Course title

Pre-requisite

Course description

Astronomy is the study of the universe and the bodies and materials that occupy the space within the universe.  Science is a way to explain the phenomena we see in the world around us.  If observations of the physical world do not match scientific hypotheses, it means the scientific concepts need to be modified.  The Big Bang Theory is the most commonly accepted theory to explain the formation of the universe.  Light and other frequencies of the electromagnetic spectrum are tools that astronomers use to “see” other parts of the universe.  The universe is comprised of galaxies and solar systems, but most of the universe is empty space.  The most abundant element in the universe is hydrogen.  Stars use hydrogen as fuel, and the process of converting hydrogen into fuel subsequently generates every other element on the periodic table.  Energy cannot be created or destroyed, it can only change form.  Patterns that we have observed in the universe are used to predict what we will observe and provide the foundation for scientific theories.   

20% of instructional time is spent on labwork.

Labs include:

- Modeling and Measuring Pluto's eccentricity

- Snell's Law

- Spectra of burning gas and light sources

- Modeling the expanding universe

- Pinhole camera

School country

School state

High school

School / district Address

School zip code

Requested competency code

Date submitted

Approved

Approved competency code

• LPHY
• Physics

Approved date

Online / Virtual