Introduction to Cosmology

Catalog description

This course is a technical but elementary introduction to the modern understanding of cosmology, intended for non-science students. We will cover advances in cosmology over the last 100 years, with special emphasis on more recent developments in the field. We will cover topics ranging from the early universe to galaxy formation in the present day universe, through the lens of the theory of relativity and the expanding universe. We will cover the Big Bang, the Cosmic Microwave Background, dark matter, dark energy and the associated evidence for these phenomena. Assumes a high-school level mathematics background. This course counts to the astronomy minor.