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2020-10-19

astr-1101

• Moving from history/tools to objects in the Solar System
• Starting with the Sun
• Easier to make small stars than big stars
• Albert Einstein
• $E = mc^2$
• Matter and energy are the same thing
• Doesn't make much sense on a large macroscopic scale
• Makes more sense on nuclear scales
• Fusion vs. fission
• Bringing together vs. breaking down
• Light elements (up to iron) --> get energy out of fusion
• Heavy elements (past iron) --> get energy out of fission
• Comparative planetology
• Studying how planets work by comparing them with one another
• Geological age of surfaces
• Count craters
• More impacts --> exposed longer
• How long since the surface has been "swept clean" by things like lava flow or molten materials
• Measure the age of individual rocks
• Measuring the half-life of certain elements

cpsc-1050

• Problem solving and algorithms
• Problem solving
• Act of finding a solution to perplexing, distressing, vexing, or unsettled problems
• How to solve problems
• Understand the problem
• Devise a plan
• Execute the plan
• Look back/reflect
• Strategies
• Look for familiar things
• Divide and conquer
• Computer problem solving process
• Analysis and specification phase
• Understand/define the problem
• Specify the problem the program will solve
• Algorithm development phase
• Develop logical sequence of steps to solve the problem
• Follow the defined steps to see if solution solves the problem
• Implementation phase
• Code the algorithm
• Test the code
• Maintenance phase
• Fix bugs, etc.