|
Week
|
Professor
|
Topic
|
Description
|
Reading Assignment
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 & 2
1/14-1/25
|
Bernard
|
The Cosmos at a Glance
|
A brief guide
to the universe; Olber's paradox and the Doppler effect; an introduction to
electromagnetic waves and elementary particles; a narrative history of the
big bang.
|
- Bryson,
A Short History of Nearly Everything: Introduction, and
Chapters 1, 2, and 8.
- Note:
corrections/clarifications to Bryson's book are on online readings page.
- Goodenough,
The Sacred Depths of Nature (TSDON): Chapter I.
- Rue, Everybody's Story (ES) pp. 47-64;
also (for class discussions and overview) pp. ix-43.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3
1/28-2/1
|
Wysession
|
Heat and Gravity
|
The creation
of the solar system, the formation of the Earth and Moon, and the internal heat-driven
motions within the Earth.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4
2/4-2/8
|
Goodenough
|
Evolutionary History and the Origin
of Life
|
A walk back through
evolutionary time and a plausible nonlife-to-life scenario that lifts up
what being alive entails.
|
- TSDON,
Chapter II
- Bryson,
Chapters 19, 20
- Powerpoints
of all 2008 lectures will be on website for review
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5
2/11-2/15
|
Bernard
|
Microcosm and Macrocosm
|
The four
fundamental forces; the formation of galaxies and quasars; the birth of
stars; thermonuclear processes; hydrogen and helium "burning" in
stars.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6
2/18-2/22
|
Wysession
|
Earth Forces
|
Plate
tectonics and the formation of continents, mountains, and oceans through
plate motions.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7
2/25-2/29
|
Goodenough
|
How Single-celled Organisms Evolve
|
Generation,
variation, and selection of simple biological traits, with a focus on
cellular awareness.
|
- TSDON
through Chapter VI .
- ES
through part I.
- Bryson,
Chapters 21-23.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8
3/3-3/7
|
Wysession
|
Earth
Materials
|
The chemistry of rocks and minerals, including the results of melting,
freezing, and squeezing rocks.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Monday, 3/3
Wedneday, 3/5
|
|
Review
Session: Monday, March 3,
7:30--9:00 PM, Crow 204
MIDTERM EXAM, 1--2PM
A-G: Crow 204
H-Z: Busch 100
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9
3/17-3/21
|
Bernard
|
Stellar Evolution
|
Red giants
and white dwarfs; creation of heavy elements; supernovae and pulsars.
|
- Bryson,
Chapter 3; also reread Chapter 9.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10
3/24-3/28
|
Goodenough
|
How
Multicellular Organisms Evolve
|
Embryos,
brain-based awareness, sex, and death.
|
- TSDON
through chapter IX.
- ES
through part II.
- Bryson,
Chapters 24-25.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11
3/31-4/4
|
Bernard
|
Curved Space
|
Maps and globes;
Einstein's General Relativity; black holes; the shape of the universe and
how it is determined.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12
4/7-4/11
|
Wysession
|
Water
|
The shaping
of the surface of the Earth through motions of water and ice; erosion,
transportation, and deposition of rock; climate.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
13
4/14-4/18
|
Goodenough
|
Human Evolution
|
The primate
lineage and the co-evolution of human brains, language, and culture.
|
- Goodenough,
The Sacred Depths of Nature: rest of book
- Rue,
Everybody's Story: rest of book
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
14
4/21-4/25
|
Bernard
Wysession
Goodenough
|
Review and Speculation
|
Bernard
(4/21): What is the Universe Made of?
Wysession (4/23): Any More Earths Out There?
Goodenough (4/25): Human Nature in a Planetary Context
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Monday, 5/5
Wednesday,
5/7
|
|
Review Session: Monday, May 5
7:00-9:00 PM
Brown 100
FINAL EXAM: Wednesday, May 7
1-3 PM
A-J: Crow 204
K-Z: Crow 201
|
|
|