For the practice mini-exam, click here.
For solutions to the practice mini-exam, click here.
Reminder: SEIs must be submitted by midnight, Friday, December 4.
More information is at the SEI website.
Astronomy 143
The History of the Universe
Fall Quarter 2009
Mo We Fr 10:00 - 11:18 pm
Scott Lab E004
Course Instructor: Prof. Barbara Ryden
Office: 4035 McPherson Lab (fourth floor), 140 W. 18th Ave.
Office Hours: Mo Tu 1:30 - 3 pm, We Fr 3 - 5 pm, or by appointment
Phone: 292-4562
Menu:
[
On-Line Info
|
Lectures
|
Problem Sets
|
Grading
]
(Details about grading, office hours, course schedule, problem set due dates, and so forth.)
(On selected nights during the quarter, there will be a planetarium
show in Smith Laboratory, followed by an opportunity to view the
sky through a 12-inch aperture telescope. If you attend a planetarium
show, make sure you sign the sign-up sheet to get your extra credit.)
(This provides a new astronomical image each day -- the subjects range
from distant galaxies to our home planet, the Earth.)
Week 1 (Sep 23, 25)
Wednesday, September 23:
Introduction
[PDF notes]
Friday, September 25:
The Origins of Cosmology
[PDF notes]
Week 2 (Sep 28, 30, Oct 2)
Preparatory Reading = Chapters 1 & 2
Monday, September 28:
Ancient Cosmology
[PDF notes]
Wednesday, September 30:
Renaissance Cosmology
[PDF notes]
Friday, October 2:
Tools of Modern Cosmology
[PDF notes]
Week 3 (Oct 5, 7, 9)
Preparatory Reading = Chapter 3
Monday, October 5:
Light
[PDF notes]
Wednesday, October 7:
What is a Star?
[PDF notes]
Friday, October 9:
What is a Galaxy?
[PDF notes]
Week 4 (Oct 12, 14, 16)
Preparatory Reading = Chapter 4
Monday, October 12:
Gravity
[PDF notes]
Wednesday, October 14:
Stars and Galaxies in Motion
[PDF notes]
Friday, October 16:
The Elusive Dark Matter
[PDF notes]
Week 5 (Oct 19, 21, 23)
Preparatory Reading = Chapters 5 & 6
Monday, October 19:
Why is it Dark at Night?
[PDF notes]
Wednesday, October 21:
The Expanding Universe
[PDF notes]
Friday, October 23:
Newton versus Einstein
[PDF notes]
Week 6 (Oct 26, 28, 30)
Preparatory Reading = Chapter 7
Monday, October 26:
Is the Universe Infinite?
[PDF notes]
Wednesday, October 28:
Dark Energy
[PDF notes]
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30:
MIDTERM EXAM
Week 7 (Nov 2, 4, 6)
Preparatory Reading = Chapter 8
Monday, November 2:
The Cosmic Microwave Background
[PDF notes]
Wednesday, November 4:
More Fun with Microwaves
[PDF notes]
Friday, November 6:
Energy & Power
[PDF notes]
Week 8 (Nov 9, 11, 13)
Preparatory Reading = Chapter 9
Monday, November 9:
Stars as Nuclear Reactors
[PDF notes]
Wednesday, November 11:
VACATION
Friday, November 13:
The Early Universe as a Nuclear Reactor
[PDF notes]
Week 9 (Nov 16, 18, 20)
Preparatory Reading = Chapters 10 & 11
Monday, November 16:
The Hot Big Bang
[PDF notes]
Wednesday, November 18:
Density of the Universe
[PDF notes]
Friday, November 20:
Destiny of the Universe
[PDF notes]
Week 10 (Nov 23, 25)
Preparatory Reading = Chapter 12
Monday, November 23:
Why is the Universe Lumpy?
[PDF notes]
Wednesday, November 25:
The Inflationary Universe
[PDF notes]
Friday, November 27:
VACATION
Week 11 (Nov 30, Dec 2, 4)
Preparatory Reading = Chapters 13 & 14
Monday, November 30:
Planets
[PDF notes]
Wednesday, December 2:
Life
[PDF notes]
Friday, December 4:
Where do we come from? What are we? Where are we going?
[PDF notes]
Problem Set 1: Due Wednesday, October 7, at class time
Problems [PDF]
Problem Set 2: Due Wednesday, October 14, at class time
Problems [PDF]
TA's solution set [PDF]
Problem Set 3: Due Wednesday, October 21, at class time
Problems [PDF]
TA's solution set [PDF]
Problem Set 4: Due Wednesday, October 28, at class time
Problems [PDF]
TA's solution set [PDF]
Problem Set 5: Due Friday, November 13, at class time
Problems [PDF]
Problem Set 6: Due Wednesday, November 18, at class time
Problems [PDF]
TA's solution set [PDF]
Problem Set 7: Due Wednesday, November 25, at class time
Problems [PDF]
TA's solution set [PDF]
Problem Set 8: Due Wednesday, December 2, at class time
Problems [PDF]
TA's solution set [PDF]
The course grade will be determined from the results of an in-class midterm
(30 percent), a final exam (30 percent), and 8 problem sets (a total
of 40 percent). See the course syllabus for more details on exams, problem
sets, and the makeup and grading policies.
Midterm Exam: Friday, October 30, in class
Professor's solution set [PDF]
Final Exam: Tuesday, December 8, 9:30am - 11:18am, in Scott Lab E004 (our usual classroom)
Return to:
[
Astronomy Undergraduate Courses Page
|
Astronomy Department Homepage
|
Professor Ryden's Homepage
]
Updated: 2009 Dec 7
[Barbara Ryden]
Image Credits:
© Space Telescope Science
Institute (AURA/STScI)
Copyright © 2009, Barbara Ryden