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From: robison@eosp1.UUCP (Tobias D. Robison)
Newsgroups: net.ai
Subject: Re: Information sciences vs. physical sc - (nf)
Message-ID: <466@eosp1.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 21-Dec-83 22:49:32 EST
Article-I.D.: eosp1.466
Posted: Wed Dec 21 22:49:32 1983
Date-Received: Fri, 23-Dec-83 01:32:46 EST
References: <4598@uiucdcs.UUCP>
Organization: Exxon Office Systems, Princeton, NJ
Lines: 34

I disagree -  astronomy IS an experimental science.  Even before the
age of space rockets, some celebrated astronomical experiments have
been performed.  In astronomy, as in all sciences, one observes,
makes hypotheses, and then tries to verify the hypotheses by
observation.  In chemistry and physics, a lot of attention is paid
to setting up an experiment, as well as observing the experiment;
in astronomy (geologoy as well!), experiments consist mostly
of observation, since there is hardly anything that people are capable
of setting up.  Here are some pertinent examples:

(1) An experiment to test a theory about the composition of the sun has
been going on for several years.  It consists of an attempt to trap
neutrinos from the sun in a pool of chlorine underground.  The amount
of neutrinos detected has been about 1/4 of what was predicted, leading
to new suggestions about both the composition of the sun,
and (in particle physics) the phyisical properties of neutrinos.

(2) An experiment to verify Einstein's theory of relativity,
particularly the hypothesis that the presence of large masses curves
space (gravitational relativity) -- Measurements of Mercury's apparent
position, during an eclipse of the sun, were in error to a degree
consistent with Einstein's theory.

Obviously, Astronomical experiments will seem to lie half in the realm
of physics, since the theories of physics are the tools with which we
try to understand the skies.

Astromoers and phyisicists, please help me out here; I'm neither.
In fact, I don't even believe in neutrinos.

				- Keremath,  care of:
				  Robison
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