Topics for final paper

1. Lunar missions and applications to modern life style. Space travel

spurred a lot of research activity in science and technology. Several new
inventions were made to make space travel possible. Some of these
include the ubiquitous GPS , a revolution that was first developed when
USA wanted to put man on the moon. You could talk about inventions like
these that are actually fallouts from lunar missions that have found a
permanent home in our lives today.

2. Space observatories , tools, telescopes and missions. There are so

many observatories to observe space. Research about the requirements
to set up an observatory, what kind of tools are needed, the different kinds
of observatories and their tools. Also do some research on either three
telescopes on earth or three space missions and what their achievements
have been.

3. Natural wonders. Research about the various natural wonders we see

from the earth and how it is intimately connected to the space around us.
Explore eclipses, rainbows, transits, northern lights etc. Imagine you were
sent to Mars and had an opportunity to stay there long enough . Would
these natural wonders be seen? If yes, would they be the same? Expound
on your theories based on the science you have learnt in the modules.

4. What is the Big Bang theory? Does it complicate matters or does it

unify ? Research why the big bang theory could be a pertinent beginning
to the universe and explains the birth and death of stars.

5. Nuclear reactors .We know that the stars produce a lot of energy. We
know they are nuclear reactors. Explore how they are different from the
nuclear reactors on earth. Research why it is difficult for us to produce
energy the same way the stars do.

6. Radio astronomy- why is this important? How does it differ from other
kinds of observatories? What kind of telescopes do you need to capture
radio waves?

7. The earth’s tilt. Imagine the tilt of the earth is shifted from 23.5 °to 15°.
Research how it shifts our tropics, our seasons, the length of the seasons,
the severity of the seasons etc.

8. Earth’s circular orbit and rotation. There are so many elegant proofs for
the earth’s curvature, rotation and elliptical orbit. Research the Focault’s
pendulum, the swirl of the hurricanes and the fact that a missile shot
straight deflects from the horizontal. Research how this astronomical fact
is used in war to correct project sub continental missiles.
 9. Ancient culture and sundials. Several ancient cultures built elaborate
structures for reading time. Research 4 such structures and discuss their
advantages and disadvantages. In particular, research how the time varies
with longitude and how the ancient structures were compatible only with a
particular latitude.

10. Why is there so much fascination with space? Why are governments
spending billions of dollars on space research and equipment? Identify three
recent (in the last 20 years) man made technological tools that have fascinated
you and discuss why those tools excite you.