Session #2 - Book Group

Session #2 - Monday, June 8th

8. Read the following passage: “We’re not doing nothing,” squealed Ringo. “I think you mean, ‘We are not doing anything,’” corrected Dr. Reeper in a teacherly voice (p. 92). 

Why does Reeper correct Ringo? Give another example of a double negative. 

9. Why is outer space cold (p. 94)? 

10. Why aren’t mass and weight the same thing (p. 99)? 

11. What does Einstein’s equation E = mc 2 mean (p. 99)? What does each letter stand for? 

12. When will Halley’s Comet be visible from Earth again (p. 104)? 

What other comets will be visible from Earth before 2100? Why do some comets not orbit the Sun? 

13. Reeper tells the rebel boys they must “learn to distinguish between science fiction and science fact” (p. 166). 

What is science fiction? How is it different from other types of fiction, like historical fiction? 

Have you read any other books that could be classified as science fiction? How were they similar or different from this book? 

14. What are exoplanets (pp. 166–167)? Why are they so difficult to detect? Do you think scientists will ever detect any Earth-size exoplanets? Why or why not? 

15. Why can’t Cosmos go to a place Eric has not discovered (p. 215)? What can’t computers do?