CHAPTER 1 Thinking Like an Astronomer LEARNING OBJECTIVES 1.1 Earth Occupies a Small Place in the Universe 1.1a State our “cosmic address.” 1.1b Express astronomical distances and distance scales. 1.1c Explain basic astronomical terms and concepts. 1.2 Science Is a Way of Viewing the Universe 1.2a Explain the scientific usage of the terms fact, idea, hypothesis, theory, and law. 1.2b Distinguish between the common meanings of the terms fact, idea, hypothesis, theory, and law, and their scientific meanings. 1.2c Describe the steps of the scientific method. 1.2d Assess whether a given statement is scientific. 1.2e Demonstrate that scientific knowledge is provisional. 1.2f Explain the significance of the cosmological principle. 1.2g Evaluate competing hypotheses using Occam’s razor. 1.3 Astronomers Use Mathematics to Find Patterns 1.3a Identify patterns in nature. 1.3b Explain how natural patterns imply underlying physical laws. Working it Out 1.1 Mathematical Tools Working It Out 1.1a Express numbers in scientific and standard notation. Working It Out 1.1b Describe the physical properties of objects using ratios. Working It Out 1.1c Predict the change in proportional quantities with respect to each other. Working it Out 1.2 Reading a Graph Working It Out 1.2a Identify the major features of a graph: x-axis, y-axis, x scale, y scale, data points, slope. Working It Out 1.2b Assess different curves on a graph. Working It Out 1.2c Demonstrate the ability to read data from a graph. Origins 1 An Introduction Origins 1a Explain the goals and scope of the field of astrobiology.