1 in 4 Americans Unaware the Earth Orbits the Sun

[Barrykgerdes]

I don't understand how all you "know alls" arrive at the conclusion that the Earth goes around the Sun.

I just went out side and the Earth is definitely not moving. It is a nice stable flat surface. If it was moving we would surely lose our balance.

Therefore all those objects, moon, Sun, Stars etc must be the ones moving and going around us

Barry

[cometcatcher (Kevin)]

Originally Posted by Barrykgerdes

If it was moving we would surely lose our balance.

Wait... this may explain my dizzy spells!

[Pinwheel (Doug)]

Great more flat Earthers to convert...

It's a well documented fact that the earth is hanging in an empty glass sphere with the stars & planets painted on the glass. The sooner you all except this, the sooner you all will sleep better...

[OzStarGazer]

OMG

[traveller (Bo)]

I am not really that surprised. Most US TV are commercial channels doing mass "entertainment" without any science/investigative content. There is a percentage of Americans that are very ill informed as a result (remember the % of Americans who cannot find Iraq on the map when the first Gulf War broke out?).
This is made even worse by those holding extremist view who insist on their "freedom of speech" as guaranteed by their constitution. As a result, we now see intelligent design mandated to be taught alongside evolution (because it's only a theory, right?).
As if that's not bad news enough, we are heading down that path, and fast. Just see the current debate in Vic re religious instruction classes in primary schools. Schools cannot refuse offers by bodies offering their students RI classes. We objected and withdrew our kids out of them, so they are now sitting outside during RI, doing "supervised activities".
Drives me to drink
Bo

[cometcatcher (Kevin)]

With statistics like these, I now have this nagging feeling that I am blissfully unaware of something important in life that 75% of the rest of you take for granted. I'm just not sure what it is...

[graham.hobart (Graham stevens)]

I thought the Earth was sitting on a giant turtle called Raphael
Mork calling Orson come in Orson!
Graz
Seriously, though we should not judge anybody by a lack of opportunity in education, I agree it is appalling when the facts" are not offered in the first place.
What make's it terrible is then Government legislates this ignorance into policy.
Humans have an enquiring mind which should be fed and watered, not kept in the dark like the proverbial mushroom ....

[OzStarGazer]

http://www.businessinsider.com.au/on...n-2013-7#orbit

[Larryp (Laurie)]

Originally Posted by OzStarGazer

http://www.businessinsider.com.au/on...n-2013-7#orbit

Quite an indictment of our education system!

[hotspur (Chris)]

That is not surprising-they are a bizzare nation,its like many of them live in the 1950's/60's,they are quite strange to try and do business with that's for sure.Its much easier to do business with people in Japan,U.K,South Africa.

Yet,at the same time,they best aircraft in the world-Boeing.A real conudrum of a country,all I can say,if you have to try and do business with them,try all the other countries on the planet first.

[OICURMT]

Technically, as the question was posed, has no correct answer.

The earth does not revolve around the sun and the sun does not revolve around the earrth. They both revolve around a common barycenter, whose location happens to be internal within the solar sphere.

OIC!

[stephenb (Stephen)]

Sorry by I don't believe it has anything to do with 'mental intellect' or whatever other labels you want to put on people. It comes down to rudimentary education. If children are taught the fundamentals of science, geography, nature, history etc they have a sound footing for all their knowledge base as they grow up to adulthood.

For example I was taught the basics of astronomy around grade 3 or 4, learning that 9 planets revolve around the sun, the sun is a star, man has walked on the moon, we are in a giant spinning top-like cloud called the Milky Way, etc etc etc. and I guarantee everyone of my generation who went through State school in Australia would have the same knowledge base today. Some of us have used it more than others, but the basic facts were taught in school.

It is unfortunate that other influences come into play such as the dogmatic, brainwashing pressures of creationism and religion, which in my opinion should be banned from all government schools.

Again, it comes down to instilling the fundamentals in basic education. Nothing more.

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

As much as we astro loving people want to label it as stupidity or lack of education etc in my opinion it is a simple case of interest or more specifically a lack there of. If astronomical concepts even basic ones don't interest an individuals brain the information simply doesn't stick in the memory and this is pretty much the case with many things. I think it may well have lots to do with how an individuals brain is wired too for eg I can't for the life of me remember who sings what songs, even the popular hits and as for remembering the words of even world wide hits I am hopeless (not too bad with Italian Opera though ), I have real trouble remembering names too which can be quite embarrassing sometimes ...on the other hand and even though she is not a real muso or anything my wife hears a song once or twice and can sing much or all of it, she knows who sings what and remembers peoples names with amazing accuracy and is a born organiser, networker and facilitator who has organised the Prime Minister and setup complex businesses and facilities from scratch, so she is certainly no dummy.....she does however not know what orbits what or if I show her an H-alpha image of the sun she isn't sure what it is, has no idea which way north south east and west are, the fact that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west means little to her and this fact is not retained, she has trouble reading a map or interpreting house plans too

Strange but true

Mike

[h0ughy (David)]

who cares - at least the bright ones put up nice expensive spacecraft for us to get images from maybe the world is flat

[Peter Ward]

Originally Posted by Baddad

Come on guys, not everyone is blessed with a high IQ.

By definition, half of the population has an IQ below 100.

Secondly, you can be quite correct in taking a geocentric point of view and say the sun appears to go around the earth... but epicycles are so much harder to calculate

[Pinwheel (Doug)]

I knew this guy who was very smart, had a very hi IQ, was a member of Mensa & made sure everyone knew it. However he had no employment prospects, no personality, & was the most disgusting excuse for a human being ever to breath the air. This of coarse has nothing to do with this discussion, I just wanted to share this with you & put this out there......

[Baddad (Marty)]

There is much more that affects what knowledge and understanding a person gains through life.

Peter mentions IQ, Michael hits at interest and education. All certainly are factors.

I may add that the human brain in childhood learns faster. Also at that time children have much more enquiring minds. As we age that curiosity slows in most adults. However, read on.

From my own observations I believe that people endowed with a higher IQ tend to be more curious. They seem to need answers to questions that arise. This is only an opinion and not based on any research data.

I remember my pre-high school days. I was on the receiving end of spankings. Mother did not see the lesson value of me pulling apart the radio or electric shocking the pets and chickens with the hand generator out of an old telephone.

Most of my school friends did not share the sames interests. They would rather play sports than go looking for cool stuff.

There are many influencing factors, yes. Just be aware the majority of people do not share similar interests and by trying to involve them will only lead to disappointment. Its their loss, ignorance is bliss.

On the other hand it is a warm fuzzy feeling when someone new takes a special interest in your hobby. Most kids will, for the reasons I mentioned above.

Cheers

[Baddad (Marty)]

Hi Doug,
Just read your post. exceptions and isolated cases will crop up.
I knew one similar. Another that I know of is exceptionally clever and bordering on autism.
Personality disorders may be right across the board. Not just isolated to specific groups.

Getting back to the subject. It is sad that so many people are endowed with so little knowledge. If you do nothing about it, don't knock it. You are part of the problem.
Be a teacher, and part of the solution. But be careful, some er,,, many do not want to learn. We can't do much about that.

Cheers

[5ash (Philip)]

A more useful study (if you can call it useful?) would test different age groups with the same questions! I'm sure that would put the "cat among the pigeons " with some educationalists !
Philip

[Karls48 (Karl)]

Originally Posted by cometcatcher

No mate, Australians believe the Earth revolves around a giant footy field!

And that seasons change on start of the month.