Science Essays for College Students – On physics and biology (ronaldabercrombie.blog)
Introduction to Essays on College Physics
Humans utilize a significant portion of their brains for processing visual information. Vision, arguably more than any other sense, has facilitated our analysis of the world, allowing us to observe it up close and over great distances as it unfolds around us. However, modern physics focuses on phenomena that range from the sub-atomic to the origin and evolution of the vast universe, none of which are visible to us. It is reasonable to suggest that the visual processing and analysis centers of our brains are challenged by encounters with the imperceptible aspects of contemporary physics.
Electricity, for example, cannot be seen directly. Nevertheless, electricity and magnetism form the essence of light, which is the subject of Essay I in this series. Essay II also addresses light, which is central to Einstein’s special theory of relativity.
In the 15th through 18th centuries, enlightened individuals utilized their vision to quantitatively describe their world, aiding them in understanding phenomena such as the movements of observable planets against the backdrop of the “fixed stars”. This topic is explored in Essay III.
Essay IV examines the physics developed during the industrial revolution to understand the power harnessed in steam and internal combustion engines. The principles of thermodynamics could be broadly applied to many forms of energy.
The series concludes with essays on quantum mechanics (Essay V) and general relativity (Essay VI), both of which fundamentally challenge the visual processing capabilities of our brains.
Introduction to Essays on College Biology
A pivotal concept in biology emerged in the 19th century, primarily through the contributions of Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace. Charles Darwin’s insights followed his tenure as a scientific officer aboard the HMS Beagle, a British naval vessel that traversed various exotic locations globally. His observations were meticulously documented in his extensive writings.
Alfred Russel Wallace, although less renowned, independently conceived the idea of natural selection. Of Scottish descent, Wallace conducted exploratory research in the Amazon basin alongside his friend and fellow naturalist, Henry Walter Bates. Later, during an expedition in the Malay Archipelago (present-day Indonesia) and while suffering from malaria, Wallace formulated the concept of natural selection as an explanation for the diversity of plant and animal life he encountered. Prior to publication, Wallace sought the opinion of the era’s most esteemed natural scientist, Charles Darwin, by forwarding his paper to him.
It is generally believed that Darwin had begun to develop similar ideas independently. Demonstrating his well-known integrity, Darwin facilitated the simultaneous publication of both their papers, referring to his contribution as an abstract. Subsequently, Darwin published several significant works, including “The Origin of Species” and “The Descent of Man”.
Darwin and Wallace’s theory of mutation and natural selection is widely accepted by scientists. It explains the increasing complexity of life over time, but the origin of life remains unexplained.
Science Essays for College Students 