Astronomy
Fall 2010
Office: OWS 160E
Email: gtruch at stthomas.edu
Course Web Page: ida.phys.stthomas.edu/phys104
Phone: 651-962-5207
Lecture: M W F 12:15 PM - 1:20 PM, Owens Science Center, Room 150
Office Hours: Mondays 2:00pm-3:00pm or by appointment.
***
You are responsible for all information contained in this syllabus as well as any changes
made during the semester.
***
- Important Dates -
Exams| Mid-Term 1 | October 8th |
| Mid-Term 2 | November 12th |
| Final | 8:00am to 10:00am December 17th (2 hours) |
Observational Project
| Three Observations | In lab the week of October 11th |
| Seven Total Observations (4 new) | In lab the week of November 15th |
| Final Writeup | In lecture December 10th |
- Required Texts -
Textbook- The Cosmic Perspective, 5th Edition, Bennett, Donahue, Schneider and Voit
- Course Policies and Procedures -
Academic StandardsIn the process of conducting scientific work, it is essential that an attitude of trust and honesty exists between all participants. In the Physics Department, we have an honor code. We expect you to behave honorably in all aspects of your life. This means that we trust you. For example, you are free to leave the room during a test without asking me. We take this trust seriously and a breach of trust has severe consequences. Cheating in any form is grounds for dismissal from the course with a grade of F.
Electronic Devices
Use of cell phones, pagers, messaging PDAs, or other wireless communication devices (including laptops for e-mail) is not permitted at anytime during class or exams. Please be considerate of your fellow students and conduct your e-business outside of the classroom.
Exam Information
Please see the beginning of this document for the exam dates. Bring two pencils and a photo-ID to all exams! You are allowed to bring one double-sided 8.5'' by 11'' page of notes to each of the exams. Exams will consist of multiple-choice questions and short-answer questions. The final exam will be comprehensive. Questions that proved the most difficult on the mid-terms may be repeated on the final. I encourage you to argue with me about your exam score if you believe that something was graded incorrectly, or if you believe that you deserve more points.
Makeup Exam Information
If you cannot take an exam, see me well in advance about scheduling a makeup exam. If you cannot notify me in advance (minimum 1 week), contact me as soon as possible; this is best accomplished through e-mail. All makeup exams will have short-answer / essay questions ONLY.
Although this course is largely descriptive in nature, proficiency in basic algebra is expected. You will not be performing math requiring a calculator. In fact, a calculator is not required or even necessary. I want you to come away with a basic understanding of the mathematical reasoning behind modern scientific research. Plugging numbers into an equation and getting an 'answer' is not the best way to achieve this. Instead, I would like to help you understand, through some basic algebra, what an equation really has to say about the natural world.
Influenza/H1N1 and YOU
The University of St. Thomas is committed to a healthy campus community. During the 2009-2010 academic year, there will be ongoing concerns regarding the prevalence among university faculty, staff and students of both the H1N1 virus and seasonal influenza. To help limit the spread of these illnesses, the Centers for Disease Control has provided college campuses the following recommendation: students, faculty, or staff with influenza like illnesses (temperature of 100.0 or greater, plus a cough or sore throat) are directed to self-isolate (or stay home) for at least 24 hours after their fever is gone without the use of fever-reducing medicine. In the event that students are unable to attend classes due to this self-isolation recommendation, they should consult the pandemic web site http://www.stthomas.edu/pandemic/plan/default.html and complete an on-line form informing professors of their absence. In accordance, faculty will provide opportunities for these students to participate in alternative educational delivery due to this illness.
Turn in #1
The first turn in is worth 10 points. At this time, you will turn in at least three observations. The purpose of this turn in is to ensure that your observations are good and that you are performing the calcualtions correctly. This turn in will be not be graded harshly. If you turn in three observations, you will get most of the points. It's mostly a check to make sure everything is going well.
Turn in #2
The second turn in is worth 15 points. At this time, you will turn in at least seven observations, the three observations from the first turn in with corrections if required and four new observations. If any of the first three observations were determined to be unusable by the grader, you will need to take new observations to replace them. You will be graded on the quality of all seven observations and they will be graded more strictly than the first turn in.
Final turn in
This turn in is worth 75 points. You will turn in ten observations, the seven observations from the previous two turn ins plus three new ones. In addition, you will turn in your final writeup and analysis. The details of the final writeup will be given to you during lab later in the semester
The grading scheme is guaranteed to be no stricter than that stated above. Any
changes to the grading scheme will be in your favor.
If you cannot take an exam, see me well in advance about scheduling a makeup exam. If you cannot notify me in advance (minimum 1 week), contact me as soon as possible; this is best accomplished through e-mail. All makeup exams will have short-answer / essay questions ONLY.
