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ASTRO 110
Survey of Astronomy (3) AA/NS2 and AS/NS
3 hours lecture
per week
Prerequisite(s): MATH 25
Recommended Preparation: PHYS 100 , 122 or high school physics
A
survey of astronomy and astronomical measurement techniques with
emphasis on the structure, evolution and dynamics of the physical
universe.
Upon successful
completion of ASTRO 110, the student should be able to:
Explain how scientists use both qualitative and quantitative
analysis methods to investigate how the universe works.
Understand the basic laws of physics which govern the movements
and workings of the planets, stars, and galaxies.
Identify the instruments and methods astronomers use to investigate
the physical universe.
Explain the nature, characteristics, and distribution of various
forms of matter in the physical universe.
Define the theories of the origin and evolution of the planets,
stars, and galaxies, and the universe itself.
List the current theories of the origin of life in the physical
universe.
ASTRO 280
Evolution of the Universe (3) AA/NS2* and AS/NS* Fall
3 hours lecture
per week
Prerequisite(s): ASTRO 110;
MATH 25
Recommended Preparation: ENG 100
This is an introductory
course, with limited mathematical rigor, pertaining to the study
of phenomena on a galactic scale. Topics that will be discussed are the history of cosmology and how our
perceptions of the universe have changed, stellar evolution and
exotic remnants, galactic formation, dark matter, and the inflationary
universe. Modern problems dealing with current research topics
will also be discussed.
Upon successful
completion of ASTRO 280, the student should be able to:
Demonstrate an understanding of the Copernican ideal and how
it pertains to modeling the universe.
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the special theory
of relativity and its effects: time dilation, mass dilation, and
space contraction.
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the general theory
of relativity and its effect: Gravity.
Demonstrate an understanding of how the Planck scale limits our
knowledge of the initiating mechanisms for the current universe.
Demonstrate knowledge of how we believe our galaxy formed.
Demonstrate knowledge of how we believe some of the more exotic
galaxies formed.
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of Hubble's constant,
how it is measured, and its implications: the age of the universe.
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the problem of dark
matter, its nature, and implications for the large scale structure
of the universe.
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the modern inflationary
model of the universe.
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