Topic One: Stars and Star Clusters
Things to know:
- terminology (open clusters, globular clusters, O-B associations etc.)
- how to read a color-magnitude diagram and an HR-diagram
- stellar populations
- stellar populations and distributions
- how to use the distance/magnitude relationships
- how to use the P-L relationship
- distance modulus
Topic Two: Galactic Structure and Galaxies
Things to know:
- classification
- structural features and dimensions
- theories of spiral arms
- theories of galaxy formation
- peculiar galaxies facts about peculiar galaxies
Topic Three: The Large Scale Structure of the Universe
Things to know:
- Walls, superclusters, voids, Geller maps etc.
- Hubble's expansion law and the redshift relation
- Dark matter - what it is and why we think something is missing
- how to measure distances in inter-galactic space
Topic Four: The Solar System
Things to know:
- main ideas of the Solar Nebula Theory
- Distinction between Terrestrial and Jovian planets
- The condensation sequence
- The four phases of planet formation
- Distinction between planets and dwarf planets
- radioactive dating
- tidal heating as an energy process
- how plate tectonics affect planetary evolution
- atmospheres and greenhouse gases
- meteors and how meteroids relate to other bodies in the solar system
- comets and asteroids - their differences and similarities
Topic Five: Life in the Universe
- what are habitable zones?
- asteroidal impact - evidence for and and how it has influenced life on earth
- the chemical basis for life
- The Drake Equation and communication with possible extra-solar civilizations
Mathematical Considerations:
You should be able to do a distance calculation, use the red shift formula and apply Hubble's Expansion Law - similar to what you have done in past lab exercises. Otherwise do not worry about lot's of math - The focus of the exam is conceptual.
Formulae will be provided!