Professor
Eiichiro Komatsu
Course Website
TA
Beth Fernandez
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Syllabus for printing
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pdf
Course Objectives
This course provides an overview of the basic physical picture as well as historical accounts
of classic and modern cosmology. Cosmology has been one of the central interest of human
beings. Ancient people had a very different picture of the universe than we have now. Since
then, our picture of the universe has evolved tremendously as our understanding of physics
has advanced, while at early times religious reasons were also necessary to develop cosmological
models. Recently, cosmology has entered a new era with precision observations, which revealed
new cosmological puzzles that will probably lead us to discover new physics. The lecture will
cover cosmological models, expansion of the universe, redshifts, the early universe, cosmic
inflation, dark matter and energy, special and general relativity, as well as stars, galaxies, quasars
and black holes.
Prerequisites
AST301, 302, or 303, or an equivalent descriptive introduction to astronomy of one semester or more.
Textbook
Cosmology, 2nd edition
Author: Edward Harrison
Cambridge University Press
Class
- Class meets at WEL 3.502 on TTh 12:30-2pm.
Exams
- There will be 6 exams, all of which consist of multiple choices. (See the course
schedule for the dates of exams.) The penalty for cheating on an exam is a score of zero for the exam,
and the zero will be included to calculate the final grade.
- There will be make-up examinations ONLY for students with valid excuses. Reasons for
absence must be presented in advance of examination. No make-up exams will be arranged for those
who did not notify the lecturer about their absence in advance.
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