Catalog description
Introduces relativistic cosmology at an undergraduate level, including expansion, redshift, distance measures, the cosmic microwave background, nucleosynthesis, structure formation, dark matter, dark energy, and observational tests.
Learning outcomes
- Derive and interpret the Friedmann equation and cosmological distance relations.
- Explain the thermal history, CMB, recombination, and light-element synthesis.
- Connect perturbation growth, dark matter, BAO, lensing, and the matter power spectrum.
- Fit or audit observational summaries from supernovae, BAO, CMB, and cluster/lensing extracts.
- Quantify uncertainty, covariance, selection, and approximation limits in cosmological inference.
- Construct an evidence-weighted comparison of a concordance model and alternatives.
Resources and source discipline
Primary open resource: OpenStax Astronomy 2e, Chapter 29, “The Big Bang,” with Chapter 26 section 26.5 and Chapter 28 sections 28.4-28.5 for distance, lensing, and structure context. Embedded figure numbering was checked against the local extracted text; see reference-log.md for exact anchors and PDF spot-check requirements.
Cadence rationale
This 3-credit course uses 14 lectures, 7 labs, and 7 problem sets in seven matched two-lecture units. Each lab and problem set follows the second lecture of its unit because the activity combines both the conceptual model and the quantitative tool. The two-lecture/one-assessment cadence protects time for derivation, data analysis, and uncertainty discussion while keeping the weekly contact pattern plausible for a 3-credit fall course.
| Unit | Lectures | Lab | Problem set |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 01-02 | 01 | 01 |
| 2 | 03-04 | 02 | 02 |
| 3 | 05-06 | 03 | 03 |
| 4 | 07-08 | 04 | 04 |
| 5 | 09-10 | 05 | 05 |
| 6 | 11-12 | 06 | 06 |
| 7 | 13-14 | 07 | 07 |
Assessment
| Component | Weight |
|---|---|
| 7 problem sets | 30% |
| 7 data-analysis labs | 30% |
| Midterm, Lectures 1-7 | 15% |
| Final, cumulative | 20% |
| Reading checks and participation | 5% |
Students may revise within one week of feedback with a change note. Grades reward physical reasoning, units, evidence, uncertainty, and reproducible work.
Lecture schedule
| Lecture | Title | Lab | PS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | The Expanding Universe | ||
| 02 | Relativistic Redshift and Distance | Lab 01 | PS 01 |
| 03 | The Friedmann Equation | ||
| 04 | Cosmic Time and Horizons | Lab 02 | PS 02 |
| 05 | Thermal History and Recombination | ||
| 06 | The Cosmic Microwave Background | Lab 03 | PS 03 |
| 07 | Big-Bang Nucleosynthesis | ||
| 08 | Inflation and the Early Universe | Lab 04 | PS 04 |
| 09 | Dark Matter and the Growth of Structure | ||
| 10 | Baryon Acoustic Oscillations | Lab 05 | PS 05 |
| 11 | Type Ia Supernovae and Dark Energy | ||
| 12 | Weak Lensing and Cluster Mass | Lab 06 | PS 06 |
| 13 | The Matter Power Spectrum | ||
| 14 | Cosmological Synthesis, Tensions, and Tests | Lab 07 | PS 07 |
Policies to finalize locally
Instructor of record should add institution-specific accessibility, academic-integrity, attendance, late-work, and calendar language before instructional use.