Astronomy 2022 (2011) Writing Assignment 2 Topics

Choose one of the following. You may use these as jumping-off points to nearby issues. If you are concerned your idea is too far from the suggested topics, please consult the professor.

Topic 1
Give a description of the Cosmological Principle, and present a summary in your own words. Is it a truly scientific principle? Or does it bring too much subjectivity to the supposedly objective field of science? Do you feel its use is justified in the study of the Universe? Why or why not?

Topic 2
By the end of Chapter 4 we have discussed three of the four "pillars" that the Big Bang theory rests upon. Describe these three pillars (they are listed in the class notes near the end of Ch 4). Why are these particular observations so very important to the Big Bang theory?

Topic 3

Most astronomers prefer the idea that the Universe contains mysterious Dark Matter to the alternative that Newton and Einstein's gravity laws could be wrong. What are some of the lines of evidence which have led scientists to conclude that the Universe contains much more matter than we can see or otherwise account for? Do you favour the "dark matter" hypothesis, or do you feel that the statement "Perhaps we simply don't understand gravity well enough" is a more plausible solution? Why?