The lecture schedule lists the chapter of the textbook associated with each lecture topic.
Reading the relevant chapter before a topic is covered in lecture not only reenforces the
material in your mind but allows you to bring questions to class and motivates in class
discussion.
In 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.
Please see the beginning of this document for the exam dates.
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.
**The Final Exam CANNOT be made up or rescheduled**
Math
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.
- 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)
| 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 |
The grading scheme is guaranteed to be no stricter than that stated above. Any
changes to the grading scheme will be in your favor.