ASTR 102

Astronomy II – The Active Universe

Dave Hanes (Prof.)

http://www.astro.queensu.ca/~hanes

A Short Story

Once upon a time, about 13.7 billion years ago,…

A Short VoyageFollow the link to take a virtual trip out into the realm of the galaxies!

http://www.astro.queensu.ca/~hanes/ASTR2016-Winter2016/ANIMS/TullyVirgo.qt

About This Course

Science! But not mathematical…

About cause and effect, evolution and origin, how and why…

Not merely descriptions of ‘what’s out there’

One thing I have learned in a long life: that all our science, measured

against reality, is primitive and childlike – and yet it is the most

precious thing we have.

A. Einstein

Astronomy is Physics

…and Physics Explains Everything!

…within certain limits, that is!

Pure Physics can’t explain our deepest emotions, or our aesthetic responses to a beautiful sunset or glorious music*.

(*but see Musicophilia, by Oliver Sacks,or This is Your Brain on Music, by Daniel

Levitin)

The Beauty of Roses

Galileo Galilei

La mathematica e l'alfabeto nel quale Dio ha scritto l'universo.

(Mathematics is the alphabet with which God has written the universe.)

Einstein’s “Field Equations”

As you can see by following the link, much of astrophysics is intimidatingly mathematical!

http://www.mathpages.com/home/kmath655/kmath655.htm

But Not In ASTR 102

As Much Me As You…

How Did We Do?

PHYS P15 / ASTR 1012009 2013 2015

Exams Written 213 227 223

In the 90’s 11.3% (24) 9.7% (22) 15.7% (35)

Getting A’s (80+) 38.5% (82) 36.6% (83) 39.0% (87)

Median mark 74% 74% 72%

Some Other Courses at Queen’s

(old data: 2003-04)       BIOL 102        79

   CHEM 112      75   ENGL 110       71   MATH 121    77   PSYC 100       74

       BIOL 103        76   ECON 110      76         CLST 101       74   HIST 121       72   POLS 110       73   PHYS 107       76   NURS 100       74   NURS 102       79        

MICR 121         76       NURS 101         77       PHIL 157         74       BCHM 102         69       CISC 121         76       MATH 112         78       CISC 124         85       COGS 100         79       MATH 111         77       PHIL 158         70       SPAN 010         78       RELS 131         72             GRMN 052        70

For Definitive InformationVisit my website

http://www.astro.queensu.ca/~hanes

for links to all course notes, PowerPoints,news, office hours, etc