Fall Quarter 2022
Prof. James Schombert
Office: 461 Willamette, 6-5214
Office Hours: 12-3pm TuTh
email: jschombe@uoregon.edu
Course Content:
Cosmology, the study of the formation and evolution of the Universe, has progressed from its origins in early man's ideas of Nature, to Chinese and Greek worldviews, to Dante's vision of Heaven and Hell, to Newton's Clockwork Universe. Today, cosmology has entered a Golden Age with the launch of numerous space telescopes and development of technology that allows us to study the echo of the Big Bang. In addition to exploring the processes behind the origin of spacetime and matter, the science of cosmology has also expanded to resolve a number of philosophical and theological issues, such as Creation (i.e. Genesis 1:1) and the anthropic principle.
This course is a historical and philosophical review of our cosmological worldview from mythical times to modern science. We will explore topics in the geometry of the Universe, expanding spacetime and the Big Bang, dark matter, black holes and wormholes, quarks and mesons, galaxies and quantum physics. Our goal is to provide the student with a summary of our current understanding of astrophysics as it relates to the structure of the Universe and what topics remain to be explored in the 21st century. The material is presented without complex mathematics, but an understanding of algebra is required.
Course Objectives:
While somewhat vague, the study of cosmology should do the following:
Grading Policies:
Grading will be based on a series of essay assignments scattered through out the lectures (typically one a week). The goal of the essays is the take some topic we only briefly discussed in class and expand on its meaning. This will involve using what we discussed in class and adding a little of your own research. The standard grading of superior, good, satisfactory and inadequate apply.
Absences:
It's your tuition dollars, come to class or not. Readings and class notes will be on-line. Assignments can be delivered by email. Email if you are going to be late. If you are ill, please do not email your symptoms to me. Rest up and get better.
Materials and Activities:
All the readings necessary for the course are listed in the web pages (note, we do not use Canvas). I recommend completing each reading before the lecture date to improve your understanding and the class discussion. Feel free to drop by my office at anytime my schedule shows I'm around. Most times email is a faster way to get a hold of me.
Classroom Behavior:
The use of tactical nuclear weapons and low orbit beam weapons are prohibited in the classroom.
Accommodations:
If you have a documented disability and anticipate needing accommodations in this course, please see me as soon as possible. And please request that the Counselor for Students with Disabilities (H. Gerdes, hgerdes@oregon) send a letter verifying your disability.
New Legal Stuff:
There's a lot of new Univ and CHC legal stuff that's fun to read at here and here if you are having trouble falling to sleep.