Date
|
Topic
|
Reading
|
Assignment
|
Tues, Jan 12th
|
Introduction and Major Goals of Course
|
|
|
Thur Jan 14th
|
Big Bang Theory & Overview of Universe
|
DT Chap 1
|
Read!
|
Tues Jan 19th
|
Basic Issues (The Sky we See in Visible Light)
|
DT Chap 2
|
Homework #1 due (in class)
|
| Thur, Jan 21st |
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)
|
| Tues, Jan 26th |
Universe seen in Motion and Gravity
|
DT Chap 4; Bennett Astronomy Book, Chap 4
on "Motion, Energy, and Gravity" (on D2L)
|
Read!
|
| Thur, Jan 28th |
Light (Electromagnetic Waves, Blackbody
Radiation)
|
DT Chap 3; Bennett Astronomy Book, Chap 5
on "Light: The Cosmic Messenger" (on D2L)
|
Read!
|
| Tues, Feb 2nd |
EXAM #1
|
|
In-class exam
|
| Thur, Feb 4th |
Clues about the Cosmos: Hubble Expansion Age
|
DT Chapter 5
|
Read!
|
| Tues, Feb 9th |
Clues about the Cosmos: Cosmic Microwave
Background Radiation
|
DT Chap 5
|
Snow Day!
|
| Thur, Feb 11th |
Dark Matter & Scientific Theory:
experimental sciences and cosmology
|
DT Chap 4.3 and 5
|
Homework #2 due (in class)
|
| Tues, Feb 16th |
Dark Matter: Galaxies, Clusters, and Universe
|
DT Chap 4.3
|
Writing #2 due (on D2L)
|
| Thur, Feb 18th |
The Fabric of Spacetime (curved space)
|
DT Chapters 6 and 7
|
|
| Tues, Feb 23rd |
Blackbody Photons and Free Electrons
|
DT Chap 8
|
Homework #3 due (in class)
|
| Thur, Feb 25th |
Big Bang Nucleosynthesis
|
DT Chap 9
|
Writing #3 due (on D2L)
|
| Tues, Mar 1st |
Fiske Planetarium: Dark Matter Show
|
|
Class meets in Planetarium
|
| Thur, Mar 3rd |
The Big Bang Theory
|
DT Chap 10
|
Read
|
| Tues, Mar 8th |
Density of Universe (dark matter and dark energy)
|
DT Chapter 4.3 and 11
| Read!
|
| Thur, Mar 10th |
Review of Major Concepts
|
DT Chaps 5-10
|
Study for Test
|
| Tues, Mar 15th |
EXAM #2
|
|
In-class Exam
|
| Thur, Mar 17th |
The Edge of the Visible Universe
|
DT Chaps 5-10
|
Special Lecture
|
| Tues, Mar 22th |
Spring Break
|
|
|
| Thur, Mar 24th |
Spring Break
|
|
|
| Tues, Mar 29th |
History of the Early Universe |
DT Chap 11
|
Read!
|
| Thur, Mar 31st |
Fundamental Particles (constituents of matter
and radiation)
|
DT Chap 11
|
Read!
|
| Tues, Apr 5th |
Growth of Structure: Inflationary Epoch
|
D&T Chap 12
|
Homework #4 due (in class)
|
| Thur, Apr 7th |
Summary: Galaxies, Quasars, Clusters, & Superclusters
|
|
Writing #4 due (on D2L)
|
| Tues, Apr 12th |
Review of Major Concepts
|
|
Study for Test #3
|
| Thur, Apr 14th |
EXAM #3
|
|
In-class Exam
|
| Tues, Apr 19th |
Time Arrows, Infinite Universe?
|
Arrow of Time (Wikipedia)
| Read "The Seven Arrows of Time"
|
| Thur, Apr 21st |
The Very Early Universe (and Multiverse?)
|
DT Chap 12.4, 12.5
|
Homework #5 due (in class)
|
| Tues, Apr 26th |
Anthropic Principle, Cosmology and Religion
|
DT Chap 14; other background articles
|
Writing #5 due (on D2L)
|
| Thur, Apr 28th (Last class) |
Course Review
|
I will hand out a short review sheet
|
Come to class with your questions
|
Wednesday, May 4nd
|
FINAL EXAM (1:30-4:00 pm)
|
|
Enjoy Your Summer!
|