Professor: Loris Magnani Office: Physics 238 Phone: 542-2876

E-Mail: loris@physast.uga.edu

Class: MWF 10:10 – 11 AM in room 302 Physics

Office Hours: Tu or Th 9 – 11 AM or by appointment (call or e-mail)

Text: Black Holes & Time Warps: Einstein’s Outrageous Legacy – Kip Thorne

Black Holes, Wormholes, & Time Machines – Jim Al-Khalili

Both texts required

Web Page: www.physast.uga.edu/~loris follow link to ASTR 1870 page

Objective: The purpose of this course is to introduce you to the astrophysics of black holes, perhaps the most intriguing objects in the known universe. This course is designed for non-science majors, so there will be only the briefest mathematical exposition of the subject. Only a basic knowledge of high-school algebra and scientific notation will be required. In addition to learning about black holes, you will also learn a bit about the scientific method and what science is and is not.

Methodology: The class will be a combination of lecture and discussion based on the assigned readings for the week. Each week, you will be assigned material to read from either or both of the required texts. I will take some class time to explain some of the concepts covered by the texts, but I will also expect you to discuss the material.

Grading: The grading system will consist of a midterm exam and a final exam, each worth 25% of your total grade. If you miss the midterm for a valid reason, you will have to make it up within a week. If you miss the final, again only for a valid reason, you will have to make it up by Friday, May 2^nd, 2008. In addition to the exams, there will also be 2 papers assigned one due before the midterm of the semester and the other due the last day of class. The papers will be 5-10 pages in length on a topic chosen from a list that I will distribute and each paper will be worth 20% of your final grade. The last 10% of your grade is based on attendance and class participation. After the first week of class, at the end of each period, I will pass around a sheet where you will check off a box that denotes you attended the class and another box where you will decide whether you participated sufficiently in the class discussion that day (if any). At the end of the semester, I will give each person a score out of 10 based on their attendance and overall class participation. By adding up the weighted scores on exams, papers, and attendance/participation, I will arrive at your final score. Once your final score is calculated, the letter grade you receive will be based on the following scale: A is for a score of 93.00 or above, A- is for the range 90.00 – 92.99, B+ is for 87.00 – 89.99, B is for 83.00 – 86.99, B- is for 80.00 – 82.99, C+ is for 77.00 – 79.99, C is for 73.00 – 76.99, C- is for 70.00 – 72.99, D is for 60.00 – 69.99, and F is for any average below 60.00.

Tentative Reading Schedule:

Week of Assignment

Jan. 6 KT – Prologue, AK – Introduction, Ch. 1, 5

Jan. 13 KT – Ch. 1, AK – Ch. 2, 6

Jan. 20 KT – Ch. 2, AK – Ch. 3

Jan. 27 KT – Ch. 3

Feb. 3 KT – Ch. 4

Feb. 10 KT – Ch. 5

Feb. 17 KT – Ch. 6, AK – Ch. 4

Feb. 24 KT – Ch. 7 Midterm Exam

Mar. 2 KT – Ch. 8 Paper I due on March 3^rd

Mar. 9 SPRING BREAK

Mar. 16 KT – Ch. 9

Mar. 23 KT – Ch. 10

Mar. 30 KT – Ch. 11

Apr. 6 KT – Ch. 12

Apr. 13 KT – Ch. 13

Apr. 20 AK – Ch.7, 8, 9

Apr. 27 KT – Ch. 14, AK – Ch. 10 Paper II due on April 28^th

Final Exam: Wednesday, April 30^th, 8 – 11 AM

KT – Kip Thorne’s book: Black Holes & Time Warps

AK – Jim Al-Khalili’s book: Black Holes, Wormholes, & Time Machines

Except for the first week of class, you are expected to have read the material before coming to class.