Bias

2009-04-27T19:27:56Z

Johnson49:

'''Bias''' has numerous meanings. It literally means ''diagonal'' or ''slant.''

== Electronics ==

Bias is a [[DC]] voltage level added to an [[AC]] signal which is to be amplified. This is done to put the AC signal within the amplifying transistor's linear operating area.

Bias is also a name for a high-frequency sine wave that is added to an audio signal as part of the process of magnetic tape recording; it has the effect of eliminating distortion that would otherwise be caused by magnetic hysteresis.

== Statistics ==

Bias means flaws in the collection, analysis or interpretation of research data that lead to incorrect conclusions.<ref>http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/about/terms/glossary.htm#b</ref>

== Psychology ==

A bias is sometimes defined as a violation of a normative standard. For example, the fact that people will be less likely to trade an object they are endowed with for another one-regardless of which initial object they possess-violates the normative standard that preference for an object should not be swayed by what is already possessed.

Studies of biases in psychology have shown that many principles assumed in economics are incorrect (Kahneman 2003) by illustrating that the notion of a free [[rational agent]] is idealistic.

== Encyclopedias ==

In works describing a potentially controversial topic, '''bias''' refers to the tendency of an author who holds a particular viewpoint to express that viewpoint (whether intentionally or subconsciously) in his work. This typically goes against the ideal of compendiums which are meant to be neutral, such as encyclopedias. For example, if an article on [[abortion]] is written by someone who supports it, it will likely be biased towards that viewpoint, and vice versa. Conservapedia is an example of bias.

== See also ==
*[[Media bias]]
*[[Bias-Original Work]]
*[[Liberal quotient]]
*[[Essay: Accuracy vs. neutrality on Conservapedia]]

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Disambiguation Pages]]

Geocentric theory

2009-04-27T19:17:49Z

Johnson49:

[[Image:Ptolemaicsystem-small.png|right|thumb|Rendition of a geocentric system from the Middle Ages.]]

A '''Geocentric theory''' is a disproved astronomical theory which describes the universe as a ''Geocentric system'', i.e., a system which put the Earth in the center of the universe, or at least in the center of the solar system.
The Greek philosophers Aristotle and Plato described such a theory wherein all celestial bodies move on spheres around the earth, the moon of the innermost one, the fix stars of the one most out.

==Ptolemy's system==
Ptolemy invented the most elaborated geocentrical system, allowing the planets not only to move on circles around the earth, but using epicycles. By adding further ideas, he was able to predict the motion of the planets quite well. Ptolemy's model was extremely popular from ancient times until the 1600s, as it had better agreement with observation than any alternative. His model was particularly effective at cosmological predictions.

However, during the 1500s and 1600s, it became clear that the theory had some serious flaws in it. The [[Denmark|Danish]] astronomer [[Tycho Brahe]] made the most accurate observations possible before the invention of the telescope. These showed discrepancies within Ptolemy's system.

With the invention of the [[telescope]], the observations became more precise, and new phenomena were discovered: In particular, [[Galileo]]'s use of the [[telescope]] to look at the skies revealed that [[Jupiter]] had at least four moons, and Venus had phases like the [[Moon]]: both phenomena were at odds with Ptolemy's model.

[[Johannes Kepler]] used Brahe's measurements to improve the [[Heliocentrism|heliocentric]] system Copernicus had proposed, showing that planets had elliptical orbits around the sun. When [[Isaac Newton]] applied his newly discovered [[gravitation|universal theory of gravitation]] to the data, he found that a heliocentric model was the only one that could explain all observed phenomena. By the 1800s, the spectacular successes of Newtonian theory and [[Maxwell's equations]] for electromagnetism had convinced practically everyone that the Sun is a preferred frame of reference, and that the laws of physics must be applied in that frame. The geocentric theory was finally considered to be profoundly mistaken.

Since the advent of relativity theory in the early 1900s, the laws of physics have been written in covariant equations, meaning that they are equally valid in any frame. Heliocentric and geocentric theories are both used today, depending on which allows more convenient calculations.

== Scripture Quoted to justify Geocentric Theory ==
A few [[Bible]] quotes use geocentric terms. While some attempt to use these quotes to discredit the Bible's hold on science, others dispute this usage, claiming that the usage of the terms is similar to the way people today use terms like "sunrise" and "sunset". In this account, the terminology is not wrong - merely reflects the observer's view.

*"He has fixed the earth firm, immovable." (1 Chronicles 16:30)
*"Thou hast fixed the earth immovable and firm ..." (Psalm 93:1)
*"Thou didst fix the earth on its foundation so that it never can be shaken." (Psalm 104:5)
*"...who made the earth and fashioned it, and himself fixed it fast..." (Isaiah 45:18)
*"The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose." (Ecclesiastes 1:5)
*"Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon. And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day." (Joshua 10, 12-13)

[[Category:Astronomy]]

Conservapedia - User contributions [en]

Bias

Geocentric theory