Looking to the heavens has always inspired us to contemplate the nature
of our universe. What powers the sun and the stars? How
big is the universe? Where did the universe come from and what is its
ultimate fate? We will ponder these and other fundamental questions of
nature from a modern scientific point of view and, along the way, we
will have the opportunity to study some of the most beautiful and
inspiring "data" nature has to offer.
The course will include:
Gravity: The force which shapes the cosmos
Light: Our main source of information
The lives and deaths of stars: Cosmic ovens, supernovae, black holes
Our galaxy: the Milky Way
Extragalactic astronomy: Spiral and elliptical galaxies, active galaxies, quasars
Cosmology: the nature of our universe
INSTRUCTOR:
David M. Caditz, Ph.D. is a Visiting Assistant Professor of Physics at
Montana State University. Dr. Caditz has performed research in
elementary particle physics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and
has held research positions at the Center for Space Science and
Astrophysics at Stanford University. At MSU, Dr. Caditz has taught
several courses in graduate and undergraduate level physics and has
performed research in various aspects of astronomical data analysis and
high energy extragalactic astrophysics.
CREDIT:
Physics511 - 3 graduate semester credits.
PREREQUISITES:
The course is designed primarily for Certified
Science Teachers with one year of science teaching experience.
Registrants should have at least one year of coursework and proficiency
in college level physics.
TIME COMMITMENT:
10 to 12 hours per week.
TARGET AUDIENCE:
This course is designed primarily for middle
and high school science teachers.
TEXT:
Discovering the Cosmos, by R. C. Bless, University Science Books, Sausalito, CA.
COST:
Tuition is $270 and the materials fee is $90 (includes
shipping). In addition, there is a communications fee of $100 for use
of our 800 number, unless you are able to access the course through a
direct Internet connection (requires a SLIP or PPP connection).
Return to the list of NTEN courses.