Cosmology and astronomy | Science | Khan Academy

Cosmology, Astronomy, and Earth Science Curriculum

This page outlines the educational modules provided by Khan Academy covering physics, planetary science, and human history. Key topics include:

• Special Relativity:
  • Foundational concepts: Light, the luminiferous ether, and the Michelson–Morley Experiment.
  • Mathematical frameworks: Galilean transformations, Minkowski spacetime diagrams, and Lorentz transformations.
  • Relativistic mechanics: Einstein’s velocity addition formula, time dilation, and frame of reference calculations.
• Cosmology and Stellar Science:
  • Scale of the Earth, Sun, galaxy, and universe.
  • The Big Bang theory and the expansion of the universe.
  • Stellar evolution (life and death of stars) and stellar parallax.
• Geology and Earth Science:
  • Plate Tectonics: Crust vs. lithosphere, mantle convection, divergent/convergent boundaries, and the formation of the Hawaiian islands.
  • Earth Structure: Compositional and mechanical layers, the Earth's core, and the study of seismic waves.
  • Orbital Mechanics: Earth's rotation, axial tilt, and the mechanics of seasons.
  • Milankovitch Cycles: Precession, obliquity, and apsidal precession.
• History and Human Development:
  • History of life on Earth and human evolution.
  • Societal development: The rise of agriculture, writing, and "collective learning."
  • Demographics and resources: Thomas Malthus’s theories on population growth and energy inputs in agriculture.
  • Historical notation and future projections for 2060.