Too often I find myself attacked for ‘scientific narrow-mindedness’ by people who feel that they are qualified to create or refute scientific theories they don’t understand. I used to argue and try to explain the scientific viewpoint, but I do it no more.
Nowadays, whenever someone argues that the universe cannot be that old, that there is zero probability that evolution processes created the diversity of life on earth, that remote planet location impact human behavior, or any other theory, I only ask two questions:
1. Why is winter colder than summer?
2. Why is the top of a high mountain colder than its foot, even though it’s closer to the sun?
Not surprisingly, many of those who feel qualified to discuss advanced scientific theories, are unable to satisfactory answer these simple questions. As any further discussion is likely to be futile, I take my scientific hat off, and quickly resume my role as a ‘civilized’ member of society.
Can you answer these questions?
Can you answer these questions?
8 comments:
winter is colder than summer because the earth rotate around the sun once a year, winter is the time that one side of the surface of the earth is not facing the sun. am i right?
but i don't know the answer of the second question. something to do with the air pressure?
interesting.
Not bad :). But you are not the one who is going to argue against science and evolution. So I am not surprised that you know the answer :)
I will come back with the answer to the second later
ha, thanks! glad that i at least get one.
i too am annoyed by those who are arrogant toward science just because science has not yet (maybe forever) reveal all secrets of life and this world.
Isn't the air thinner near the peak of the mountain, insulating less and less heat from the sun? The air is thicker closer to the ground, where it is also humid, and retains more heat. This is just a theory, though...
@kaleigh,
This is part of the answer. But it is a secondary reason not the main one
i seem to remember in middle school physics class we learned that water can hold temperature longer than stone... in other words as long as the water gets heat, it takes longer time to cool down than stone... that's why place near the ocean have stabler climate than inland. and the top of mountain is farther away to oceans than foot,... not sure if this made sense, but i guess it might has something to do with it? so, what is the right answer?
@yunyi,
and what about mountains very far away from the ocean?
doesn't make sense to i stopped. lol
air pressure was the first thing jumped in my mind. what's the other cause then? you can just throw some mysterious clues
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