TLÜ ÕIS

Cosmology

Course code

MLF6109.LT

old course code

MLF6109

Course title in Estonian

Kosmoloogia

Course title in English

Cosmology

ECTS credits

3.0

Assessment form

Examination

lecturer of 2025/2026 Spring semester

Tõnu Laas (language of instruction:Estonian)

lecturer of 2026/2027 Autumn semester

Not opened for teaching. Click the study programme link below to see the nominal division schedule.

Course aims

To get basic knowledge of the structure of the Universe and of the laws of the evolution of the Universe.

Brief description of the course

Observational and theoretical foundations of cosmological models. Local properties of the universe. Geometric structure of the universe. Einstein's and Friedmann's equations. The use of thermodynamic laws in describing the early stages of the universe, cosmic microwave background radiation. The formation of stars and galaxies. The Big Bang. The inflationary universe model. Dark matter and dark energy. Philosophical problems related to the development of the universe.

Classroom work takes place in the form of seminars.
Independent work: preparing for seminars, working through literature, solving problem tasks.

Learning outcomes in the course

Upon completing the course the student:
- understands the structure of the Universe and the basic laws of its evolution;
- has ability to implement physical laws to analyse of the Universe evolution;
- has ability to use classical methods of physics to solve problems in modern physics;
- can use various sources of information and critically evaluate their content to make a presentation on a given topic.

Teacher

Tõnu Laas PhD

Prerequisite course 1

Astronomy (MLF6036.LT)

Prerequisite course 2

Mathematical Analysis II (MLM6502.DT)

The course is a prerequisite

General Relativity and Cosmology (MLF7106.LT)

Study programmes containing that course