Science 3204: Exam 1 - Science, Aether, Pulsars

These flashcards cover key concepts related to the science of electromagnetism and advancements in astronomy, particularly focusing on the theories of aether and the discovery of pulsars.

Theory in science is defined as __________, while in general conversation, it is often considered a __________.

a well-established understanding of a phenomenon; guess or hunch

The significance of Maxwell's work lies in his analysis of __________, which led to __________.

light as an electromagnetic wave; Michelson + Morley's experiment on aether

Hertz's work is significant because he studied __________ and __________.

the creation; detection of electromagnetic waves

A solar day is roughly __________ hours long, while a sidereal day is about __________ and is significant for scientists because __________.

24; 23 hours and 56 minutes; it accounts for Earth’s rotation around the sun

Astronomers are interested in studying objects in more than one __________ frequency range because __________.

electromagnetic; it provides a comprehensive understanding of the objects

Astronomers turned to radio waves after optical observations because __________.

they could detect signals that are not visible in optical light.

The new equipment used in the accidental discovery of pulsars was notable for __________.

its ability to detect very consistent radio signals at specific intervals.

The property of waves that Michelson and Morley exploited in their ether experiment was __________.

interference.

Michelson and Morley designed their instrument to increase signal strength by __________ and __________.

bouncing light; rotating the device.

The ether was supposed to be __________ for transmitting electromagnetic waves, and they expected __________.

the medium; some sort of measurable change.

The outcome of Michelson and Morley's experiment indicated __________, which led to the conclusion that __________.

no changes in their measurements; aether does not exist.

The implications of the aether experiment's outcome were profound, leading to __________ and influencing __________.

doubts about the existence of aether; Einstein's theory of special relativity.

Jansky's discovery of radio waves from space occurred after __________ and before __________.

Hertz's publication on electromagnetic waves; Michelson and Morley's publication on aether.

The discovery of pulsars happened in conjunction with __________, and was facilitated by the development of __________.

big dish astronomy; aperture synthesis radio telescopes.