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Special Topics Course Proposal Form
SUFFOLK COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
SPECIAL TOPICS COURSE PROPOSAL FORM
ORIGINATING CAMPUS: ( X) Ammerman ( ) Eastern
( ) Grant
Date Submitted to Campus Dean: _____mm/yy_____
To meet the ideals of Suffolk County Community College, new courses should, if appropriate, consider issues arising
from elements of cultural diversity in areas of textbook choice, selection of library and audio-visual materials, and
teaching methodology.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Proposed by_
DR MIKE INGLIS
Date of Proposal__18 – 08 – 2007
Department/Discipline___Earth & Space Sciences____ASTRONOMY
Course #__________ Course Title_ EINSTEIN’S UNIVERSE-HIGH ENERGY ASTRONOMY
I.
RELATIONSHIP TO STUDENTS
A.
*Credit Hours_4___
Contact Hours_5___
Lecture Hours__3___ Lab Hours____2_
II.
B.
Class Size 24
C.
Course Fees
Lab Fees__yes___
Course Fees_____
RELATIONSHIP TO MASTER SCHEDULE
A.
**Proposed Semesters Course will run:
Spring 2008 - Spring 2009
B.
III.
**Projected Termination Date
Spring 2009
Rationale for Course:
To introduce the student to those topics that students are traditionally fascinated with, but are only briefly
mentioned in ES22-Astronomy of Stars and Galaxies, such as relativity, time travel, exotic star death, black
holes, and the origins and death of the universe, and show how these ideas have come about from the work of
Albert Einstein.
IV.
Description of Course:
It will cover the following;

The scientific method and how it applies to astronomy. This will provide an understanding of how our
ideas about the universe have evolved over the ages, especially during the past century using
technological advances.

The origins and development of astronomy and classical physics including the development of
gravitation. Special emphasis will be given to Galileo and Newton.

The effect and influence of Albert Einstein, his views on the scientific world, and the world’s view of
Albert Einstein.
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Special Topics Course Proposal Form
V.

The development and implications of Special Relativity. Topics will include; the limit of the speed of
light, time dilation and length contraction, the true origin of the redshift phenomena and realistic
space travel.

the development and implications of General Relativity. Topics discussed will include; the curvature of
space-time, the bending of light, the apparent slowing down of time around supermassive black holes,
and time machines.

The various end results of stellar evolution, and how stellar mass influences a star’s death. Topics
discussed will include; white dwarf stars, neutron stars, supernovae and black holes.

The observational characteristics of Active Galaxies and their implications for galactic evolution.

A discussion of how distance measurements are made in galactic astronomy and the limitations
therein. Topics covered will include; the size of the universe, the edge of the universe, the cosmic
horizon.

The implications of modern cosmology from an observational viewpoint and discuss the various future
scenarios for the fate of the universe. Topics discussed will include; an accelerating universe, the ‘Big
Rip”, Branes, and the Multiverse.
Approvals
Department Approval__Thomas Breeden_____________
Date_8/14/07______________
Academic Chair
Campus Dean Approval__William F. Connors,Jr.
Date__8/14/07
Campus Dean
ALL FORMS MUST BE SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY
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Special Topics Course Proposal Form
SPECIAL TOPICS • COURSE SYLLABUS
I
Course Number and Title:
Einstein’s Universe – High Energy Astronomy
II.
Description of Course:
It is a introduction to astronomical objects and events that are associated with extremely high-energy
such as Neutron stars, Black holes, and Cosmology. Throughout the course emphasis will be placed on the
both of Albert Einstein’s Special and General Theories of Relativity
III.
Course Objectives:
Students will gain an understanding and appreciation of astronomical events that have shaped and the
molded our modern view of the Universe, even though these phenomena are outside of everyday experience.
Starting with Galileo, and ending with Albert Einstein, it will show the student how the scientific process is
performed, using observations of faint and distant object, whilst relating these observations to theoretical
ideas developed by Einstein [and where appropriate, other scientists]. It will cover such esoteric and very
popular topics such as Black holes, the possibility of time travel, and the future scenarios for the ultimate end
of the universe.
Students will also have an opportunity to observe some of the objects discussed in class, weather
permitting, by using a selection of the department’s telescopes.
Upon completion of this course students will:
Have an understating of the development of our understanding of the large-scale structure of the
Universe, as well as an appreciation of the scientific process that led to these ideas and concepts. Using both
traditional paper-based and interactive computer-based laboratory material, the student will see for
themselves how observations lead to an understanding of extremely remote astronomical processes in the
universe.
Students will also gain a sufficient understanding of high-energy astronomical phenomena in order to have
an appreciation for recent developments in the field.
IV.
Required Texts and Materials:
REQUIRED TEXTBOOK: Gravity from the Ground Up; An Introductory Guide to Gravity & General Relativity
Bernard Schutz
LAB MATERIALS: CLEA/Spitzer & Hubble /Astronomy through Practical Investigations
OTHER MATERIAL:
Scientific Calculator
V.
Assessment of Student Learning:
Course objectives will be achieved through classroom lecture/discussion, lab activities, lab quizzes, lecture
tutorials, and exams. Due to the nature of astronomical studies, much of the knowledge is based on a
ALL FORMS MUST BE SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY
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Special Topics Course Proposal Form
mathematical interpretation of observations. For this reason elementary algebra will be used frequently and
mastery of the MA07 prerequisite is essential to a successful course experience.
VI.
Outline of Topics and Assignments:
A.
Introduction to Science and the Cosmos

