Thursday, June 5, 2008

FINAL EXAM Question 2

(1) The Big Bang is a cosmological model of the universe that has become well supported by several independent observations. After Edwin Hubble discovered that galactic distances were generally proportional to their redshifts in 1929, this observation was taken to indicate that the universe is expanding. If the universe is seen to be expanding today, then it must have been smaller, denser, and hotter in the past. This idea has been considered in detail all the way back to extreme densities and temperatures, and the resulting conclusions have been found to conform very closely to what is observed.Ironically, the term 'Big Bang' was first coined by Fred Hoyle in a derisory statement seeking to belittle the credibility of the theory that he did not believe to be true. However, the discovery of the cosmic microwave background in 1964 was taken as almost undeniable support for the Big Bang.Analysis of the spectrum of light from distant galaxies reveals a shift towards longer wavelengths proportional to each galaxy's distance in a relationship described by Hubble's law, which is taken to indicate that the universe is undergoing a continuous expansion. Furthermore, the cosmic microwave background radiation discovered in 1964 provides strong evidence that due to the expansion, the universe has naturally cooled from an extremely hot, dense initial state. The discovery of the cosmic microwave background led to almost universal acceptance among physicists, astronomers, and astrophysicists that the Big Bang describes the evolution of the universe quite well, at least in its broad outline.Further evidence supporting the Big Bang model comes from the relative proportion of light elements in the universe. The observed abundances of hydrogen and helium throughout the cosmos closely match the calculated predictions for the formation of these elements from nuclear processes in the rapidly expanding and cooling first minutes of the universe, as logically and quantitatively detailed according to Big Bang nucleosynthesis.However, there are mysteries of the universe that are not explained by the Big Bang model alone. For example, a region of the universe 12 billion lightyears distant in one direction appears little different than a region 12 billion lightyears distant in the opposite direction. But since the universe is 'only' around 13.7 billion years old, it would appear these regions could never have been causally connected. How, then, can they be so similar? Alan Guth's 1981 theory of cosmic inflation, a short, sudden burst of extreme exponential expansion in the very early universe, provided an explanation for this horizon problem and several of the features unaccounted for by the original Big Bang model. The successor to Guth's original theory has found some circumstantial support, but it is not yet nearly as well supported as the Big Bang model.

Some people say that we shouldn't be spending all of this money on space technology. They say that we should be spending that money on medical things, but what people don't realize is that the things we build for space is tested on medical purposes when we are done with it. People might think that we should be using the technology for direct use with diseases and other medical purposes. What people don't get is that we use information about space and our discovery's to help find cures for diseases. (2) The core democratic value common good is used in this debate because the space program is doing the best things possible to help people. other people think that we should spend more money on the space program because of all the things that we have learned and will continue to learn. They think that if we spent more money on space then we might be able to find the cure to cancer or even be able to live on other planets.
(2) This would be an example of the core democratic value the pursuit of happiness. This is an example of this because if we could find the cure to cancer then we would all be very happy.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
(1) www.wikipedia.org
(2)www.classroomhelp.com










FINAL EXAM Question 1

(1) In plate tectonics, a divergent boundary is a linear feature that exists between two tectonic plates that are moving away from each other. These areas can form in the middle of continents but eventually form ocean basins. Divergent boundaries within continents initially produce rifts that produce rift valleys. If the rifting process stops, a failed rift results. Therefore, most active divergent plate boundaries exist between oceanic plates and are often called oceanic rifts. The average rate of movement is comparable to how fast human fingernails grow, which is about 2 cm a year. A transform fault is a fault that runs along the boundary of a tectonic plate. The relative motion of such plates is horizontal in either sinistral or dextral direction. Typically, some vertical motion may also exist, but the principal vectors in a transform fault are oriented horizontally. Not all faults are transform faults, and not all plate boundaries are transform faults.Most transform faults are found on the ocean floor, where they often offset active spreading ridges to form a zigzag plate. With a transform fault the movement of the plates is a left to right lateral movement. A convergent boundary is an actively deforming region where two or more tectonic plates or fragments of lithosphere move toward one another and collide.When two plates move toward one another, they form either a subduction zone or a continental collision. This depends on the nature of the plates involved. In a subduction zone, the subducting plate, which is normally a plate with oceanic crust, moves beneath the other plate, which can be made of either oceanic or continental crust. During collisions between two continental plates, large mountain ranges, such as the Himalayans.

(2) Some people say that the earthquake that caused the tsunami in Indonesia could have been prevented. Tsunamis cannot be prevented or precisely predicted, but there are some warning signs of an impending tsunami, and there are many systems being developed and in use to reduce the damage from tsunamis. In instances where the leading edge of the tsunami wave is its trough, the sea will recede from the coast half of the wave's period before the wave's arrival. If the slope is shallow, this recession can exceed many hundreds of metres. People unaware of the danger may remain at the shore due to curiosity. A pro argument might be that people have the right to life. (3) This means that if scientist can predict a tsunami and don't then they are violating peoples right to life. Some people say that the government new about the tsunami but didn't tell the people. (3) If this was true then the government would have been violating the peoples core democratic value truth. However, some people say that you can't predict earthquakes that produce tsunamis. They say that earthquakes and tsunami 's are random and can't possibly predicted. (3) The core democratic value that backs this up is common good. A second reason that people say that the tsunami couldn't be predicted is the fact that it happened way out in the middle of the ocean. (3) Truth would be an example of a core democratic value that would back up this statement. (3) If the government lies about not being able to predict this then they would be violating the right to truth.

BIBLIOGRAPHY (1) www.wikipedia.org
(2) www.experiencefestival.com
(3) www.classroomhelp.com




Monday, April 21, 2008

Olympus mons

The caldera at the peak of the volcano was formed after volcanism ceased and the roof of the emptied magma chamber collapsed. During the collapse the surface became extended and formed fractures. Later additional caldera collapses were formed due to subsequent lava production. These overlapped the original circular caldera, giving the edge a less symmetrical appearance.

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Mars Atmosphere

The atmosphere on mars consists of 95% carbon dioxide, 3% nitrogen, 1.6% argon, and contains traces of oxygen and water.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Cold Mars Temps

Mars is COLD! Even in mid summer temperatures rarely exceed 65 degrees. Just a few inches above the surface the temp drops sharply. At night temp will fall to -100 degrees. In mid winter at the poles the temp will reach -200 degrees.

Mars Weather

It cannot rain on mars. Because of the Temperatures and pressures of the Martian atmosphere, water can only exist as vapor or as ice. In the winter, a kind of snow made of solid carbon dioxide sometimes falls near the Martian poles.