Block IV
Galaxies, Cosmology and Desperately Seeking ET
Tentative Schedule:

  

 

                April 17th

April 22                April 24

Apr 29                   May 1

May 6                   May 8

 Final Exam


 

 

Thursday, April 17th
THE MILKY WAY GALAXY
"For my own part, I declare I know nothing whatever about it, but looking at the stars always makes me dream,as simply as I dream over the black dots representing villages and towns on a map. Why, I ask myself, shouldn't the shining dots of the sky be as accessible as the black dots on the map of France?"
Vincent Van Gogh, 1889

Textbook:

         1.  Overview Six: The Milky Way and Other Galaxies

         2.  Chapter Fifteen : The Milky Way Galaxy, Sections 15.1 - 15.8,  pg 445 - 475

               Test Yourself Questions, pg 476, 1 -5

Objectives: You should be able to:

  1. Draw a schematic representation of the Milky Way Galaxy showing its nucleus, halo, spiral arms and location of the sun
  2. .jpg" width="427" height="177">
  3. Describe Herschel's method of star counting to infer the shape of the galaxy
  4. Contrast Radial and Proper MotionRadial and Proper Motion of stars in the galaxy
  5. Explain the basis of the Curtis-Shapely Debate
  6. Van Gogh's Starry Night Compare Population I and Population II Stars
  7. Describe the Nucleus of the Milky Way Galaxy
  8. Discuss the possibility of a Black Hole lurking in the galactic core
  9. Decribe the Globular Clusters located in the halo of the galaxy
milkyway.avi (10MB!)
milkyway.mov (8.5MB) - Apple QuickTime Movie
milkyway.mpg (2.7MB)
Key Words: You may use these for Review or SEARCH items:

      Lab#9: You will be assigned a specific laboratory activity that is consistent with the weather and where you are in the objectives. Check with your instructor before you forge ahead.

 

Tuesday,  April 22nd

  

GALAXIES
"Images of broken light which dance before me like a million eyes that call me on and on across the Universe. Limitless undying love which shines around me like a million suns, it calls me on and on across the Universe."
The Beatles, 1968 AD
Close-by galaxies

 

 

Textbook:
 

                  1.  Chapter Sixteen :  Galaxies, Sections 16.1 - 16.6,  pg 479 - 509
               Test Yourself Questions, pg 510, 1 -5
Objectives: You should be able to:
  1. Describe a possible scenario for the origin and evolution of the Milky Way
  2. Compare Elliptical, Spiral, and Irregular Galaxies
  3. Given a set of galactic images, categorize galaxies into their probable types
  4. Discuss how galaxies become elliptical or spiralshow spiral and elliptical galaxies can morph .
  5. Using the technique of the Standard Candle explain how distances to galaxies can be determined
  6. Describe what happens when galaxies collide and merge
  7. Describe the Missing Mass Problem
  8. Explain what Hubble's Law is and how it relates to galaxies
  9. Compare Mass Luminosity Ratio for various kinds of galaxies
  10. Describe observed properties of Quasars
  11. Describe how galaxies are clustered on the large scale.
Key Words: You may use these for Review or SEARCH items:

.

 

Thursday, April 24th
Introduction to Cosmology
"What did you see?" I asked, "Before beginning's Big Bang lights?"
(I reviews and interviews, I edits and I writes.)
"Before the start of time, before the Universe's birth?
What did the Hubble show, ten billion years before Earth?"
He told me. Now I writes no more. I drinks a bit, I edits.
"Right before the beginning," he said, "is when they roll the credits!"
Jonathon Post
Gravitational Lensing of highest redshift galaxy

Textbook:

                  1.  Chapter Seventeen :  Cosmology, Sections 17.1 - 17.5,  pg 513 - 535
               Test Yourself Questions, pg 536, 1 -5

Objectives: You should be able to:

  1. Define Cosmology This link is in itself, a complete course on Cosmology.
  2. Explain Olber's Paradox
  3. Explain what is meant by Homogeneous and Isotropic Universe
  4. Contrast contemporary cosmological models
  5. Describe the importance of the cosmic background radiation to both models
  6. Explain the cosmic abundances and how this is consistent with the Standard Big Bang Model
  7. Outline the results of the COBE experiment
  8. Describe a scenario of probable evolution of matter and radiation and their interaction
  9. Explain how elementary particles can be formed from photons and the temperature required for this process
  10. Discuss the missing mass problem
  11. Discuss problems with cosmic evolution and standard models
Key Words: You may use these for Review or SEARCH items:

Lab#11: You will be assigned a specific laboratory activity that is consistent with the weather and where you are in the objectives. Check with your instructor before you forge ahead.

 

Tuesday, Apr 29th

 

   May 1st - Celebrate!

 


 

Cosmology - The Origin and Nature of the Universe
"... First there was the Great Cosmic Egg. Inside the egg was chaos. Floating in the chaos was P'an Ku, the undeveloped divine embryo."
Huai-nan Tzu, China 100 BC
Big Bang
Activities:
 
Video: Creation of the Universe, Part I
 

Objectives: You should be able to:

  1. Discuss the possible Geometries of the Universe
  2. Relate possible geometries to the destiny of the universe
  3. Explain what is meant by Inflationary Universeand why it is important in Cosmology
  4. Describe the Grand Unified Field Theory (GUTS)
  5. Relate expansion velocity and critical density of the universe.
  1. Explain the Carriers of the Four Fundamental Forces of Nature.
    • Strong Force - Gluons
    • Electro-Magnetic Force - Photons
    • Weak Nuclear Force - W and Higgs Bosons
    • Gravity - Gravitons
Key Words: You may use these for Review or SEARCH items:


Thursday, May 1st

 

 Cosmology - The Ultimate Destiny of Everything

"There will certainly be no lack of human pioneers when we have mastered the art of flight ... Let us create vessels and sails adjusted to the heavenly ether, and there will be plenty of people unafraid of the empty wastes. In the meantime we shall prepare for the brave sky-travelers, maps of the celestial bodies."
Johannes Kepler, 1610
Solar Eclipse

 

Read: None - This is an opportunity to review the big picture from the moment of creation through today and until the universe meets its ultimate fate.

Review Questions: None

Objectives: You should be able to:

  1. Describe the nature of the primeval fireball
  2. Describe cosmic abundances formed during the big bang
  3. Explain how matter might be created from photons
  4. Outline how cosmic events are related to temperature and time in the origin of the universe
Key Words: You may use these for Review or SEARCH items:

Lab#12: You will be assigned a specific laboratory activity that is consistent with the weather and where you are in the objectives. Check with your instructor before you forge ahead.

 

Monday  is Cinco de Mayo!

Tuesday, May 6th

 The Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence

                  1.  Essay Three :  Life in the Universe
                   Test Yourself Questions, pg 548, 1 -5
    Objectives: You should be able to: Key Words: You may use these for Review or SEARCH items:
Thursday, May 8th
Thurs  May 15th       Final Exam
Final Opportunity to Excel

Take this exam any time Thursday from 1030 - 1230, online through Blackboard on campus, as before There are 100 questions, multiple choice, containing material from the entire course. Even though it is comprehensive, there will be questions from untested material from Block IV. Good Luck.


Commencement
Sunday, May 21st