulsar astrometry with PSRπ II. Parallax distances for 57 pulsars. The Astrophysical Journal, 875(2), 100. Retrieved from https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-4357/ab11c7/meta
Penoyre, Z., Belokurov, V., Wyn Evans, N., Everall, A., & Koposov, S. E. (2020). Binary deviations from single object astrometry. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 495(1), 321-337. Retrieved from
https://academic.oup.com/mnras/article-
abstract/495/1/321/5828731
Running head: ASTROMETRY PROJECT
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ASTROMETRY PROJECT 4
Astrometry Project
Name
Institution
Date
Introduction
Issue
Astrometry refers to a branch of astronomy that entails the measurement of the position and movement of the stars. Astrometry is important since the information obtained from astrometric measurements provides significant insights on the physical and kinematic origin the solar system and our galaxy. The history of astrometry dates back to 190 BC when Hipparchus discovered the precession of the earth. In this process he was also able to the brightness scale. Ptolemy who succeeded Hipparchus included a catalogue of about 1020 stars in his work, giving their brightness, location and movement. The fundamental function of astrometry is providing reference frame to astronomers to report their observations. In addition, astrometry is important in the field of galactic astronomy, celestial mechanics and stellar dynamics. Astronomers use various techniques to identify stellar objects based on their movement. Astrometry is also important for keeping time. This branch has also been used to support the concept of
extra solar planet detection
. This is achieved by measuring the displacements caused by the planets in the apparent position of their parent star on the sky.
Astrophysicists
use astrometric measurements to constrain certain celestial mechanic models.
Science Sources
The scientific sources to be utilized in the study are peer reviewed journal articles. The resources are ‘The value of astrometry for exoplanet science’ by Bendek et al. (2018), ‘Varying physical constants, astrometric anomalies, redshift and Hubble units. Galaxies’ by Gupta and ‘Astrometric solar-system anomalies and evolutionary physical constants’ by Gupta.
Bendek et al. (2018) explains the importance of astrometry. The authors weigh in the scientific potential for astrometry. This article contains significant insights concerning why the world is continuously expanding. When choosing this article I was looking for a source that would provide critical information concerning my topic. This source is well aligned with the topic hence it was selected.
Gupta, in his two articles discusses a wide range of issues pertaining astronomy. One of the main issues discussed in the articles is the concept of continuously expanding universe. This article provides significant insights concerning the continuously expanding world. As a result, it was easy to identify as it presents the contents required for the present topic. The author also focuses on the issue of universe expansion. He attempts to address solar system anomalies using the speed of light band gravitational constant bin the Einstein’s field equation. This article contains significant insights concerning why the world is continuously expanding. When choosing this article I was looking for a source that would provide critical information concerning my topic. This source is well aligned with the topic hence it was selected.
Specific Question
In the light of examining the materials above and trying to establish the existing relationship between what is in place and the content proposed in three resources, the following research question was developed; Why do Astronomers believe that the world is continuously expanding? How did they come to this conclusion?
Body
Audience
The audience that would be much interested in the issue of universe expansion is students pursuing astronomy courses. Such students are eager to learn more about the importance of astrometry and the various techniques used by astronomers to determine the speed, lightness and movements of stars. This is the right audience because whatever the research question is seeking to understand will be directly related to their field of study.
Message
Scientific terminologies will be used to explain this concept to the audience because they have basic knowledge concerning astronomy. However, terminologies that are difficult to understand will be explained in details. I will communicate effectively to the audience by using easy-to-understand language and making the message short and concise. I will also try to be as honest as possible with my audience. For instance, terms like galaxy and parallax are essential in the presentation, but they cannot be understood by every person, hence the need of having the right audience.
Identification of Principles
The principle that applies to the identified question is; “without knowing the distances to planets, satellites, stars, and galaxies, no correct understanding of the cosmos in which we live can be achieved” (Gupta, 2019). This principle has been expanded on by scientific resources in use and hence, their relevance has been understood well.
Explanation of Principles
This principle is closely and directly related to the issue addressed in this paper. The principle suggests that it is not possible to understand our own planet if we do not know the distance to stars planets and satellites. In this particular issue, we cannot be able to understand why the world is expanding continuously without first determining the distance between the earth and the celestial objects.
Conclusion
Hypothesis
The world is continuously expanding while varying the distance between earth and celestial objects.
Natural scientists
For natural scientists, there exists a number of ways through which the natural scientists can gather information and evidence in support or against the hypothesis. The first approach is through exclusively researching on the existing resources with the aim of establishing the right comparison and differences in the information presented. It is through the understanding of the available information that existing gaps in the hypothesis will be determined. In the similar way, information gathered might present enough information on ways through which the hypothesis is null. This will therefore refute the direction followed.
References
Bendek, E., Marley, M., Shao, M., Guyon, O., Belikov, R., & Tuthill, P. (2018). The value of astrometry for exoplanet science. arXiv preprint arXiv:1803.04642. Retrieved from
https://arxiv.org/abs/1803.04642
Gupta, R. P. (2019). Varying physical constants, astrometric anomalies, redshift and Hubble units. Galaxies, 7(2), 55. Retrieved from
https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4434/7/2/55
Gupta, R. P. (2019). Astrometric solar-system anomalies and evolutionary physical constants. Retrieved from
https://www.preprints.org/manuscript/201904.0121/v1
Issue
Describe issue and it’s significance here in this section (suggestion to make this about a paragraph)
Question
Add the one question that you will be researching to this section.
Science Resources
Source #1 Title, author, year of publication
Summary of resource 1 and how it is relevant to your topic (about 1 paragraph). What will you take to use from this source to help answer your research question?
Source #2 Title, author, year of publication
Summary of resource 1 and how it is relevant to your topic (about 1 paragraph). What will you take to use from this source to help answer your research question?
Source #3 Title, author, year of publication
Summary of resource 1 and how it is relevant to your topic (about 1 paragraph). What will you take to use from this source to help answer your research question?
Audience and Message
Justification of why you will be writing to a certain audience.
Description of what your message to the audience will be, and why the topic would be important or of concern to them.
Identify Principles
Describe a few principles that the audience would need to be familiar with in order to follow your work adequately. What might they need to know to get up to speed to understand your research paper? (target about 1-2 paragaprhs)
Explain Principles
Explain the principles with examples and citing sources to help the audience understand them more clearly. (target about 1-2 paragaprhs)
Hypothesis
What question can you ask as a hypothesis that ties in with your research topic as well as research question?
Conclusion
What evidence can you gather from sources that are credible to support or refute your hypothesis? What examples of evidence would a natural scientist use to evaluate the hypothesis?
Reference List
Provide the full reference for each publication that you will be using in your project.