Final
exam format is
similar to that of all other tests, but longer, with about 50
multiple-choice and 8 short-discussion ("essay") questions.
The essay questions on the
final exams will be taken from this
list, although they may be stated somewhat differently.
Questions marked (mandatory)must
be answered, if included on the exam; those marked (choice)
will appear with others of the same type which you could
answer instead.
Any
question listed below, regardless
of type, may or may not be on the forthcoming final exam.
POTENTIAL
ESSAY QUESTIONS
Philosophy
(choice)
Describe the philosophy of science (based on the philosophy of Karl
Popper) that was adopted in this course. Explain it in
terms of a problem-solving analogy.
Particles & Fundamental Forces
(choice)
Discuss the family of fundamental particles, classifying them with
respect to size, spin, electric charge, and the fundamental forces that
they are connected with.
(choice)
Describe the characteristics of the fundamental forces.
Early Universe Stages
(mandatory)
Know how the Decoupling Era works scientifically. (Since it has
given rise to the most accurate data about the early universe, this era
is the most important.)
(mandatory)
Discuss the different forms of the Anthropic Principle. Give some
examples.
(choice)
Briefly summarize all stages of the early universe.
Global Organization
(mandatory)
Describe the important cosmological structures and match them with the
length scales that they exist in. (This is the same
as putting them into a imaginary box, where you specify the length of
the sides of the box.)
(choice)
Discuss Olbers' Paradox. Explain the old ideas (and why they are
thought to be wrong). Explain the modern, Big Bang-oriented ideas that
are
thought to be right.
(choice)
Discuss the key attributes of the Milky Way Galaxy. How does it compare
to
other galaxies of all types?
(choice)
What is the difference between a homogeneous universe and an isotropic
universe? Use diagrams to explain. What type is our universe thought to
be? What is the cosmological principle? What is the perfect
cosmological principle?
Nuclei & Atoms
(choice)
Describe the basic characteristics of nuclei and atoms. Explain how the
border between fusion and fission affects the
lives of stars. Explain how the fact that electrons are
fermion particles dictates how all atoms are organized.
Three Laws of Thermodynamics
(mandatory)
Fully explain the Three Laws of Thermodynamics. Understand
the relationship with the concept of entropy, and the arrow of time.
Understand the notion of the energy 'tax.'
Life
(mandatory)
Understand the software viewpoint for DNA. How is the information
encoded in carbon-based lifeforms? How are the nucleotides in
the rungs
of the twisted DNA ladder related to the organism's software code?
(Mention proteins, RNA, and amino acids.) Discuss how symmetry
plays a role in all life-molecules that are found here on the Earth.
(mandatory)
Explain the philosophy behind SETI, and describe the meaning of the
Drake Equation (with a brief description of the idea behind each
factor).
(mandatory)
Describe what aliens and their environments would be like on two
different planets: one with a density far bigger than the Earth, and
one
with a density far smaller that the Earth. Back up your statements with
reasons as much as possible.
(choice)
Describe silicon-based lifeforms as a potential form of life. How are
these type of lifeforms at an advantage or disadvantage relative to
normal carbon-based organisms?
(choice)
Describe where in the solar system are the most likely places for some
type of life. Explain why these places are thought to be the best. Make
a comparison between Europa and Lake Vostok. Explain how
other solar systems are being found everyday.
Space Properties
(mandatory)
Distinguish between the ideas of geometry, topology, and dimensionality
of space. Give examples of how cosmological observations relate to
these ideas.
(choice)
Give a brief history of how the ideas about dimensionality have changed
through time, both in art and in science.
(choice)
Discuss how you would explain a 3-D cube to a 2-D creature using the
three techniques given in this course for understanding higher
dimensional cubes. Draw 2-D diagrams that illustrate your description.
(choice)
Discuss some of the criticisms that people have leveled at the idea of
lower and higher dimensional creatures existing. What are the counter
arguments?
General
Relativity
(mandatory)
Discuss the Principle of Equivalence, and describe how this
principle led Einstein to his theory of gravitation. Distinguish
between free-float frames and frames of reference that are
definitely not free-float frames. Describe how local and perspectives
lead to the relationship between gravity and curvature.
(mandatory)
Describe an experiment that clearly shows space-time
curvature. Be sure to get the diagrams correct in your description.
(choice)
Interpret (i.e., translate into normal language) the poem given in
class about Einstein's Theory of Gravity,
giving
the significance of each line to
general relativity.
(choice)
Briefly discuss 4 observational tests that general relativity has
successfully passed.
Special Relativity
(mandatory)
Discuss Einstein's two postulates for special relativity. Discuss time
dilation and the length contraction effect. Discuss some
everyday phenomena/technology that require special relativity to be
taken into consideration. Relate the ideas of special relativity to the
natural state of movement in the universe.
Time
(mandatory)
Interpret a space-time diagram and describe what
is meant by a light cone in such a diagram, identifying future, past,
and forbidden regions.
(mandatory)
Describe how a time machine into the future might work.
Explain the problems with time machines into the past. What paradoxes
are encountered when considering going into the past and coming back to
the future? How does gravity affect time? How does speed affect time?
(choice)
Discuss how concepts of time have changed through the years, from
rigid-time ideas of the past to the flexible-time ideas of Einstein.
(choice)
How can time be viewed as just a universe label?
