ASTRONOMY 1143 - COSMOLOGY: HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSE - AU17
12:45-2:05 PM, CB130
Professor : Anil K. Pradhan Teaching Associate/ Inst. Asst.
4017 McPherson Lab Lianshui Zhao / Nash Brecht
292-5850 PRB 3021, (614)886-9933
pradhan.1@osu.edu zhao.1157@buckeyemail.osu.edu
Office Hrs. T,R 4:15-5:15 PM M,W 11:15-12:15
Homepage: www.astronomy.ohio-state.edu/~pradhan (Click on 'Astronomy 1143')
Text: YOUR COSMIC CONTEXT, Duncan and Tyler, ISBN-13: 978-0-13-240010-7
COURSE OVERVIEW
(Detailed outline is posted on the website daily)
Dates: Chapters Main Topics
Aug 22,24 - Tests, Outline, Intro: Scientific Method
Aug 29,31 1,2 Ancient vs. Modern: Solar System
Sep 5,7 3 Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler's laws, Newton's laws
Sep 12,14 4 Light and Matter, Stars and Galaxies, Dark Matter
Sep 19,21 5 Motion and Gravity, Hubble Diagram and CMB
Sep 26,28 6 Relativity and Light: Spacetime, Black Holes
Oct 3,5 7 Distance Scale and Expansion
Oct 17,19 8 Radiation and Matter
Oct 24,26 9 Stellar Fuel, Nuclear Energy, and Elements
Oct 31-Nov 2 10 Big Bang and Aftermath
Nov 7,9 11 Distribution and History of Matter
Nov 14,16 12 Large-Scale Structure
Nov 28,30 13 Life, Other worlds: Planets and Exoplanets
Dec 5 14 Universal Timeline/Review
Mid-Term Test Dates: Tuesdays - Sep 12, Oct 10, Oct 31, Nov 21
(40 min duration, followed by lecture)
FINAL EXAMINATION: DECEMBER 12, TUESDAY, 2:00-3:45 PM (HERE!)
All comprehensive final exam, approx. 100 multiple choice questions
N.B.: PLEASE READ THE TEXTBOOK ! The 4 mid-term tests (40
min, about 40 multiple choice questions) will have questions
on material covered in the lectures in the previous ~3-week period.
Lowest test score will be dropped and 3/4 count towards final grade.
The lectures will cover most topics in the text, but not all and not
always in the same order as the chapters listed above.
The lowest test score is discounted (no makeups except emergencies).
Please keep all tests and grade sheets until the final grade.
Grading: 3 Tests = 60%, Final (100 Q's, Comprehensive) = 40%.
GRADES: 1-49 = E, 50-56 = D, 57-59 = D+, 60-62 = C-, 63-71 = C,
72-74 = C+, 75-77 = B-, 78-83 = B, 84-86 = B+, 87-89 = A-, 90-100 = A.
COURSE GOALS and OBJECTIVES:
- Astronomy 1143 is a General Education Curriculum (GEC) course in
natural sciences designed for understanding basic scientific methodology
applied to understanding the Universe in a historical context.
- Understanding the theories and methods of modern astrophysics and cosmology,
investigating the relationship between science and technology,exploring the
effects of science and technology on the environment.
- To investigate the basic facts, principles, theories and methods of
modern science as practiced in astrophysics: To learn important events in the
history of astrophysics, particularly the discovery of the size and age of the
Universe and our place within it; To explain the role of modern technology in
the investigation of astrophysical phenomena; To consider the effects of
human activity on the Earth, including topics such as energy balance.
ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT: It is the responsibility of the Committee on Academic
Misconduct to investigate or establish procedures for the investigation of all
reported cases of student academic misconduct wherever com
mitted; illustrated by, but not limited to, cases of plagiarism and cheati
ng on exami nations. Instructors shall report all instances of alleged
misconduct to the committee (Faculty Rule 3335-5-487). For additional
information, see the Code of Student Conduct (studentaffairs.osu.edu/pdfs/csc
12-31-07.pdf).
DISABILITY SERVICES: Students with disabilities that have been certified by
the Office for Disability Services will be accommodated; plea
se inform the professor as soon as possible of your needs. The Office for Disa
bility Studies is located in 150 Pomerene Hall, 1760 Neil Avenue, telephone
292-3307, TDD 292-0901, www.ods.ohio-state.edu.