Course Information


Course Information
Course Title Code Semester L+U Hour Credits ECTS
FUNDAMENTALS OF COSMOLOGY FMUS1002 3. Semester 2 + 0 2.0 3.0

Prerequisites None

Language of Instruction Turkish
Course Level Bachelor's Degree
Course Type Elective
Mode of delivery
Course Coordinator
Instructors
Assistants
Goals The aim of this course is to give the basic information on cosmology to the students who do not study in Astronomy and Space Sciences or related departments. It is aimed to enable the student to see the place of the Earth in the universe from a wider perspective and from various historical and scientific perspectives. It is also aimed to give answers to fundamental questions such as what the universe consists of, how its shape/beginning/end, how it changes over time, and how its age can be determined.
Course Content Description of cosmological distances and types of radiation in the universe. Depictions of the Universe by ancient thinkers in history. Celestial bodies that make up the universe, types of the matter and energy. The main features and structure of the Milky Way Galaxy in which the Solar System is located. Properties of dark matter. General features and types of galaxies and galaxy clusters in the universe. Universe on a large scale. The expansion of the universe. Studying the concepts of space and time together. The first scientific models of the universe. Basics of Newtonian physics, modeling the universe with simple physical calculations and calculating its age. Interpretation of the shape, beginning and end of the universe with today's modern universe models. The big bang and the formation of the first chemical elements in the universe. Origins of other chemical elements in the universe. Telescopes and spacecrafts that scientifically study the universe.
Learning Outcomes 1) Expresses the range of distances in the universe by using appropriate units.
2) Describes the basic features of celestial bodies in the universe in a few sentences.
3) Expresses the main features of the Milky Way Galaxy.
4) Lists several known properties of dark matter.
5) Describes the general characteristics of galaxies and galaxy clusters in the universe and explains by which criteria they are classified.
6) Discusses which cosmological assumptions can be made when looking at the universe on a large scale.
7) Evaluates a few available evidence of the expansion of the universe.
8) Relates the concepts of space and time.
9) Compares the basic properties of simple universe models with each other and creates a critical universe model using basic physics laws.
10) Describes how the beginning and the end of the universe can be and what phase of the universe we are in at present in the light of modern evolution models.

Weekly Topics (Content)
Week Topics Teaching and Learning Methods and Techniques Study Materials
1. Week Units and Distances for the Universe Lecture; Question Answer; Problem Solving
Brainstorming; Colloquium
Problem Based Learning; Brain Based Learning 		Presentation (Including Preparation Time)
2. Week Ancient Universe Explorers Lecture; Question Answer; Problem Solving
Brainstorming; Colloquium
Problem Based Learning; Brain Based Learning 		Presentation (Including Preparation Time)
3. Week What's in the Universe? Lecture; Question Answer; Problem Solving
Brainstorming; Colloquium
Problem Based Learning; Brain Based Learning 		Presentation (Including Preparation Time)
4. Week Milky Way Galaxy and Dark Matter Lecture; Question Answer; Problem Solving
Brainstorming; Colloquium
Problem Based Learning; Brain Based Learning 		Presentation (Including Preparation Time)
5. Week Galaxies and Galaxy Types Lecture; Question Answer; Problem Solving
Brainstorming; Colloquium
Problem Based Learning; Brain Based Learning 		Presentation (Including Preparation Time)
6. Week Galaxy Clusters and Large-Scale Universe Lecture; Question Answer; Problem Solving
Brainstorming; Colloquium
Problem Based Learning; Brain Based Learning 		Presentation (Including Preparation Time)
7. Week The Expansion of the Universe and the Hubble Law Lecture; Question Answer; Problem Solving
Brainstorming; Colloquium
Problem Based Learning; Brain Based Learning 		Presentation (Including Preparation Time)
8. Week Spacetime Lecture; Question Answer; Problem Solving
Brainstorming; Colloquium
Problem Based Learning; Brain Based Learning 		Presentation (Including Preparation Time)
9. Week First Models of the Universe and Dark Energy Lecture; Question Answer; Problem Solving
Brainstorming; Colloquium
Problem Based Learning; Brain Based Learning 		Presentation (Including Preparation Time)
10. Week Modeling the universe with Newtonian Physics Lecture; Question Answer; Problem Solving
Brainstorming; Colloquium
Problem Based Learning; Brain Based Learning 		Presentation (Including Preparation Time)
11. Week The Future of the Universe According to Modern Universe Models Lecture; Question Answer; Problem Solving
Brainstorming; Colloquium
Problem Based Learning; Brain Based Learning 		Presentation (Including Preparation Time)
12. Week Big Bang Cosmology Lecture; Question Answer; Problem Solving
Brainstorming; Colloquium
Problem Based Learning; Brain Based Learning 		Presentation (Including Preparation Time)
13. Week The Origin of Chemical Elements Lecture; Question Answer; Problem Solving
Brainstorming; Colloquium
Problem Based Learning; Brain Based Learning 		Presentation (Including Preparation Time)
14. Week Telescopes and Spacecrafts that Examine the Deep Universe Lecture; Question Answer; Problem Solving
Brainstorming; Colloquium
Problem Based Learning; Brain Based Learning 		Presentation (Including Preparation Time)

Sources Used in This Course
Recommended Sources
“An Introduction to Galaxies and Cosmology (2nd Edition)”, Mark H. Jones, Robert J.A. Lambourne, and Stephen Serjeant, 2015, Cambridge University Press
“Cosmology for the Curious”, Delia Perlov, Alex Vilenkin, 1st ed., 2017, Springer
“Cosmology: the origin and evolution of cosmic structure”, Peter Coles, Francesco Lucchin, F. Lucchin, 2002, Wiley
“Understanding Space: An Introduction to Astronautics”, Jerry John Sellers vd., 2004, Mc Graw Hill.

ECTS credits and course workload
Event Quantity Duration (Hour) Total Workload (Hour)
Course Duration (Total weeks*Hours per week) 14 2
Work Hour outside Classroom (Preparation, strengthening) 14 2
Homework 4 3
Midterm Exam 1 2
Time to prepare for Midterm Exam 1 6
Final Exam 1 2
Time to prepare for Final Exam 1 12
Total Workload
Total Workload / 30 (s)
ECTS Credit of the Course
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Course Information
  • Course Information
  • Weekly Topics (Content)
  • Sources Used in This Course
  • ECTS credits and course workload