ASTRO 430 - Physical Cosmology

3 units (fi 6)(EITHER, 3-0-0)

Observational cosmology; geometry and matter content of the Universe; physical processes in the early stages of the Universe; inflation, Big Bang nucleosynthesis and the cosmic microwave background radiation; cosmological aspects of galaxy formation and the growth of large-scale structure. Prerequisites: PHYS 310, MA PH 251 or MATH 334. Pre- or corequisite: PHYS 458.

PHYS 181 - Relativity, Electricity and Magnetism

3 units (fi 6)(SECOND, 3-0-3)

This calculus-based course starts with the breakdown of the Galilean concepts of space and time near the speed of light, and an introduction to Einstein's Special Relativity including: time dilation, length contraction, Lorentz transformations, relativistic energy and momentum, relativistic Doppler effect and basic 4-vectors. The second part of the course covers introductory electromagnetism including: electric forces and fields, electric potential, capacitance, DC circuits, magnetic forces and fields, magnetic fields from currents, and Faraday's Law of electromagnetic induction. Prerequisite: PHYS 124 (see Note following) or 144 or EN PH 131. Corequisite: One of MATH 118 or 146. Credit may be obtained for only one of PHYS 181 or 230 or 281. Note: To proceed to PHYS 181 after taking PHYS 124, it is strongly recommended that a minimum grade of B- be achieved in PHYS 124.