Date
|
Topic
|
Reading
|
Assignment
|
Tues, Jan 16th
|
Introduction and Major Goals of Course
|
|
|
Thur Jan 18th
|
Big Bang Theory & Overview of Universe
|
DT Chap 1
|
Read!
|
Tues Jan 23rd
|
Basic Issues (The Sky we See in Visible Light)
|
DT Chap 2
|
Homework #1 due (in class)
|
| Thur, Jan 25th |
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 30th |
Universe seen in Motion and Gravity
|
DT Chap 4; Bennett Astronomy Book, Chap 4
on "Motion, Energy, and Gravity" (on D2L)
|
Read!
|
| Thur, Feb 1st |
Light (Electromagnetic Waves, Blackbody
Radiation)
|
DT Chap 3; Bennett Astronomy Book, Chap 5
on "Light: The Cosmic Messenger" (on D2L)
|
Read!
|
| Tues, Feb 6th |
EXAM #1
|
|
In-class exam
|
| Thur, Feb 8th |
Clues about the Cosmos: Hubble Expansion Age
|
DT Chapter 5
|
Read!
|
| Tues, Feb 13th |
Clues about the Cosmos: Cosmic Microwave
Background Radiation
|
DT Chap 5
|
Read!
|
| Thur, Feb 15th |
Dark Matter & Scientific Theory:
experimental sciences and cosmology
|
DT Chap 4.3 and 5
|
Homework #2 due (in class)
|
| Tues, Feb 20th |
Dark Matter: Galaxies, Clusters, and Universe
|
DT Chap 4.3
|
Writing #2 due
|
| Thur, Feb 22nd |
The Fabric of Spacetime (curved space)
|
DT Chapters 6 and 7
|
|
| Tues, Feb 27th |
Blackbody Photons and Free Electrons
|
DT Chap 8
|
Homework #3 due (in class)
|
| Thur, Mar 1st |
Big Bang Nucleosynthesis
|
DT Chap 9
|
Writing #3 due
|
| Tu, Mar 6th |
The Big Bang Theory
|
DT Chap 10
|
Read
|
| Thur, Mar 8th |
Review of Major Concepts
|
DT Chaps 5-10
|
Study for Test
|
| Tues, Mar 13th |
EXAM #2
|
|
In-class Exam
|
| Thur, Mar 15th |
The Edge of the Visible Universe
|
DT Chaps 5-10
| Special Lecture (Fiske Planetarium)
|
| Tues, Mar 20th |
Density of Universe (dark matter and dark energy)
|
DT Chapter 4.3 and 11
| Read!
|
| Tues, Mar 22nd |
The mysteries of dark matter
|
DT Chapters 4.3 and 11
| Read!
|
| Tues, Mar 27th |
Spring Break
|
|
|
| Thur, Mar 29th |
Spring Break
|
|
|
| Tues, Apr 3rd |
History of the Universe
|
DT Chapter 11
| Read!
|
| Thur, Apr 5th |
Fundamental Particles (constituents of matter
and radiation)
|
DT Chap 11
|
Read!
|
| Tues, Apr 10th |
Planck Era and Force Unification
|
D&T Chap 12
|
Homework #4 due (in class)
|
| Thur, Apr 12th |
Multi-Verse and Anthropic Ideas
|
|
Writing #4 due
|
| Tues, Apr 17th |
The Arrows of Time
|
Arrow of Time (Wikipedia)
| Read "The Seven Arrows of Time"
|
| Thur, Apr 19th |
EXAM #3
|
|
In-class Exam
|
| Tues, Apr 24th |
Precision Tests of Cosmology
|
|
|
| Thur, Apr 26th |
Our Current Picture of the Universe
|
DT Chap 12.4, 12.5
|
Homework #5 due (in class)
|
| Tues, May 1st |
The Future of Cosmology
|
DT Chap 14; other background articles
|
Writing #5 due
|
| Thur, May 3rd (Last class) |
Course Review
|
I will hand out a review sheet
|
Come to class with your questions
|
Monday, May 7nd
|
FINAL EXAM (4:30-7:00 pm)
|
|
Enjoy Your Summer!
|