Physics 121: Astronomy Project

Spring 2008

• Due no later than (Monday) 5 May 2008
• Length
  • Variable, but note that each project is a substantial part (20%) of your grade
  • Many of you will write a paper of about 2000 words (or about 5 pages of 12 point Times)
• Grading
  • My primary criterion will be, Have I learned anything interesting from this paper?
  • As a science writer, you want to educate in an entertaining way. Remember though, your reader's time is valuable. A really good paper I'll want to photocopy for my records.

Topics

• Anything relating to Astronomy of Stars & Galaxies. If uncertain, check with me. It is important to find a topic that interests you personally.
• Here are some examples
  • Sun
  • Solar neutrinos
  • Solar dynamo
  • White dwarfs
  • Neutron stars
  • Black holes
  • Edwin Hubble
  • Dark matter
  • CMB
  • Origin of elements
  • Multiverse
  • SETI
• Use your imagination! Fascinating and appropriate topics are out there waiting to be discovered.
• If you're not sure a particular topic is acceptable (or if you're having trouble finding one that interests you), check with me first.

Resources

• Your textbook
• Timken science library
• Wooster public library
• World Wide Web
• Periodicals
  • Sky & Telescope
  • Astronomy
  • Mercury
  • Scientific American
  • Discover

Caution

• The best projects are often the most creative
  • astronomy-based SF stories
  • children's picture astronomy books
  • computer simulations
  • scale models of nearby stars
• The least satisfactory projects are typically mere condensations of a single astronomy magazine article (done the night before!)