A Ton of Crap
Page 14
Columbus Decides to Travel to the East Christopher Columbus spent much of his life sailing the Atlantic Ocean. He became very interested in traveling to the far East, which he believed was just across the Atlantic Ocean. His idea was to create a sea route to India and attain the gold and spices of the East Indies. Columbus met with King John II of Portugal to support his journey, but was soon rejected. He then met with the monarchs of Spain, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, who, although they had rejected him initially, would eventually agree to support his journey.
DIALECTS
What Is a Dialect? A dialect is a variety of a particular language that is characteristic within a certain group of speakers of that language. It refers to differing speech patterns within the same language, and is often representative of social, geographic, and economic factors, as well as background. Dialects are distinguished by the use of grammar, syntax, morphology, and vocabulary.
PYTHAGOREAN THEOREM
What Is the Pythagorean Theorem? The Pythagorean theorem is one of the most well-known formulas ever written:
a2 + b2 = c2
The letters a and b represent the sides of the triangle, and the letter c represents the hypotenuse, which is opposite of the right angle. The Pythagorean theorem can only be used when dealing with right triangles (which as you might recall, means an angle of 90 degrees). There are at least 370 ways to prove the Pythagorean theorem.
THE BIG BANG
From Nothing to Something The big bang is the most widely accepted theory that explains how the universe began. Before the universe started, there was literally nothing. Then, 13.7 billion years ago, the universe came into existence. This was known as a singularity. Singularities are thought to exist inside black holes and defy the laws of physics that we understand. Black holes have intense pressure from gravity, and finite matter was squished together, forming the singularity.
SWEDISH
The Origins Swedish is a North-Germanic language, influenced by Middle Low German. It originally stemmed from Old Norse, which, in the ninth century, split into Old West Norse and Old East Norse. Old East Norse consisted of Sweden and Denmark, and in the twelfth century, the language between those two lands began to change, turning into Old Swedish and Old Danish.
LESSON 13B
COLUMBUS AND THE NEW WORLD
The First Voyage Columbus prepared three ships, the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria, for their journey. Columbus was the captain of the Santa Maria and his brothers were the captains of the other ships. On August 3, 1492, they set sail. On October 12, they landed on what is now the island of San Salvador in the Bahamas and took possession of the island. Columbus soon found Cuba (which he believed to be China), and in December, he reached Hispaniola (which Columbus believed to be Japan), and established a colony of thirty-nine men. In March of 1493, Columbus returned to Spain with riches, spices, and “Indian” captives.
DIALECTS
Standard Dialects A standard dialect, also known as a standard language, is a dialect that begins to be used in other ways, rather than just by the small group of people who speak it. Standard dialects appear in literature and administrative work, for example, and also have support from institutions. Standard English, Standard Australian English, and Standard Canadian English are all dialects of the English language.
PYTHAGOREAN THEOREM
Proof with Triangles That Are Similar The simplest way to prove the Pythagorean theorem is by using similar triangles. In similar triangles, corresponding parts are proportional, regardless of how big or small the two triangles are. This type of proof depends on length and not on area. The equation for this proof is:
and
From there, a2 = c × e and b2 = c × d
If you add them together, you get
a2 + b2 = c × e + c × d
which leads to
a2 + b2 = c2
THE BIG BANG
The Universe Expands Once the singularity formed, it began to expand and inflate (the big bang). The big bang was not an expansion of matter in space, but rather the creation and expansion of the space that carried matter. The big bang started at extremely hot temperatures, and as it expanded it began cooling. The universe is still expanding and cooling even to this day.
SWEDISH
Old Swedish Old Swedish was the language spoken in 1225, and it lasted until the late fourteenth century. The language was much more complex than what is spoken today, and the influence from Middle Low German was very clear. The Christian Church played an important role in society, and documents were written in Latin script. Words from Latin, Greek, and Dutch were all incorporated into Old Swedish.
LESSON 13C
COLUMBUS AND THE NEW WORLD
The Second Voyage In October of 1493, Columbus set sail with a fleet of seventeen ships and 1,500 colonists. In November, they landed in the Lesser Antilles and discovered Puerto Rico and the Leeward Islands. Upon returning to Hispaniola, Columbus found that the original colony had been killed by the natives. Columbus established another colony and then set sail once again, exploring Cuba and finding Jamaica. As Columbus left for Spain, his brother stayed in Hispaniola and founded Santo Domingo, which was the first permanent European settlement of the Americas.
DIALECTS
Social Dialects Difference in dialects is directly related to social status. Those that are highly educated tend to belong to a higher social class and use the standard dialect, whereas the lower classes, which tend to be less educated, preserve the original dialect of the region. In urban areas, innovations in the dialect tend to be made, whereas the dialect spoken in rural areas is more of the traditional geographic dialect.
