1. ASTRO 340 – FALL 2006 Dennis Papadopoulos THE ORIGIN OF THE UNIVERSE Tuesdays and Thursdays 3.30-4.45 pm Room CSS 1246 Dennis Papadopoulos Office CSS 2309 Telephone 301-405-1526 Email dpapadop@umd.edudpapadop@umd.edu Office Hours: Tuesday 5-6 or anytime by appointment – Call my secretary to confirm that I will be in the office

2. Support Teaching Assistant Secretary Janice Hall Office CSS 2309 Telephone 301-405-1503 Email jhall@astro.umd.edujhall@astro.umd.edu Teaching Assistant 0224, CSSB Telephone 301-405-1551 Email hgong@astro.umd.eduhgong@astro.umd.edu Office Hours TBD

3. The Course Cosmology Study of the origin, structure and evolution of the Universe Universe ? Questions Genesis – History – Evolution – Present and Future State Contents – Stars –Galaxies – Planets –Black holes – Physical Characteristics – Time – Laws

4. Textbook Web Pages Foundations of Modern Cosmology (2 nd Ed.) J. Hawley and K. Holcomb http://www.astro.virginia.edu/~jh8h/Foundations Course Web Page www.astro.umd.edu/~kp/ASTR340_0201 Syllabus – Assignments – Solutions – Lectures

5. Prerequisites Expectations Serious Science Course High School Math and Physics Astr100 or 101 Linked to astronomy through observations, linked to physics through laws governing interactions Attendance – Class participation – Pre- lecture preparation. Approximately 10 hours/week

6. Further Expectations You will have a comprehensive understanding of how the Universe began, how it evolved to the present day and what the future holds You will be able to convert a physical problem into simple equations and solve them using methods of at least high school math and physics

7. What you will learn Questions to answer Where did we come from ? How was the Universe created and evolved to the present stage What is the Big Bang What are dark matter and dark energy What is open and closed Universe What are black holes Is the Universe expanding? What is the missing mass What makes the stars shine What are space and time and why time moves in one direction? What is the ultimate fate of the Sun and even the Universe Were there Universes before this one and will others follow ours ?

8. Grading Homework – There will be weekly assignments given on Tuesdays and due at the beginning of class one week later Two Midterm Quizzes Final exam HW 20% MT 30% Final 40% Class Participation 10% Numerical grading based on curving upwards

9. Academic Integrity While I encourage working in groups on lectures and HWs, you need to solve the HW on your own. Never copy from another student Never allow another student to copy from you Always give reference if you copy something verbatim Always cite references you used Always present your own thoughts Per campus policy comply with the Honor Pledge of the UMCP as listed on the Student Honor Council Website

10. Honor Pledge The University of Maryland, College Park has a nationally recognized Code of Academic Integrity, administered by the Student Honor Council. This Code sets standards for academic integrity at Maryland for all undergraduate and graduate students. As a student you are responsible for upholding these standards for this course. It is very important for you to be aware of the consequences of cheating, fabrication, facilitation, and plagiarism. For more information on the Code of Academic Integrity or the Student Honor Council, please visit http://www.shc.umd.edu. http://www.shc.umd.edu To further exhibit your commitment to academic integrity, remember to sign the Honor Pledge on all examinations and assignments: "I pledge on my honor that I have not given or received any unauthorized assistance on this examination (assignment)."

11. Cosmology Topics Early History of Cosmos – Myths Scientific Roots of Cosmology – Greeks The Laws of the Universe Newton Einstein Physical Laws and Observables Observations of the Universe Contents Expansion – Hubble The future – accelerating universe – dark matter –dark energy Big Bang – Early Universe - Inflation