Astro 4
Black Holes and Cosmic Catastrophes
Fall 2013
Introduction
We experience the effects of gravity in our everyday lives. This
important force shapes our Sun and its evolution, along with all stars and their exotic end-states,
galaxies, and the universe itself. In Astronomy 4, we study the effects
of gravity and other competing forces on the nature of stars, black holes, galaxies, and the
universe as a whole, including an introduction to special and general
relativity.
Course Information
Professor:
TAs:
Lectures:
Discussion Sections:
1A Thursday 2:00-2:50 pm; 2200 Young Hall; TA: Xinnan Du
1B Thursday 3:00-3:50 pm; 5137 Math Sciences; TA: Ashwin Hegde
1C Friday 9:00-9:50 am; 5436 Boelter; TA: Samantha Chappell
Textbook, etc.:
The Cosmic Perspective: Stars, Galaxies & Cosmology (7th Edition)
Bennett, Donahue, Schneider, Voit
A simple calculator is HIGHLY recommended, though not required.
Concept Test Card Sheet
Grading:
- Homework
30%: Weekly assignments, simple quantitative problems
- Mid-Term
30%: Combination of multiple choice, true/false, matching
- Final Exam
40%: Combination of multiple choice, true/false, matching
Homework will be assigned roughly every week and is to be turned
in at the beginning of class on the designated day.
Homework turned in after the beginning of class on the due date
will be considered late. Late homework may be turned in up to
1 week after the due date, at a penalty of 20% reduction in score.
After one week, we will return graded homework. No homework is
accepted after that.
Course Website:
