MARS 2310 Lesson 1

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University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley *

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3301

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Geography

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Feb 20, 2024

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Lesson 1- Formation of the Earth. (4 questions) 1. What were some of the difficulties that hampered ocean exploration during the time of the ancient Greeks and Polynesians? One of the challenges faced by the ancient Greeks that hindered ocean exploration at that time was their fear of traveling beyond the sight of land. Their maps of the world were incredibly accurate but did not go beyond Gibraltar. The ancient Greeks and Romans believed that there was a great river that encircled the world beyond the sight of land. The challenges that Polynesians faced were largely due to their form of navigating the vast ocean. Their form of exploration later improved but until the mid to late 1700s, they solely relied on hoping to bump into land. 2. Why was it important to have determined the circumference of the Earth? Determining the circumference of the Earth was incredibly crucial because the development of the navigational principles significantly depended on that measurement. After determining Earth’s circumference, determining accurate locations on Earth was achieved. This led to being able to establish a coordinate system that led to the development of accurate maps and models of Earth. Travel distances/ destinations were more efficiently planned and safer. 3. Why was it a technological difficulty to keep accurate time at sea? Why did most clocks in the eighteenth-century work only on land? The reason why it was technologically difficult to keep accurate time at sea was due to environmental conditions and the fact that early clocks relied on pendulums. The unpredictable motion/ movement of a ship at sea disrupted the mechanism of a pendulum clock. Scientific advancement eventually led to the development of the chronometer or “accurate clock” which were far more reliable as they were unsusceptible to the unpredictable conditions of the sea.

4. Why is so little known about the voyages of the Chinese? The Vikings? What are some of the reasons for the relative obscurity and lack of appreciation for the significance of the U.S. Exploring Expedition? The voyages of the Chinese were not conducted as a form of ocean exploration, they were a form of spreading Chinese cultural and scientific findings to other places. After explorer Zheng died, these explorations came to a halt due to political and other unclear reasons. The relative obscurity and lack of appreciation for the significance of the U.S. Exploring Expedition can be attributed to the fact that the Vikings had already done that. The Vikings had already been to North America various times. Lesson 2- (4 questions) 1. Why do you think Aristotle’s theory of gravity held sway for some 1800 years, until the time of Galileo? Can you explain the current theory of gravity? Aristotle’s early theory of gravity stated that heavier objects would fall at a much greater speed than lighter objects. This theory at that time was accepted and not questioned/tested because Aristotle was regarded highly by the general public and other great minds. It was not until Galileo changed the world’s perspective and developed a new theory of gravity that would eventually be quantified by Newton. The current theory of gravity is based on Enstien’s theory of relativity. The fundamentals of this theory fall upon space and time rather than mass. 2. What can you think of that are examples of exploration and discovery? Can you give some examples of Kuhn’s “perceptual gestalt”? Examples of exploration that come to mind are the Polynesians wandering the ocean rather than just staying near land. They just went and adventured the ocean until discovering a

mass of land. An example of Kuhn’s perceptual gestalt would be the cartographer’s instant interpretation of contour lines on a topographic map. 3. Explain how we know that an object in space that is “red shifted” is moving away from us? The red shift principle is explained/based on the Doppler Effect. The Doppler Effect essentially is the change of frequency of a wave due to the wave moving away or towards the individual. An example of this would be hearing a siren and hearing how close or distant the pitch/siren is. When light is emitted by a star and received on Earth the degree at which the light is red-shifted will indicate the speed at which it is progressing away from the observer. 4. What are nebulae, and how do stars form in them? Nebulae (plural for nebula) can derive from the gas and dust that is emitted by the explosion of a dying star (Supernova). Stars are formed in nebular due to the matter that co-attracts and condenses leading to their formation. Nebulae are essentially regions where multiple stars can form and lead to the creation of a galaxy. Such as the Milky way.

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MARS 2310 Lesson 1

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