LECTURE SCHEDULE AND READING ASSIGMENTS
Readings are from the textbook (The Cosmic Perspective Fundamentals).
iclicker quizes are given in class on Thursdays (except where noted below) and will test the material presented in previous lectures
| Date | Topic | Assignment | Quiz covers |
| Jan 20 | 1. Introduction | ... | ... |
| Jan 22 | 2. Our Place/Time in the Universe |
Read: Chap 1, Appendix C H/W: Q1-11, 19 |
... |
| Jan 27 | Class canceled for snow |
... | ... |
| Jan 29 | 3. Seasons and Constellations |
Read: Section 2.1 H/W: Q1-5 |
... |
| Feb 3 | 4. Moon phases, eclipses |
Read: Sections 2.2 & 2.3 H/W: Q6-12, 18 |
Jan 20/22 |
| Feb 5 | 5. Planetary Motion |
Read: Section 3.1 H/W: Q1-8 |
Jan 29/Feb 3 |
| Feb 10 | 6. Theory of Gravity |
Read: Sections 3.2 & 3.3 H/W: Q9-12, 22 |
... |
| Feb 12 | 7. Light and Telescopes |
Read: Tools of Science, pp. 43, 80, 180, 130, & 115 Memorize EM spectrum |
Feb 5 |
| Feb 17 | 8. The Sun |
Read: 8.1 H/W: Q1-6,21 |
... |
| Feb 19 | 9. Stars and Starlight |
Read: 8.2 H/W: Q7-12,22 |
Feb 10/12 |
| Feb 24 | 10. H-R Diagram |
Read: 8.3 study H-R diagram |
... |
| Feb 26 | 11. Lives of the Stars |
Read: 9.1, 9.2 (to p. 152) H/W: Q1-6 |
Feb 17/19 |
| Mar 3 | 12. Star Death |
Read: 9.2 (finish), 9.3 H/W: Q7-12 |
... |
| Mar 5 | Class canceled for snow | ... | ... |
| Mar 10 |
13. White Dwarfs/Neutron Stars Midterm Review |
Read: 10.1 H/W: Q1,2,5,6,8,20 |
Feb 24/26 |
| Mar 12 | IN CLASS MIDTERM | ... | ... |
| Mar 17/19 | Spring break | No class | ... |
| Mar 24 | 14. Relativity/Black Holes |
Read: 10.2 H/W: Q3,4,7,9,10 |
... |
| Mar 26 | 15. Searching for Black Holes |
Read: 10.3 H/W: Q11, 12, 18 |
Mar 3/10 |
| Mar 31 | 16. The Milky Way Galaxy |
Read: 11.1 H/W: Q1-6 |
... |
| Apr 2 | 17. Galaxies |
Read: 11.2, 11.3 H/W: Q7-12 |
Mar 24/26 |
| Apr 7 | 18. Cosmic Distance Scale |
Read: 12.1 H/W: Q1-7 |
... |
| Apr 9 | 19. The Expanding Universe |
Read: 12.2 H/W: Q8-12 |
Mar 31/Apr 2 |
| Apr 14 | 20. Galaxy Evolution; The Big Bang |
Read: 12.3, 13.1 H/W: Chap 12: Q19 Chap13: Q1-3 |
... |
| Apr 16 | 21. Evidence for the Big Bang Theory |
Read: 13.2 H/W: Q4-9 |
Apr 7/9 |
| Apr 21 | 22. Inflation |
Read: 13.3 H/W: Q10-12 |
... |
| Apr 23 | 23. Dark Matter |
Read: 14.1, 14.2 H/W: Q1-8 |
Apr 14/16 |
| Apr 28 | 24. Dark Energy |
Read: 14.3 H/W: Q9-12 |
... |
| Apr 30 | 25. Life in the Universe |
Read: 15 H/W: Q1-12 |
Apr 21/23/28 |
| May 7 |
FINAL EXAM |
Covers all chapters & material presented in lectures |
8-11pm Physics Lecture Hall |
| May 8 |
MAKE-UP FINAL EXAM (Must obtain permission to take) |
Covers all chapters & material presented in lectures |
12n-3pm Serin 307W |
Please send any comments to Jack Hughes, jph //at\\ physics.rutgers.edu.
Revised April 26, 2015