Astronomy/IB C13: Origins: From the Big Bang to the Emergence of Humans
Fall 2014
Weekly Reading Assignments
You should have a copy of Bryson. Page numbers below are for the special illustrated
edition, with the non-illustrated edition page numbers in [ ]. All other readings are
available in the “Files” section of bCourses. Readings identified as “Additional
Background” will not be covered on homeworks or exams.
Aug 28
Introduction to Bryson
Sept 2
Sept 4
Cosmic Perspectives Ch. 1, 5.1, 5.2 & Appendix C
Bryson, Ch. 20, 23, 24; Earth System, Ch. 3 (p. 49-55)
Additional Background: the rest of Earth System Ch. 3, esp. pp. 61-67
Sept 9, 11
Bryson, Ch. 4, Cosmic Perspectives Ch. 8
Additional Background: “How is Mass Different from Weight” in Section 4.1 of Ch. 4
of Cosmic Perspectives
Sept 16
Bryson, Ch. 19 p. 369-377 [p. 294-301], Ch 21;
Additional Background: Evolution Ch. 5 (p. 101-102, 104-111)
Bryson Ch. 12, 14, 15 Additional Background: Earth System Ch. 8
Sept 18
Sept 23
Section 4
Sept 25
Sept 30
Bryson Ch. 5 p. 97 (2nd paragraph from bottom) – p. 101 [p. 74-78], Ch. 7 p. 136
(last paragraph from bottom) – p. 140 [p. 97-111], Ch. 9;
Additional Background: Cosmic Perspectives: 5.3 & 5.4
Bryson Ch. 5 p. 85-97 [p. 63-74], Ch 10
Additional Background: Earth System Ch. 6 (p. 129-144)
Cosmic Perspectives: Ch. 14 through p. 478, “Where do Objects
Get Their Energy” in Section 4.3 of Ch. 4
Oct 2
Bryson Ch. 3; Cosmic Perspectives Fig 17.19;
Additional Background: Life in the Universe Ch. 3
Bryson Ch. 19 p. 361-369 [p. 287-294]; Evolution Ch. 5 (p. 102-104); online links
Oct 7
Oct 9
Bryson 25; Marshall pp. 1-15
MIDTERM EXAM (covers through Oct 7)
Oct 14
Bryson, Ch. 1, 8; “Misconceptions about the Big Bang”
Additional Background: Cosmic Perspectives Section 5.5, Ch. 23
Bryson, Ch. 11; Cosmic Perspectives 22.1, 22.2, 22.4
Oct 16
Oct 21
Oct 23
Cosmic Perspectives Section 22.3
Bryson Ch. 22
Oct 28
Bryson Ch. 6, 13; Additional Background: Ch. 12.1-12.3 of Cosmic Perspectives;
Radio Lab Apocalyptical: http://www.radiolab.org/live/
Bryson Ch. 27 Cosmic Perspectives p. 280-285, 293-295.
Additional Background: Cosmic Perspectives 10.4-10.6 to top of p. 307
Oct 30
Nov
Nov
4
6
Bryson Ch. 28
Bryson Ch. 29
Nov 11
Nov 13
VETERAN’S DAY
No reading (lucky day)
Nov 18
Nov 20
Bryson Ch. 30 Cosmic Perspectives Ch. 10 p. 308-312
Cosmic Perspectives 9.4, 11.2, & 24.2. Extremophiles Scientific American article
Nov 25
Nov 27
Readings from Science Magazine
THANKSGIVING
Dec
Dec
Cosmic Perspectives 24.3-24.5
same as Dec 2
2
4
Jared Diamond “Alone in a Crowded Universe”
1