LECTURE SCHEDULE AND READING ASSIGMENTS
Readings are from the textbook (The Cosmic Perspective Fundamentals).
iclicker quizes are given in class on Wednesdays (except where noted below) and will test the material presented in previous lectures
| Date | Topic | Assignment | Quiz covers |
| Jan 19 | 1. Introduction | ... | ... |
| Jan 24 | 2. Our Place/Time in the Universe |
Read: Chap 1, Appendix C H/W: Q1-11, 19 |
... |
| Jan 26 | 3. Seasons and Constellations |
Read: Section 2.1 H/W: Q1-5 |
... |
| Jan 31 | 4. Moon phases, eclipses |
Read: Sections 2.2 & 2.3 H/W: Q6-12, 18 |
... |
| Feb 2 | 5. Planetary Motion |
Read: Section 3.1 H/W: Q1-8 |
Jan 19/24 |
| Feb 7 | 6. Theory of Gravity |
Read: Sections 3.2 & 3.3 H/W: Q9-12, 22 |
Jan 26/31 |
| Feb 9 | 7. Light and Telescopes |
Read: Tools of Science, pp. 42, 79, 184, 132, & 116 Memorize EM spectrum |
Feb 2/7 |
| Feb 14 | 8. The Sun |
Read: 8.1 H/W: Q1-6,21 |
... |
| Feb 16 | 9. Stars and Starlight |
Read: 8.2 H/W: Q7-12,22 |
Feb 9/14 |
| Feb 21 | 10. H-R Diagram |
Read: 8.3 study H-R diagram |
... |
| Feb 23 | 11. Lives of the Stars |
Read: 9.1, 9.2 (to p. 156) H/W: Q1-6 |
Feb 16/21 |
| Feb 28 | 12. Star Death |
Read: 9.2 (finish), 9.3 H/W: Q7-12 |
... |
| Mar 2 | 13. White Dwarfs/Neutron Stars |
Read: 10.1 H/W: Q1,2,5,6,8,20 |
... |
| Mar 7 | Midterm Review |
... |
Feb 23/28 Mar 2 |
| Mar 9 | IN CLASS MIDTERM | ... | ... |
| Mar 14/16 | Spring break | No class | ... |
| Mar 21 | 14. Relativity/Black Holes |
Read: 10.2 H/W: Q3,4,7,9,10 |
... |
| Mar 23 | 15. Searching for Black Holes |
Read: 10.3 H/W: Q11, 12, 18 |
... |
| Mar 28 | 16. The Milky Way Galaxy |
Read: 11.1 H/W: Q1-6 |
... |
| Mar 30 | 17. Galaxies |
Read: 11.2, 11.3 H/W: Q7-12 |
Mar 21/23 |
| Apr 4 | 18. Cosmic Distance Scale |
Read: 12.1 H/W: Q1-7 |
... |
| Apr 6 | 19. The Expanding Universe |
Read: 12.2 H/W: Q8-12 |
Mar 28/30 |
| Apr 11 | 20. Galaxy Evolution; The Big Bang |
Read: 12.3, 13.1 H/W: Chap 12: Q19 Chap13: Q1-3 |
... |
| Apr 13 | 21. Evidence for the Big Bang Theory |
Read: 13.2 H/W: Q4-9 |
Apr 4/6 |
| Apr 18 | 22. Inflation |
Read: 13.3 H/W: Q10-12 |
... |
| Apr 20 | 23. Dark Matter |
Read: 14.1, 14.2 H/W: Q1-8 |
Apr 11/13 |
| Apr 25 | 24. Dark Energy |
Read: 14.3 H/W: Q9-12 |
... |
| Apr 27 | 25. Life in the Universe |
Read: 15 H/W: Q1-12 |
Apr 18/20 |
| May 2 | Final Review | ... | Apr 25/27 |
| May 9 |
FINAL EXAM |
Covers all chapters & material presented in lectures |
Time: 8-11pm Place: PLH |
| May 10 |
MAKE-UP FINAL EXAM (Must obtain permission to take) |
Covers all chapters & material presented in lectures |
Time: 12n-3pm Place: P&A Building, rm 307w |
Please send any comments to Jack Hughes, jph //at\\ physics.rutgers.edu.
Revised November 28, 2022