Astronomy
Spring 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 10:00am-11:00am 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 | March 4th |
| Mid-Term 2 | April 15th |
| Final | 8:00am to 10:00am May 20th (2 hours) |
Sunset Project
| Three Observations | In lab the week of March 7th |
| Seven Total Observations (4 new) | In lab the week of April 18th |
| Final Writeup | In lecture May 13th |
- Required Texts -
Textbook- The Cosmic Perspective, 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.
Exam Information
Please see the beginning of this document for the exam dates. Bring two #2 pencils 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. During lecture and on exams, you will not need a calculator. 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.
Turn in #1
The first turn in is worth 20 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 25 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 55 points. You will turn in ten total 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. During lecture and on exams, you will not need a calculator. 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.
- The Sunset 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 20 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 25 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 55 points. You will turn in ten total 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 |
| January 31st | Scale of the Universe The Sky From Earth | 1 2 | No Lab |
| February 7th | The Solar System- A scientific model evolves | 3 | Measuring the Sky |
| February 14th | Newton's Laws | 4 | Mapping the Solar System |
| February 21st | Energy and Momentum | 4 | Impacts |
| February 28th | Special Relativity Review Midterm 1(Friday) | s2 | No Lab |
| March 7th | The formation of the Solar System Planetary Atmospheres | 8 | Under Pressure |
| March 14th | Light and Spectroscopy | 5 | Spectroscopy |
| March 21st | Spring Break | Nothing | Nothing |
| March 28th | Light and Spectroscopy The Sun | 5 14 | Jupiter's Moons |
| Arpil 4th | The Sun Stars and Stellar Evolution | 14 15 | Nucleosynthesis |
| Arpil 11th | Stars and Stellar Evolution Review Midterm 2 (Friday) | 16-17 | No Lab |
| Arpil 18th | Exotic Objects | 18 | HR Diagram |
| Arpil 25th | The Milky Way Galaxies and Galaxy Evolution | 19 20 | Galaxy Classification |
| May 2nd | Cosmology | 22-23 | Drake Equation |
| May 9th | Cosmology Review | 23 ... | Expansion of the Universe |
| May 16th | Final Exam Friday May 20th 8:00am-10:00am | All of them! | No Lab |
Grading
| Material | % Grade |
| Lab | 25% |
| Observational Project | 15% |
| 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 |