| ASTR 101 |
|---|
| DESCRIPTIVE ASTRONOMY |
| Spring,
2019 |
| INSTRUCTOR | Dr. Lalith Perera |
| LOCATION and TIME | 101 Lewis Hall, MW 7:00-7:50PM and F 12:00-12:50PM |
| OFFICE HOURS | M,T,TH 3:00-4:00PM or by appointment |
| OFFICE | Lewis 209 |
| lpperera@olemiss.edu |
| COURSE
DESCRIPTION |
This is an introductory one semester course in astronomy for non-science majors. Main objective of the course is to understand the working of the universe in terms of scientific principals. Physical concepts, as they relate to astronomy, as well as their historical development are discussed. There is no laboratory work, but there will be opportunities for observations. |
| PREREQUISITES | No prior knowledge of astronomy or advanced science is required. A basic knowledge of some scientific facts and mathematics (no more than middle school level) is expected. A keen interest in learning astronomy and willingness put forth the required effort is the best prerequisite. |
| COURSE
OBJECTIVES |
After successful completion of the course students are expected to have a basic understanding and feeling about our place in the universe, its scale, constituents, structure and physical principals and processes governing it. They are expected to achieve a better understanding of how science works and have a good enough grasp of the fundamental concepts to follow articles on astronomy in the popular press and be able to evaluate their scientific merits or flaws. |
| TEXTBOOK
and SUPPLEMENTARY READING |
The
course is not based on a text book (so important to come
to
class). Lecture slides will be posted on this web page before
the
class, In addition, links to various online resources will be posted as
supplementary learning material. A list of suggested books
for
supplementary reading is given here |
| FACEBOOK page | There is a facebook page with astronomy related news and articles. Students are encouraged to subscribe to it and get updates on current news and events in astronomy. |
| HOMEWORK | There are
regular reading assignments and homework. Doing
assigned
homework on time is an important requirement to be successful in this
course. In addition, there is a set of review questions given at the end of each lecture. They are not graded, but student should go though them and find answers. Similar questions can be expected in tests. |
| QUIZZES | There will be occasional multiple choice quizzes during the class. Answering the quizzes are done with scantrons. Students are required to bring a scantron sheet (purple #16485) to every class. |
| EXAMS | There are three midterm tests, and a final exam consisting of multiple-choice and short-answer questions. Each midterm test is over individual sections and the final exam is cumulative. Makeup tests are allowed only for absences due to a serious illness. |
| ATTENDANCE and CONDUCT in the class | Regular
attendance is expected and is essential to be
successful in the
course. There are many demonstrations, and other visual aids presented
and discussed in the class. There won't be any make ups for missed
quizzes due to absences, regardless the reason. Attendance and proper conduct in the class will be taken into consideration for extra credit work and other special considerations. Talking, laptop or cell phone use, or any activity which distract oneself or others are not permitted in the class. It is not possible to learn all of astronomy the night before the exam. Learning science is about understanding concepts through logical reasoning, a slow and gradual process that requires thinking and an effort. You have to keep up with the material as it is presented and discussed in the class. Students are strongly encouraged to participate in class by asking questions. Please seek help when encounter a concept that you do not understand. Peer discussions and group studies are encouraged. |
| EVALUATION | The final grade is based on
tests, homework and in class quizzes as
given below. There will be some extra credit opportunities that can be
used to improve the grade. Only students with good attendance (better
than 75% or less than 9 absences) and done homework
assignments
are qualified for extra credit and
other special considerations. |
||
| In-class
Quizzes ..... 14% Homework ............. 14% Test 1 ......................14% Test 2 ......................14% Test 3 ......................14% Final Exam.............. 30% Extra credit upto 10% |
A
> 90% A- > 85% B+> 80% B > 75% B- > 70% |
C+ > 65% C > 60% C- > 55% D > 50% F < 50% |
|
| SPECIAL NEEDS | Reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities and absences due to illness will be provided. In case of illness a doctor's certification is required. |
| SCHEDULE | |
| Test 1............................ | February 25 |
| Test 2 ........................... | April 1 |
| Test 3 ........................... | April 29 |
| Final Exam.................... | Wednesday, May 8, 7.30PM |
| TEST SCORES and GRADES: | |
|
Quiz scores
|
Midterm grades |
| EXTRA CREDIT | Suggested extra credit topics and guidelines ( deadline April 29) |
| Syllabus and the tentative
schedule |
||
| W-Jan 23 | Introduction slides | |
| F-Jan
25 |
Preliminary concepts, Mathematics refresher slides | |
| M-Jan
28 |
Scale of the universe slides | |
| W-Jan
30 |
homework #1 | |
| F-Feb.
1 |
Understanding the sky: The Earth and the sky slides | quiz #1 |
| M-Feb.
4 |
Understanding the sky: motions of the sky slides | constellation legends |
| W-Feb. 6 |
|
How to install Stellarium and Skygazer |
| F-Feb.
8 |
More on Stars and the Sky slides | quiz #2 |
| M-Feb.
11 |
||
| W-Feb.
13 |
Understanding the sky: The Sun and the seasons slides | |
| F-Feb.-15 |
Understanding the sky:The Moon and eclipses slides | |
| M-
Feb. 18 |
Understanding the sky: Planets slides | |
| W-Feb.
20 |
Astronomy in timekeeping and navigation slides | homework #2 |
| F-Feb. 22 | quiz #3 | |
| M-Feb. 25 | Midterm test 1 | read the article on navigation by stars |
| W-Feb. 27 | Astronomy through the ages 1: Early history and Greek Astronomy slides | |
| F-March
1 |
||
| M-March
4 |
Astronomy through
the ages 2: Middle ages through renaissance Islamic Astronomy, Copernicus, Brahe and Kepler slides |
|
| W-March
6 |
Astronomy through the ages 3: Galileo and telescopic astronomy slides |
Watch
the video
Galileo's Battle for the Heavens |
| F-March
8 |
Astronomy through the ages 4: Newton and laws of motion and gravity 1 slides | quiz #4 |
| M-March
18 |
||
| W-March 20 | Astronomy through the ages 4: Newton and laws of motion and gravity 2 slides | |
| F-March
22 |
Rockets and space travel slides | quiz #5 |
| M-March
25 |
The nature of light and matter 1: Light slides | |
| W-March
27 |
|
|
| F-March
29 |
The nature of light and matter 2: Thermal radiation, atoms and spectra | |
| M-April
1 |
Midterm test 2 | |
| W-April
3 |
||
| F-April 5 | The nature of light and matter 3: Doppler shift, matter and energy | |
| M-April
8 |
|
|
| W April 10 |
Evolution of Stars | |
| F-April
12 |
||
| M-April
15 |
End
staes of
stars, neutron stars, pulsers,black holes |
|
| W-April
17 |
The Solar system | |
| F-April
19 |
The Earth and the Moon | |
| M-April
22 |
Comets, asteroids and meteors | Watch the NOVA video Making North America |
| W-April
24 |
The Sun | |
| F-April
26 |
Planets | |
| M-April
29 |
Midterm test 3 | |
| W-May
1 |
Galaxies and dark matter | |
| F-May
3 |
Cosmology: expanding universe, Big Bang theory of the Universe | |
| W-May-8 | Final exam (7.30 PM) | |