Physics 55 is a course offered at Duke University that provides a comprehensive review of the science and observational methodology of deciphering the visible Universe . The course begins with a review of history and philosophy, leading to the scientific method as a valid way of ascertaining probable truth of assertions about the world . It then continues with a review of what we know and how we know key astronomical facts about the Earth, the Earth-moon system, the Sun, the Earth-Sun system, the planets (and other interesting near-space objects) and the Solar System, the local group of stars (ones that can be located using parallax), the Milky Way galaxy, the local group of galaxies (ones within a few million light years) and the deep space observations of distant galaxies and the microwave background that are evidence of the Big Bang . At all points, both learning the facts and understanding why we believe them to be facts is emphasized .
The course is taught by Robert G. Brown, who is a professor of physics at Duke University . The course material is covered in a textbook called “Universe” by Freedman, Geller, and Kaufmann, 9th edition . The book is available on Amazon and other online bookstores.
The course does not require any particular complicated mathematics to excel, but students will need to be able to understand some relatively simple geometry and trigonometry and to be able to visualize things using geometric drawings and compute things with simple algebra and arithmetic . A final point of emphasis in the course is learning how to use modern instrumentation – personal computers and telescopes – to observe a wide range of objects of interest in the night sky and to learn to “navigate” the celestial heavens using star charts and/or planetarium software .
Physics Diagram 55 image
