Individual laboratory research project under supervision of a faculty member. Interested students should contact individual faculty members well in advance of beginning of classes to set up projects..

Individual laboratory research project under supervision of a faculty member. Interested students should contact individual faculty members well in advance of beginning of classes to set up projects.

Not available at this time

In this course, the class will operate as a 'think tank' and consider an important problem for the semester. Like problems presented to a real think tank, the questions for study will be considered to have come from a specific customer who has specific requirements and reasons for requesting the study. The work will consist of three phases: (1) reflection on the question itself and preparation of a workplan to address it; (2) scientific study of the problem; and (3) formulation of recommendations and a final work product for the customer. We elaborate on each of these phases below.

Basic weather parameters, light and energy in the atmosphere. Topics include: atmospheric gases and their behavior; instability of the atmosphere; winds and their origin: large scale, small scale. Moisture: evaporation, condensation, clouds. Kinds of precipitation. Storms: hurricanes, thunderstorms, tornadoes. Atmospheric optics: rainbows, halos, mirages. Climate and climate change. (Gen.Ed. PS)

Thousands of planets have now been discovered orbiting other stars. Discussion will focus on selected readings from the astronomical literature covering the major detection techniques, trends in discoveries so far, implications of the discoveries, and future directions.

Lecture: For nonscience majors. Introductory survey of astronomy. How we learn about the Universe and what we already know of it, how it originated, evolves, and its ultimate fate. Emphasis on modern research in solar phenomena, stellar evolution (including white dwarfs, neutron stars, pulsars, and black holes) and galaxy studies (including quasars).

Lecture: For nonscience majors. Introductory survey of astronomy. How we learn about the Universe and what we already know of it, how it originated, evolves, and its ultimate fate. Emphasis on modern research in solar phenomena, stellar evolution (including white dwarfs, neutron stars, pulsars, and black holes) and galaxy studies (including quasars).

Lecture: For nonscience majors. Introductory survey of astronomy. How we learn about the Universe and what we already know of it, how it originated, evolves, and its ultimate fate. Emphasis on modern research in solar phenomena, stellar evolution (including white dwarfs, neutron stars, pulsars, and black holes) and galaxy studies (including quasars).

Introductory course for physical science majors. Topics include planetary orbits, rotation and precession; gravitational and tidal interactions; interiors and atmospheres of the Jovian and terrestrial planets; surfaces of the terrestrial planets and satellites; asteroids, comets, planetary rings; origin and evolution of the planets. Prerequisites: 1 semester of calculus and 1 semester of a physical science.