ASP1022

Life and the universe

Dr John Lattanzio (Department of Mathematics and Statistics)

6 points - Three 1-hour lectures and one 1-hour tutorial per week - Second semester - Clayton - Prerequisites: none, but secondary science to Year 11 and mathematics to Year 12 would be helpful

Objectives On the completion of this subject, students will have an appreciation of how the development of life is criticallly dependent on the conditions in the physical universe. In particular, students will have some understanding of the necessary conditions for life; how species evolve; how life depends on energy input from stars; the dynamics of the solar system with regard to the thermal requirements for life; what is known about planets around other stars; the evolution of stars and which stars are suitable for the appearance of life; modern theories of star and planet formation; the types of stars in galaxies; possibilities of other life forms; the development of consciousness; how the universe will evolve; what this means for the future of life in the universe.

Synopsis The subject starts with an elementary knowledge of life forms and using modern theories of matter, planets, stars, galaxies, cosmology and biology discusses whether life could exist in other parts of the universe. In particular, the following aspects will be discussed: the characteristics of life, how life first appeared on the Earth, whether these conditions can be expected to occur on other planets, the formation of stars and planets, the dynamics of planetary orbits and the habitable zones around stars, different kinds of stars and the light they emit as well as their lifetimes, whether consciousness arises from elementary interactions between atoms and molecules, whether computers can be said to be conscious, what is the final state of the Universe and the implications for any life present.

Assessment Examination (3 hours): 60% - Tutorials: 30% - Project work: 10%

Recommended texts

Kaufman W J and Comins N F Discovering the universe 4th edn, Freeman, 1996

Back to the 1999 Science Handbook