Date
|
Topic
|
Reading
|
Assignment
|
Tues, Jan 13th
|
Introduction and Major Goals of Course
|
|
Class Survey of Backgrounds
|
Thur Jan 15th
|
Big Bang Theory & Overview of Universe
|
DT Chap 1; K Chap 1
|
Read!
|
Tues Jan 20th
|
Basic Issues (The Sky we See in Visible Light)
|
DT Chap 2
|
Homework #1 due (in class, 11 am)
|
| Thur, Jan 22nd |
Universe seen in Heat and Light
|
DT Chap 3; Bennett Astronomy Book,
Chap 11 on "Surveying the Stars" (on D2L)
|
Writing #1 due (in class, 11 am)
|
| Tues, Jan 27th |
Universe seen in Motion and Gravity
|
DT Chap 4; Bennett Astronomy Book, Chap 4
on "Motion, Energy, and Gravity" (on D2L)
|
Read!
|
| Thur, Jan 29th |
Light (Electromagnetic Waves, Blackbody
Radiation)
|
DT Chap 3; Bennett Astronomy Book, Chap 5
on "Light: The Cosmic Messenger" (on D2L)
|
Read!
|
| Tues, Feb 3rd |
EXAM #1
|
|
In-class exam
|
| Thur, Feb 5th |
Clues about the Cosmos: Hubble Expansion Age
|
DT Chapter 5; K Chaps 2-6
|
Read!
|
| Tues, Feb 10th |
Clues about the Cosmos: Cosmic Microwave
Background Radiation
|
DT Chap 5, K Chaps 2-7
|
Homework #2 due (in class, 11 am)
|
| Thur, Feb 12th |
Dark Matter & Scientific Theory:
experimental sciences and cosmology
|
Occam's Razor (Wikipedia)
|
Writing #2 due (in class, 11 am)
|
| Tues, Feb 17th |
Dark Matter: Galaxies, Clusters, and Universe
|
|
Homework #3 due (in class, 11 am)
|
| Thur, Feb 19th |
Fiske Planetarium: Dark Matter Show
|
|
Class meets in Planetarium
|
| Tues, Feb 24th |
The Fabric of Spacetime (curved space)
|
DT Chap 6
|
Writing #3 due (in class, 11 am)
|
| Thur, Feb 26th |
Blackbody Photons and Free Electrons
|
DT Chap 8
|
Read!
|
| Tues, Mar 3rd |
Big Bang Nucleosynthesis
|
DT Chap 9
|
Homework #4 due (in class, 11 am)
|
| Thur, Mar 5th |
The Big Bang Theory
|
DT Chap 10
|
Read!
|
| Tues, Mar 10th |
Density of Universe (dark matter and dark energy)
|
DT Chapter 4.3 and 11; K Chap 7
| Writing #4 due (in class, 11 am)
|
| Thur, Mar 12th |
Review of Major Concepts
|
DT Chaps 5-10; Kirshner Chaps 2-7
|
Study for Test
|
| Tues, Mar 17th |
EXAM #2
|
|
In-class Exam
|
| Thur, Mar 19th |
Fiske Planetarium: The Edge of the Visible
Universe (Shull Special Lecturer)
|
|
Class meets in Planetarium
|
| Tues, Mar 24th |
Spring Break
|
|
|
| Thur, Mar 26th |
Spring Break
|
|
|
| Tues, Mar 31st |
History of the Early Universe |
DT Chap 11, Kirshner Chaps 8-11
|
Read!
|
| Thur, Apr 2nd |
Fundamental Particles (constituents of matter
and radiation)
|
DT Chap 11
|
Read!
|
| Tues, Apr 7th |
Growth of Structure: Inflationary Epoch
|
D&T Chap 12
|
Read!
|
| Thur, Apr 9th |
Summary: Galaxies, Quasars, Clusters, & Superclusters
|
|
Homework #5 due (in class, 11 am)
|
| Tues, Apr 14th |
Review of Major Concepts
|
|
Study for Test #3
|
| Thur, Apr 16th |
EXAM #3
|
|
In-class Exam
|
| Tues, Apr 21st |
Time Arrows, Infinite Universe?
|
Arrow of Time (Wikipedia)
| Read "The Seven Arrows of Time"
|
| Thur, Apr 23rd |
The Very Early Universe (and Multiverse?)
|
DT Chap 12.4, 12.5
|
Read!
|
| Tues, Apr 28th |
Anthropic Principle, Cosmology and Religion
|
DT Chap 14; other background articles
|
Writing #5 due (in class, 11 am)
|
|
Thur, Apr 30th (Last class) |
Course Review
|
I will hand out a short review sheet
|
Come to class with your questions
|
Tues, May 5nd
|
FINAL EXAM (4:30-7:00 pm)
|
|
Enjoy Your Summer!
|