**The Final Exam CANNOT be made up or rescheduled**
MathAlthough this course is largely descriptive in nature, proficiency in basic algebra is expected. You will not be performing math requiring a calculator. In fact, a calculator is not required or even necessary. I want you to come away with a basic understanding of the mathematical reasoning behind modern scientific research. Plugging numbers into an equation and getting an 'answer' is not the best way to achieve this. Instead, I would like to help you understand, through some basic algebra, what an equation really has to say about the natural world.
Influenza/H1N1 and YOU
The University of St. Thomas is committed to a healthy campus community. During the 2009-2010 academic year, there will be ongoing concerns regarding the prevalence among university faculty, staff and students of both the H1N1 virus and seasonal influenza. To help limit the spread of these illnesses, the Centers for Disease Control has provided college campuses the following recommendation: students, faculty, or staff with influenza like illnesses (temperature of 100.0 or greater, plus a cough or sore throat) are directed to self-isolate (or stay home) for at least 24 hours after their fever is gone without the use of fever-reducing medicine. In the event that students are unable to attend classes due to this self-isolation recommendation, they should consult the pandemic web site http://www.stthomas.edu/pandemic/plan/default.html and complete an on-line form informing professors of their absence. In accordance, faculty will provide opportunities for these students to participate in alternative educational delivery due to this illness.
- Observational Project -
This course includes an observational project requiring you to make regular observations of the Sun. It is extremely important that you make regular observations spaced evenly throughout the semester. For this reason, you will turn in your observations two times in addition to turning in the final project. The total project, including the two observational turn ins, is worth 100 points (10 percent of your grade).Turn in #1
The first turn in is worth 10 points. At this time, you will turn in at least three observations. The purpose of this turn in is to ensure that your observations are good and that you are performing the calcualtions correctly. This turn in will be not be graded harshly. If you turn in three observations, you will get most of the points. It's mostly a check to make sure everything is going well.
Turn in #2
The second turn in is worth 15 points. At this time, you will turn in at least seven observations, the three observations from the first turn in with corrections if required and four new observations. If any of the first three observations were determined to be unusable by the grader, you will need to take new observations to replace them. You will be graded on the quality of all seven observations and they will be graded more strictly than the first turn in.
Final turn in
This turn in is worth 75 points. You will turn in ten observations, the seven observations from the previous two turn ins plus three new ones. In addition, you will turn in your final writeup and analysis. The details of the final writeup will be given to you during lab later in the semester
IMPORTANT NOTE - You cannot recieve a passing grade in the class if you do not receive at least 50% of the points on the observation project.
Tentative Lecture Schedule (Subject to Change)
Week Of |
Topic |
Reading |
Lab |
| September 6th | Scale of the Universe The Sky From Earth | 1 2 | No Lab |
| September 13th | The Solar System- A scientific model evolves | 3 | Measuring the Sky |
| September 20th | Newton's Laws | 4 | Mapping the Solar System |
| September 27th | Energy and Momentum | 4 | Impacts |
| October 4th | Special Relativity Review Midterm 1(Friday) | s2 | No Lab |
| October 11th | The formation of the Solar System | 8 | Under Pressure |
| October 18th | Light and Spectroscopy | 5 | Jupiter's Moons |
| October 25th | Light and Spectroscopy The Sun | 5 14 | Spectroscopy |
| November 1st | The Sun Stars and Stellar Evolution | 14 15 | The Drake Equation |
| November 8th | Stars and Stellar Evolution Review Midterm 2 (Friday) | 16-17 | No Lab |
| November 15th | Exotic Objects | 18 | HR Diagram |
| November 22nd | The Milky Way Galaxies and Galaxy Evolution | 19 20 | No Lab - Happy Thanksgiving! |
| November 29th | Cosmology | 22-23 | Galaxy Classification |
| December 6th | Cosmology Review | 23 ... | Expansion of the Universe |
| December 13h | Final Exam Friday December 17th 8:00am-10:00am | All of them! | No Lab |
Grading
| Material | % Grade |
| Lab | 25% |
| Lecture Participation | 5% |
| Observational Project | 10% |
| Mid-Term 1 | 20% |
| Mid-Term 2 | 20% |
| Final Exam | 20% |
*NOTE!*
In order to receive a passing grade in the class you must get at least 50% of the total available lab points, at least 50% of the available observational project points, and you must take all exams.Grade Breakdown
| Range | Letter Grade | Range | Letter Grade |
| 95 % - 100 % | A | 76.7 % - 79.9 % | C+ |
| 90 % - 94.9 % | A- | 73.3 % - 76.6 % | C |
| 86.7 % - 89.9 % | B+ | 70.0 % - 73.2 % | C- |
| 83.3 % - 86.6 % | B | 65.0 % - 69.9 % | D+ |
| 80.0 % - 83.2 % | B- | 60.0 % - 64.9 % | D |
| 0 % - 59.9 % | F |