Cosmic Catastrophes
Syllabus, Bachelor's level, 1FA230
- Code
- 1FA230
- Education cycle
- First cycle
- Main field(s) of study and in-depth level
- Physics G1N
- Grading system
- Fail (U), Pass (3), Pass with credit (4), Pass with distinction (5)
- Finalised by
- The Faculty Board of Science and Technology, 3 March 2022
- Responsible department
- Department of Physics and Astronomy
Entry requirements
General entry requirements
Learning outcomes
On completion of the course the student shall be able to:
- describe astronomical phenomena with the potential to significantly affect the conditions for life on Earth
- outline the time scales over which different cosmic hazards may become relevant
- describe different cosmological doomsday scenarios and the uncertainties associated with the future history of the Universe
- discuss to what extent it is reasonable, for individuals or for humanity at large, to worry about cosmic calamities
Content
Comets and asteroids, the Sun and future of the solar system, supernovae, gamma-ray bursts, black holes and active galactic nuclei, dangers within the Milky Way, the future of the Milky Way, the evolution of the Universe from the time of the Big Bang and into the distant future, cosmological doomsday scenarios.
Instruction
Lectures with discussions.
Assessment
Hand-in exercises and written exam.
If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of a special reason might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the disability coordinator of the university.