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Astronomy 103
ASTR 302 - Foundations of Cosmological Thought


Assignments


Fall Semester 2006

Latest Modification: November 28, 2006

Lecture and Reading Schedule

Reading assignments are from the textbook for the course - Hawley, John F., and Katherine A. Holcomb. Foundations of Modern Cosmology, 2nd Edition. Oxford University Press, 2005. The reading assignment should be completed before the class meeting so that questions about the material can be answered during that time. Should progress through the schedule below vary from that given, adjustments to the material to be covered by the two semester exams will be made just before the examination. It is the responsibility of each student to attend class so that they are aware of what material is being covered.

 

Week Dates Topic Reading
1 Aug. 29 & 31 Early Scientific Cosmologies Chapter 1
2 Sep. 5 & 7 Cosmology Becomes a Science Chapter 2
3 Sep. 12 & 14 Newton’s Machine Chapter 3
4 Sep. 19 & 21 Light, Galaxies, and Redshifts Chapter 4
5 Sep. 26 & 28 Stars: Structure and Evolution Chapter 5
6 Oct. 3 & 5 Infinite Time and Absolute Space Chapter 6
  Oct. 5 First Examination Chapters 1-5
7 Oct. 12 Special Relativity Chapter 7
8 Oct. 17 & 19 General Relativity, Curved Spacetime Chapter 8
9 Oct 24 & 26 Black Holes Chapter 9
10 Oct. 31 & Nov. 2 Black Holes Chapter 9
  Nov. 2 First Project Presentation  
11 Nov. 7 & 9 The Expanding Universe Chapter 10
12 Nov. 14 & 16 The Expanding Universe Chapter 10
  Nov. 16 Second Examination Chapters 6-10
13 Nov. 21 Modeling the Universe Chapter 11
  Nov. 21 Second Project Presentation  
14 Nov. 28 & 30 Modeling the Universe, The Early Universe Chapter 11 & 12
15 Dec. 5 & 7 The Early Universe Chapter 12
  Dec. 7 Final Project Presentation  
  Dec. 12 Final Exam Chapters 1-12


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Physics & Astronomy Department, George Mason University
Maintained by J. C. Evans; jevans@gmu.edu