Promoting Undergraduate Critical Thinking in Astro 101 Lab Exercises

Allen, Michael L.; Kelly-Riley, Diane

doi:10.3847/aer2005017

Cited by 6 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…We assume that clusters are virialized objects which are in thermal equilibrium. This assumption seems to be confirmed by recent X-ray observations [84], though it is expected that due to ongoing mergers and heat input, this assumption does not hold for high redshifts [100]; an issue we will discuss in section V. If we assume that the cluster is virialized the kinetic energy at virialization E kin vir is given by…”

Section: The Limiting Massmentioning

confidence: 71%

“…For our fiducial model we choose σ 8 = 0.9 as suggested by recent CMB measurements [81]. Note that this value is higher than the one inferred from recent X-ray measurements [82][83][84]. One might think that this discrepancy is not very worrying since σ 8 is a parameter which we are trying to determine.…”

Section: Surface Density Of Clustersmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…However,it seems that the surface density of clusters alone will not be able to distinguish the fiducial model from a ΛCDM cosmology. In order to achieve tighter constraints on the equation of state it will necessary to use additional complementary information from SNe observations [117], baryon mass fraction measurements [88] or other cluster abundance measurements [84]. In the subsequent discussion we will focus on the SPT survey.…”

Section: Mock Likelihood Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

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Constraining cosmological parameters using Sunyaev-Zel’dovich cluster surveys

2003

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We discuss how future cluster surveys can constrain cosmological parameters with particular reference to the properties of the dark energy component responsible for the observed acceleration of the universe by probing the evolution of the surface density of clusters as a function of redshift. We explain how the abundance of clusters selected using their Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect can be computed as a function of the observed flux and redshift taking into account observational effects due to a finite beam-size. By constructing an idealized set of simulated observations for a fiducial model, we forecast the likely constraints that might be possible for a variety of proposed surveys which are assumed to be flux limited. We find that Sunyaev-Zel'dovich cluster surveys can provide vital complementary information to those expected from surveys for supernovae. We analyse the impact of statistical and systematic uncertainties and find that they only slightly limit our ability to constrain the equation of state of the dark energy component.

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Section: The Limiting Massmentioning

confidence: 71%

Section: Surface Density Of Clustersmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Mock Likelihood Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

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Constraining cosmological parameters using Sunyaev-Zel’dovich cluster surveys

2003

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“…Although very recently the WMAP experiment [13] reports on an upper limit of the masses of all neutrino of 0.7 eV, the results derived this way is model dependent (a more conservative approach gives limits of 1 eV or 2 eV, respectively [15]). The model dependence is clearly illustrated by the fact, that Allen et al obtain a non-zero sum of all neutrino masses of 0.64 eV from nearly the same data by changing some assumptions on mass fluctuations (different amplitude of mass fluctuations on 8h −1 Mpc scales σ 8 ) [14]. Additionally, there are strong degeneracies between the different astrophysical parameters and it is therefore very helpful to bring in information from laboratory neutrino mass experiments to determine the other astrophysics parameters more precisely.…”

Section: Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation and Large Scale Structurementioning

confidence: 95%

Direct neutrino mass measurements

Weinheimer

2013

Hyperfine Interact

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One of the most important tasks in neutrino physics is to determine the neutrino mass scale to distinguish between hierarchical and degenerate neutrino mass models and to clarify the role of neutrinos as dark matter particles in the universe. The current tritium β decay experiments at Mainz and Troitsk are reaching their sensitivity limit. The different options for a next generation direct neutrino mass experiment with sub-eV sensitivity are discussed. The KATRIN experiment, which will investigate the tritium β spectrum with an unprecedented precision, is being prepared to reach a sensitivity of 0.2 eV.This limit is valid under the assumption that the anomalous excess count rate near the endpoint is described by an additional line correctly.

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“…It is not easy to convince undergraduate students that they should confront misconceptions and think through the lessons in a group activity. Allen and Kelly-Riley (2006) note this problem when they attempt to get students to think critically about their laboratory exercises rather than doing them mechanically without thinking. Although most of them enjoy looking at objects through the telescope, Rensselaer students see each assignment as an obstacle to be overcome as quickly as they can, mechanically and without thinking if they can get away with it.…”

Section: Participants and Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Night Laboratories on Learning Objectives for a Nonmajor Astronomy Class

Jacobi¹,

Newberg²,

Broder³

et al. 2008

Astronomy Education Review

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We tested the effectiveness on learning of hands-on, night-time laboratories that challenged student misconceptions in a non-major introductory astronomy class at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. We present a new assessment examination used to assess learning in this study. We were able to increase learning, at the 8.0 sigma level, on one of the moon phase objectives that was addressed in a cloudy night activity. There is weak evidence of some improvement on a broader range of learning objectives. We show evidence that the overall achievement levels of the four sections of the class is correlated with the amount of clear whether the sections had for observing, even though the learning objectives were addressed primarily in activities that did not require clear skies. This last result should be confirmed with future studies. We describe our first attempt to cycle the students through different activity stations in an attempt to handle 18 students at a time in the laboratories, and lessons learned from this.

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Promoting Undergraduate Critical Thinking in Astro 101 Lab Exercises

Cited by 6 publications

References 2 publications

Constraining cosmological parameters using Sunyaev-Zel’dovich cluster surveys

Constraining cosmological parameters using Sunyaev-Zel’dovich cluster surveys

Direct neutrino mass measurements

Effect of Night Laboratories on Learning Objectives for a Nonmajor Astronomy Class

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