PHYS 1030 - Astronomy Concepts

Credits: 3
Hours/Week: Lecture 3 Lab None
Course Description: Astronomy Concepts offers an overview of the science of the cosmos. The course covers a wide variety of topics: the Earth-Moon-Sun system, the solar system, stars, galaxies, and cosmology. The course is purely conceptual. Mathematical expressions are used only in a conceptual way to express relationships between various astronomical and physics ideas. Students will write research papers on approved topics in astronomy throughout the semester. Lab-like activities afford students the opportunity to make observations that allow them to interpret and refine their own models of how the cosmos is put together. Restriction: Closed to students who have completed PHYS 1070 or PHYS 1035 .
MnTC Goals
3 Natural Science

Prerequisite(s): None
Corequisite(s): None
Recommendation: None

Major Content

1. The Earth-Sun-Moon System.
   1. Constellations and Stellar Motion.
   2. Motion of the Sun.
      1. Definition of the Ecliptic.
      2. Solstices and Equinoxes.
      3. The Seasons.
   3. Lunar Motion.
      1. Lunar Phases.
      2. Synodic vs. Sidereal Period.
   4. Eclipses.
   5. Precession of the Earth’s Rotational Axis.
2. The Solar System.
   1. Renaissance Models.
      1. Ptolemiac Geocentric Model.
      2. Copernicus’ Heliocentric Model.
      3. Kepler’s Laws.
   2. Orbital Mechanics.
      1. Newton’s Laws of Motion.
      2. Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation.
   3. Evidence for Heliocentric Models.
   4. Inner Planets.
      1. Geology.
      2. Surface Features.
      3. Atmospheres.
   5. Outer Planets.
      1. Atmospheres.
      2. Composition.
      3. Moons.
3. Stellar Astronomy.
   1. Interstellar Medium.
   2. The Sun.
      1. Composition.
      2. Properties.
      3. Solar Activity.
   3. Stellar Properties.
      1. Luminosity.
      2. Mass Distribution.
      3. Size Distribution.
   4. Stellar System Formation.
      1. Star Formation.
      2. Planet Formation.
      3. Extrasolar Planets.
   5. Stellar Evolution.
      1. Giants.
      2. Supernovae.
      3. Neutron Stars.
      4. Black Holes.
4. Galaxies.
   1. Milky Way Galaxy.
   2. Measuring Galactic Distances.
   3. Galactic Evolution.
   4. Galactic Halo and Dark Matter.
   5. Galactic Mergers.
   6. Quasars and Galactic Nuclei.
5. Cosmology.
   1. Models of the Universe.
   2. General Relativity.
      1. Principle of Equivalence.
      2. The Nature of Space-Time.
   3. The Big Bang Theory.
   4. Evidence for the Big Bang Theory.
   5. Inflation of the Universe.
   6. Expansion of the Universe.
      1. Type Ia Supernovae Prevalence.
      2. Dark Energy.
   7. Distribution of Mass-Energy of the Universe.
   8. Age of the Universe.

1. analyze scientific models of the cosmos using observations and/or data.
2. describe stellar formation for a variety of different stellar mass ranges.
3. describe the evolution of the universe and the models that describe this evolution.
4. describe the motion of the stars and planets in terms of scientific models.
5. explain models of the formation of planetary systems.
6. explain the relationship between galaxies.

03. 03. Communicate their experimental findings, analyses, and interpretations both orally and in writing.

03. 04. Evaluate societal issues from a natural science perspective, ask questions about the evidence presented, and make informed judgments about science-related topics and policies.

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