Unit vi sample homework instructions imagine someone who

1. Unit VI Sample Homework
Instructions: Imagine someone who does not believe that
electricity is a real source of energy.
Write a three- to five-paragraph response in which you explain
to this person that electricity is a
source of energy. Note that this amounts to defending a very
specific thesis or a specific
conclusion: electricity is a source of energy. Your essay must
show you understand the
following concepts from Chapter 5: scientific explanation,
theory, causation, and the scientific
method (observation, experiment, and measurement). After
writing your paragraphs, fill out the
premises in the attached template. The template will help you
organize your premises (reasons for
your conclusion). Note that the words in bold denote the
concepts that need to be addressed for
this assignment.
Electricity is a real source of energy in nature. There are several
reasons for this. The scientific method
requires that we study physical phenomena through observation.
When we observe a lightning storm, we
know there is some energy force at work, and this gives us some
reason to believe electricity is a real
source of energy in nature. We can also observe electricity via
static electricity when we, for example,
walk across a carpet and touch a doorknob. The fact that we
experience both of these phenomena raises
questions as to where this energy may come from. The
explanations may even be cultural. There have

2. been several explanations as to what causes a lightning storm,
for example. In Norse mythology, for
example, lightning was a consequence of Thor using his hammer
when he fought giants. The Norse myth
is an explanation because it does tell us why there are lightning
discharges coming from the clouds. It is
not, however, a scientific explanation because it cannot be
verified by any kind of measurement or
scientific experimentation. Moreover, in order for it to be a
scientific explanation it must also be a scientific
theory or a corollary to a scientific theory. This raises the
question of how the creation of electricity is part
of a larger scientific theory.
Scientists explain the discharge of electricity in terms of atoms.
Atoms are particles with several parts.
Two of these parts are electrons and the nucleus. Electrons
revolve around the nucleus. The structure of
atoms and how electrons move is explained through atomic
theory. Atomic theory is a scientific theory,
and thus, electrons are understood theoretically. According to
scientists, electrons carry a negative
charge of electricity. The nucleus contains protons, which carry
a positive charge. According to scientists,
in some substances and under certain conditions, electrons are
discharged from the atom. It is this
discharge or movement of electrons that causes electricity.
Copper is a good conductor of electricity.
This means that electron mobility is very high in copper;
whereas, it may be lower in other metals like
brass or bronze.
Given what we know about electrons and good conductors like
copper, we can perform experiments to
show electricity can be generated, that is, to show electrons can
be discharged. Magnetism is also

3. involved in the creation of electricity. There are several easy
experiments where we can take copper wire,
a couple of magnets, and a small light bulb to show how
electrons are discharged; we can see the effect
when the light bulb lights up. Given what we know about atomic
theory, we know this discharge or
movement of electrons is caused by the movement of electrons.
Notice that this type of confirmation via
experiments also involves observation. This tells us observation
is part of the scientific method before and
during experimentation. Before we were able to see, or observe,
the effects of electricity in a
thunderstorm, and now we can also see its effects during
experimentation.
Measurement is also a part of the scientific method. In fact,
many times experimentation requires
precise measurement (Films for the Humanities & Sciences,
2008). We can measure the precise
currents of electricity and even make predictions based on these
measurements. Voltage, for example,
measures the rate at which electrons are pressured or pushed
through a current. Amps (amperes) are
units used to measure how much electrical charge is flowing
past a specific point in one second. Voltage
multiplied by amps gives us watts. The fact that these precise
measurements can be made is a way to
verify that it is, in fact, the discharge of electrons that causes
electrical current (Films for the Humanities &
Sciences, 2008).
Conclusion (scientific thesis): Premises (reasons why electricity
exists as a source of energy)

4. Electricity is a source of energy Premise 1: We observe
lightning as source of light.
Premise 2: We observe the effects of static electricity.
Premise 3: Scientists have a coherent account (via the discharge
of
electrons) as to what causes electricity.
Premise 4: We can perform experiments with copper wire to
produce electricity.
Premise 5: We can measure specific electrical flow via amps
(amperes).
Reference
Films for the Humanities & Sciences (Producer). (2008).
Electricity: Measuring voltage (Segment 5 of 9)
[Video]. In Electric Current. Films on Demand.
https://libraryresources.columbiasouthern.edu/login?auth=CAS
&url=https://fod.infobase.com/Port
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Unit VI Homework Template
Part 1:
Insert a two- to four-paragraph discussion here.
Part 2:

5. Conclusion (scientific thesis):
Premises (reasons why gravity exists)
Gravity is a force in nature