PHYS 108 - Descriptive Astronomy

3-0-3
Credit Hours: 3

Introduces students to discoveries of astronomy and physics, from ancient times to the present day. More specifically, the course focuses on the history of astronomy and science. Students learn about the birth of the universe; the stars, planets, galaxies and constellations; the possibility of life on other heavenly bodies; as well as radiation, magnetism, nuclear reactions, and other aspects of physics. Topics such as relativity, gravity, quantum mechanics and statistical mechanics, black holes, supernovas, gamma-ray bursters, quasars, neutron stars, spectroscopy, light, heat and heat transfer, dark energy and dark matter, string theory and conceptual physics are also discussed.