Astro 4
Black Holes and Cosmic Catastrophes
Spring 2012
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:
TA:
Li-Wei Hung
3-534 PAB
hung88@ucla.edu
Office Hours: Monday 2-3 pm; Friday 1-2 pm; Location: 3-534 PAB
Lectures:
Discussion Sections:
1A Thursday 1:00-1:50 pm; 101 Kaufman
1B Thursday 3:00-3:50 pm; 4660 Geology
1C Thursday 4:00-4:50 pm; 5128 Math Sciences
Textbook, etc.:
The Cosmic Perspective: Stars, Galaxies & Cosmology (6th Edition)
Bennett, Donahue, Schneider, Voit
A simple calculator is HIGHLY recommended, though not required.
Concept Test Card Sheet
Grading:
- Homework
30%: Weekly assignments, mixture of multiple choice, short answer, and simple problems
- Mid-Term
30%: Combination of multiple choice, short answer, and simple problems
- Final Exam
40%: Combination of multiple choice, short answer, and simple problems
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:
