Cluster 9
Introduction to Astrophysics

• Instructors: Chris Fassnacht, Vera Margoniner, & Chris Taylor
• Prerequesites: Algebra II
• Typical Field Trips: Rotary Community Observatory, Lick Observatory, California Academy of Sciences, and SETI Institute

Introduction

This cluster consists of two interrelated 4-week core courses: "Light" and "Gravity and the Expansion of the Universe". These courses are intended to provide students with a good background in some of the most important aspects of astrophysics, and then applying this knowledge to some of the most interesting recent discoveries in the field.

Core Courses (4 Weeks)

Light

An understanding of light -- its properties, its interaction with matter, how it carries information through the Universe, and how we collect that information -- is a crucial component of astrophysics. This course will begin with an exploration of the full electromagnetic spectrum and show students how much we can learn from the light that we detect in our telescopes. We will discuss the physical properties of astronomical objects that can be studied using x-ray, visible, infrared, and radio observations. Throughout the course, we will also discuss spectroscopy, a very powerful tool used in astrophysics, and will use existing spectroscopic observations to discuss evidence for dark matter, and for the expansion of the Universe.

As part of this course, students will choose a celestial object that they are interested in learning more about, research its properties, and, as part of our exploration of the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, take images of it with an optical telescope. Back in the classroom they will analyze the data they obtained for the remainder of the course. At the end of the four weeks, each student will share the knowledge that they obtained for their object with their peers.

Gravity and the Expansion of the Universe

This course will focus on the properties of spacetime and the Universe as a whole. It will begin with a description of gravity, first from the standpoint of Newton's classic theory and then from that of Einstein's idea of curved spacetime. The concept of curved spacetime will then be used as a basis for understanding black holes and gravitational lenses. The course will introduce students to the process of star formation and evolution, galaxy formation, and the large scale structure of the Universe. We will discuss the evidence for an accelerating rate of the expansion of the Universe and dark energy, and will explore what our current understanding of those implies for the ultimate fate of the Universe.

Modified 2009-01-29T20:00:00Z