Astronomy 305V, Fall 2018

Homework 1. Due date: Aug 30 (Th), please turn in at beginning of class period. Write your answers in clear sentences, preferably typed, 12 pt font. Check the TA web page, accessible through the class home page, on homework tips and what your homework will be graded on.

1. Select the subject within the overall theme of "Life in the Universe" that is of most interest to you, or why you think you will find it to be the most interesting once you learn more about the subject. You can read Chapter 1 in the textbook for some ideas if you need inspiration. Write about: Why am I taking this class, other than that it meets a requirement? What do I hope most to get out of taking it? It is entirely possible you will change your mind during the semester, but here you can focus on your current thoughts on this. Write a clear short essay of about 10-15 lines that describes your choice and why you think that topic is most interesting to you.

2. In Chapter 2 we discuss that science tries to identify unifying principles that help us understand often complex phenomena. Give an example of one of them (you can quite likely find one that we did not mention in the notes, and you are welcome to use one you can think of) and describe in your own words how that principle simplifies our understanding of the physical world. Use about 10-15 lines of clearly written text.