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Fall 2009

ASTR1101: The Nature of the Universe

Credit Hours: 3
Prerequisites: limited to 30 students per discussion section
Typically offered: Fall
Crosslisted with: ASTR 103

Introduces students to the cosmos. The birth, evolution, and death of stars, the formation of the chemical elements, and the nature of white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes are discussed. An introduction to the theories of special relativity and general relativity is given. The course covers the search for other worlds outside the solar system and the possible existence of life and intelligence elsewhere in the universe. Modern theories of cosmology are presented, and the origin, structure, and fate of the universe are discussed. Most of the course notes as well as sample exams and simulations are made available on the Web.

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