Pythagorean Theorem
Euclid’s Proof In Euclid’s proof, a large square is divided into two rectangles, one large, one small. Of the larger rectangle, a triangle is created that is half of the area of the rectangle. The same thing is done with the smaller rectangle, so you have two congruent triangles.
After working through a set of rules, you will end up with AB2 + AC2 = BC2
THE BIG BANG
Evidence for the Big Bang There are many pieces of evidence that lead to the big bang theory as correct regarding the origins of the universe. Scientists are certain that the universe did have a beginning. Hubble’s law, discovered in 1929, states that galaxies are moving away at speeds that are in proportion to their distance, which would mean that the universe was once compact and is now expanding. Scientists have also found remnants of heat traveling through the universe, which is believed to be from the initial heat of the big bang.
SWEDISH
Modern Swedish With the printing press and the Reformation, the Swedish language began to undergo changes. Gustav Vasa, the king of Sweden, ordered that the Bible be translated into Swedish; this remained the most common Bible in Sweden until 1917; blending Old Swedish with the colloquial Swedish of the time. During this time, changes were made to certain sounds in the language, such as the softening of certain consonants and assimilation of consonant clusters.
LESSON 13D
COLUMBUS AND THE NEW WORLD
The Third Voyage In 1498, Columbus set sail on his third voyage, and due to bad reports from Hispaniola, was forced to bring convicts to the New World. Columbus sailed farther south, finding Trinidad, and continued sailing until he realized that he had found a land mass. Columbus had to return to Hispaniola before exploring it any further, however. In 1500, due to the bad reports from Hispaniola, the monarchy sent a royal commissioner to survey the situation, which resulted in Columbus being sent back to Spain in chains.
DIALECTS
Geographic Dialects The widespread differentiation in dialects is mostly due to geographical factors. Speech in one locality will always differ in some way from that of another locality. An isogloss is a geographic boundary between regions that shows a difference in linguistic features. Isoglosses are frequently grouped together in bundles, the result of migration and political borders. An example of an isogloss is
the La Spezia-Rimini line, which divides the Central Italian dialects from the Northern Italian dialects.
PYTHAGOREAN THEOREM
Algebraic Proofs The Pythagorean theorem can also be proven by using algebra. To do so, the equation looks like this:
(b – a)2 + 4(ab/2) = (b – a)2 + 2ab = a2 + b2
When solved, this problem simply turns into:
c2 = a2 + b2
Another proof related to this was actually created by President James Garfield.
THE BIG BANG
Misconceptions The big bang was not an explosion, as many believe it to be. Rather, it was an expansion (which continues today). Some believe the singularity to be a ball of fire in space, but in all reality, there was no space, time, energy, or matter prior to the big bang. Space actually started in the singularity. Scientists still do not know where the singularity appeared if space did not exist.
SWEDISH
Contemporary Swedish Nusvenska, literally meaning “Now-Swedish,” is the Swedish language spoken today. It began toward the end of the nineteenth century, and much of the written language appeared closer to the spoken language, moving away from formal restrictions. By the time of the spelling reform of 1906, the language was standardized, and in the 1960s, a major change was made, known as du-reformen (the “you-reform”), replacing standard titles and surnames with “du.”
LESSON 13E
COLUMBUS AND THE NEW WORLD
The Fourth Voyage Columbus managed to get four ships together in 1502 for his fourth journey, which he hoped would restore his reputation. Columbus hit the coast of Honduras and was later marooned on Jamaica in an attempt to return to Hispaniola. Upon being rescued, Columbus was forced to return to Spain in 1504. Columbus died two years later, still believing he had reached Asia.
DIALECTS
Interlingua From 1937 to 1951, Interlingua was developed as a language that would use the languages of Western civilization as its dialects. Realizing that many words in different languages are similar, linguists used words from English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French, Russian and German to create a spoken and written language that would be able to be understood by all. Interlingua is known as an international auxiliary language.
PYTHAGOREAN THEOREM
Proof with Differentials A proof using differentials employs principles of calculus to prove the Pythagorean theorem. This type of proof involves studying how changes to a side of the triangle affect the hypotenuse. This is considered to be a metric proof, and instead of using areas, the proof is based on lengths.
THE BIG BANG
Other Theories The big bang is not the only scientific theory regarding the origins of the universe. Physicist Robert Gentry proposed another theory in 2003, claiming that the foundation of the big bang was a faulty paradigm. Gentry’s theory was based on Einstein’s static-spacetime paradigm, with the notion that there is a center that neither expands nor contracts. Gentry believes this also explains the evidence that has been found.
