Procedures in the Physical Sciences (Essay Sample)

Procedures in the Physical Sciences
Name:
Institution: Procedures in the Physical Sciences
Physical sciences entail the study of chemistry and physics of the natural world. In addition, physical sciences encompass the logical study of naturally existing inorganic objects. General principles pertaining to the study of physical sciences rely upon various theories and key concepts, which attempt to explain the behavioral characteristics of nonliving objects in nature. Physics, chemistry and mathematics are the basic sciences that make possible the study of other natural sciences, such as geology, astronomy, and earth science. Studies in physical sciences previously faced challenges especially in observation and study of dangerous objects and celestial bodies. With modern technological advancement, it has become safer and more effective to study previously unsafe objects with precision.
Part 1: Challenges in Making Direct Measurements
In the past, making direct measurements in the fields of earth sciences, physics, chemistry, and astronomy faced numerous challenges that limited their observational study. These challenges prompted scientists to come up with indirect forms of measurement to make the studies possible. Traditionally, human beings have always sought answers to the diverse scope of the natural world, for example, the Earth’s size, depth of the sea, and location of the stars. Initially, scientists had the challenge of direct determination of distances of planets and stars from the Earth. This made observation of stars, moon, galaxies, and nebulae limited (Shipman, Wilson, & Higgins, 2012). To overcome this challenge, scientists came up with safe and simple indirect techniques to determine distances. For example, the use of luminosity and brightness of astronomical objects helped in deducing accurate distances of celestial bodies. Luminosity involves the measurement of the amount of energy or light emitted by all forms of matter in the universe. In this case, the distance of Sun from the Earth was determined by measuring the duration light takes to travel to the Earth. The uncertainty principle posed another challenge. In quantum study of mechanics, the principle refers to mathematical inequalities that create a limit to the precision that enables simultaneous determination of physical properties of paired components (variables) of an object (Shipman, Wilson, & Higgins, 2012). Consequently, precise determination of object positions led to less precision in deducing momentum of the object. This made determination of quantum properties of matter difficult, prompting the use of variables as an indirect method. Predicting earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, explosions, and anticipated effects was another challenge faced by scientists. Earthquakes occur due to movement of tectonic plates along the fault lines located many kilometers beneath the earth’s surface. Because they could not measure these distances directly, scientists devised the use of indirect techniques. This involved the determination of the amount of energy released along fault lines during tectonic plate movements. Studying of seismic waves also enhanced the study of earth properties. Through this indirect method, seismologists were able to predict earthquakes as well as their anticipated effects.
An important historical technique that enhanced the study of physical sciences was the use of laws of refraction. Muslim scientists revolutionized the importance of experimental studies that helped in understanding scientific methodologies. Laws of refraction originated from these experiments. Refraction is a surface phenomenon that refers to a change in the direction of a wave when moving from one medium of transmission to another (Sharma, 2006). The phase velocity of a wave alters, creating a change in the direction at the boundary. In this case, the frequency remains constant, while the wavelength either increases or decreases. Muslim scientists provided an outstanding empirical evidence of the intromission theory of light (Sharma, 2006). This discovery made the study of physical sciences easy; for example, study of water bodies to determine their depths, pressure, and magnification of objects. Additionally, refraction of sound in the atmosphere found use in designing of highways especially in addressing the effects of sound rays that bend in the lower atmosphere. Optics evolved into concepts that led to the invention of the refracting telescope and lenses used in observational studies. Geometry was another important historical technique that revolutionized the study of physical sciences. Geometry is the branch of mathematics involved with measurements, surveying, and mapping (Mackey, 2010). Initially, geometry was concerned with practical knowledge, such as determination of volumes, areas, and lengths of objects. Angles play a vital role in the study of geometry, making it easy to determine positions of objects. By deducing the angle between objects, it is possible to measure their exact positions irrespective of distance. In the same way, it is possible to determine the angle of objects based on their relative positions. A major source of geometric problems was in the mapping of positions of celestial bodies in the universe. The use of dimensions contributed to the discovery of formulas that led to the innovation of the Pythagorean Theorem, circumference, and area of objects, making it easy to compute the exact properties of previously indeterminable objects.
Part 2: Safety Survey
Researchers are highly exposed to injurious rays that may affect them by bombarding the body...