Lesson preparation

Jared told me what he had found out regarding cell phone frequencies - we then discussed how radio telescope facilities need to be 'cell-phone-quiet' zones due to interference between cell phone frequencies and telescope operating frequencies, otherwise the observations are messed up. We then covered the major highlights in astronomy from Copernicus' heliocentric model in the mid-1500s up to Edwin Hubble's groundbreaking discovery that all galaxies appear to be receding from us based on the redshift signature in their spectra .. This eventually led to the concept of an expanding Universe.

We reviewed Jared's assignment for last weekend on FM vs AM radio, and I quizzed him (orally) on the differences between the two forms of radio transmission. The background for this exercise was to give a more in-depth appreciation of electromagnetic radiation in preparation for future lessons. We then proceeded to discuss the dawn of astronomy with the Babylonians and Egyptians, and the importance of following the same cycles over many generations. We worked our way up to Nicholas Copernicus and the shift from the geocentric to the heliocentric model of the Solar System (Universe, as it was then) and discussed the implications of Galileo Galilei's discovery of the moons of Jupiter. I was very impressed with Jared's curiosity on the topics we touched upon, and in fact welcomed his questions.

I briefly described the scientific method, explaining the cycle of hypothesis - setting up an experiment to test the hypothesis - tweaking the hypothesis - setting up a new experiment to test the tweaked hypothesis - etc. Of course, in astronomy one cannot control the experiment, so we rely on observations using multiple tools (optical telescopes, X-ray satellites, etc). In this lesson we started to cover the basics of the electromagnetic spectrum, and Jared very quickly understood that radio waves and X-rays are extensions of the visible spectrum that we are all familiar with. We covered frequency, wavelength, amplitude, and the energy carried by waves.

Jared and I spent the hour getting to know one another. I asked Jared what his interests and hobbies are. I summarized the topics we would be covering for his studies, and we discussed how they relate to everyday life, and specifically to his interests. I found out that he's interested in geology, so we will most definitely cover that subject as thoroughly as possible when we get to it in the 'Earth Sciences' part of the course.