The nature of science and the scientific method

A Grand Tour of the Physical Universe
B.
Classical Science

The beginnings of physics—Galileo and the experimental method

Newton’s Laws: The Constitution of the Universe
C.
i.
Work, Energy, Power
ii.
Classical Gravitation
The Life and Time of Albert Einstein

Brief biographical overview

Einstein’s views of science and the world

Einstein, Relativity and the Rest of Human Culture

Images of Einstein in popular culture & the public view of scientists
D.
The Special Theory of Relativity

Time Dilation, Lorentz-Fitzgerald Contraction, the Twins Paradox

The role of mass and energy

The meaning of E = mc2

Realistic Space Travel as an Illustration of Special Relativity Theory
E.
The General Theory of Relativity

Spacetime
i. Curved Spacetime
ii. Evidence of Warped Spacetime
iii. Bending of Light
iv. Slowing Down of Time (Time Dilation)

Gravitational Redshift

Gravitational Waves

Time Machines in Science: Using General Relativity
F
Stellar Remnants

Degenerate matter
i. White Dwarfs
ii. Novae and Supernovae Type I
iii. Neutron Stars
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Special Topics Course Proposal Form

Pulsars
i. Lighthouse Model
ii. Energy from Spin
iii. Spin Glitch

Black Holes
i. Ultra-strong Gravity
ii. General Relativity
iii. Detecting Black Holes
iv. Mass of Companion in Binary
v.
G
X-rays from Accretion Disk
Active Galaxies

The Active Galaxy “Zoo”
i. Quasars
ii. QSO’s
iii. Seyferts
iv. Blazars
v.
Liners
vi. OOV’s

Active Galaxies
i. Power Source for Active Galaxies and Quasars
ii. The Short Life of an Active Galaxy
H
The Hubble Constant

Steps to the Hubble Constant Distance scale ladder
i. Step 1 The Astronomical Unit
ii. Step 2 Geometric Methods
iii. Step 3 Main Sequence Fitting and Spectroscopic Parallax
iv. Step 4 Period-Luminosity Relation for Variable Stars
v.
Step 5a Galaxy Luminosity vs. Another Bright Feature
vi. Step 5b Luminosity or Size of Bright Feature
vii.
Step 6 Galaxy Luminosity and Inverse Square Law
viii. Step 7 Hubble Law
I
Observations and Implications

Universe Contains Mass---Why has the Universe Not Collapsed?

Olbers’ Paradox and the Dark Night Sky
i.
Universe is Expanding
ii.
Universe is Uniform on Large Scales
iii. Cosmological Principle
iv. Perfect Cosmological Principle
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Special Topics Course Proposal Form

No Center to the Expansion in 3-D Space

Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation

i.
Observation
ii.
Interpretation
Matter to Energy to Matter Conversion
i.
Cosmic Abundance of Helium and Hydrogen
ii.
Elements heavier than Helium
iii. Deuterium as a probe of the early universe

J
Evidence Supporting the General Big Bang Scheme
Fate of the Universe

Depends on Mass (Curvature of Space)

Critical density

Is The Universe Open or Closed?

Dark Matter Observations:
i. Orbital speeds of stars in galaxies
ii. Faint gas shells around ellipticals
iii. Motion of galaxies in a cluster
iv. Hot gas in clusters
v.
Quasar spectra
vi. Gravitational Lensing

Embellishments on the Big Bang

Flatness and Horizon problems

Inflation

The Cosmological Constant

Deriving the Geometry of the Universe from the Background Radiation
i. The Size of the Universe
ii. The Observational horizon
K
Recent Developments

Stephen Hawking’s work combining relativity & quantum mechanics

Quantum black holes

Accelerating Universe Model – The “Big Rip”!

Branes

The Multiverse
ALL FORMS MUST BE SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY
9/2006