SWEDISH
Dialects There are six main dialects found in the Swedish language: North Swedish, South Swedish, Finland Swedish, Svealand Swedish, Götaland Swedish, and Gotland Swedish. These dialects are separate from the standard language and developed independently from as far back as Old Norse. The dialects are very localized, and speakers of these dialects also speak the standard language.
LESSON 13F
COLUMBUS AND THE NEW WORLD
The Impact on the Native Americans Over the course of a century, the population of natives on the island of Hispaniola was completely destroyed in a genocide brought on by the Spanish. In 1493, policies regarding slavery and mass extermination were implemented, and within a three-year time span, 5 million Native Americans were killed. Mass numbers of Native Americans were hanged, stabbed, shot, and worked to death as slaves.
DIALECTS
Focal and Relic Areas Focal areas are locations where innovations in dialect occur. They usually coincide with urban areas or areas with great cultural and economic activity. Relic areas are locations that the innovations from focal areas spread to but haven’t arrived yet. Relic areas also have innovations; however, they do not spread as widely geographically as focal areas. Boston is an example of a focal area, while Cape Cod is an example of a relic area.
PYTHAGOREAN THEOREM
The Pythagorean Triple The Pythagorean triple is a series of three whole numbers, such as 3, 4, and 5 that work when put into the Pythagorean theorem, and can be the sides of a right triangle. Other examples of Pythagorean triples include 5, 12, 13 and 7, 24, 25. To create a Pythagorean triple, take any odd number and square it. Then find two consecutive numbers that add up to that number.
THE BIG BANG
Does God Have a Role? The big bang is a controversial issue because it puts into question the role of God in the creation of the universe. While some religions have welcomed and incorporated the big bang theory into their beliefs, others have refused to believe it. In 1951, Pope Pius XII declared that the big bang theory was in accordance with Catholic beliefs.
SWEDISH
Useful Swedish Phrases Here are some helpful phrases to use when traveling to Sweden:
Hello. Hej.
Good morning. God morgon.
Good afternoon. God eftermiddag.
Good evening. God kväll.
Good night. God natt.
I don’t understand. Jag förstår inte.
How much is this? Hur mycket kostar det?
Where’s the toilet? Var är toaletten?
Cheers! Skål!
Excuse me. Ursäkta.
Thank you. Tack.
Goodbye. Hej då.
LESSON 13 QUIZ
What was the name of the first permanent European settlement in the New World?
Hispaniola
Leeward Islands
Santo Domingo
Santa Maria
In 1493, policies regarding slavery and mass extermination were implemented on the Native Americans. Within a three-year time span, how many Native Americans were killed?
2 million
9 million
5 million
500
Which of the following affects dialects?
Social status
Geographic location
Urbanization
All of the above
The standard forms of English spoken in America, Australia, and England are examples of:
Standard dialects
Relics
Focals
Interlingua
In the Pythagorean theorem, the letter c represents:
The left side
The right side
The long side
The hypotenuse
Which of the following is a Pythagorean triple?
7, 24, 25
9, 18, 27
7, 8, 9
7, 25, 26
Which of the following is true?
Before the big bang, there was nothing.
The big bang led to the creation and expansion of the space that carried
matter.
The big bang began from a singularity.
All of the above.
What does Hubble’s law state?
That the universe does not expand
That the universe is expanding
That heat is moving through the universe
That the universe never contracted
What important event was Gustav Vasa, the king of Sweden, responsible for?
He turned Götaland Swedish into Gotland Swedish.
He united the North Swedish and South Swedish dialects.
He created the du-reformen.
He ordered the Bible to be translated into Swedish.
How do you say “Thank you” in Swedish?
Hej då.
Tack.
Ursäkta.
Hej.
ANSWER KEY: c, c, d, a, d, a, d, b, d, b
Lesson 14
HISTORY: The American Revoluti
on
The Battle of Lexington and Concord, The Battle of Bunker Hill, The Evacuation of Boston, The Battle of Trenton, The Battle of Saratoga, The Battle of Yorktown
LANGUAGE ARTS: Figures of Speech
What Is a Figure of Speech?, Simile, Metaphor, Hyperbole, Oxymoron, Other Common Figures
of Speech
MATH: Fibonacci Sequence
What Is the Fibonacci Sequence?, The Golden Ratio, The Fibonacci Sequence in Nature, The Fibonacci Sequence in Music, The Man Behind Fibonacci, Leonardo Pisano Bogollo’s Rabbits
SCIENCE: Galileo Galilei
Who Was Galileo Galilei?, The Telescope, The Moon, Jupiter, Galileo and the Church, Copernicanism and Galileo
FOREIGN LANGUAGE: Finnish
The Origins, Finnish During the Middle Ages, The Writing System, Modernization of Finnish, Dialects, Useful Finnish Phrases