ASTRONOMY 150: Science and the Universe
Course Overview: In ASTR 150, you will study the basic structure of science and scientific reasoning with emphasis on astronomy.
· Primary textbook: Prather et al., "Lecture Tutorials for Introductory Astronomy," 3rd ed., Pearson Learning Solutions, 2013 (4th custom ed. for WSU) [ISBN 978-1-269-06091-2 1-269-06091-0].
· Class meeting times: Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 13:25 to 14:40 Hours
· Meeting Place: Webster 16
· Best method to reach instructor is by email, as given in class. Office hours:- Tues and Thurs 1100 - 1200 Hrs.
· Web site: Sometimes useful materials and links will be posted on course website. Such material will be announced in the lectures first. An updated version of this document will replace this one on the above website by the end of the first week of classes.
· T.A.: Amitabh Biswas (amitabh.biswas@wsu.edu) . Office hours: by appointment; email Amitabh, preferably a day in advance, to schedule an appointment.
Course tips:
(1) Read ahead in your book so that you are always ahead of the calendar (see below).
(2) Read this syllabus carefully.
(3) For your benefit, the lecture material will closely follow your text book. In cases of digressions, supplementary material will be posted on the course website.
(4) There will be in-class activities (graded) almost every lecture. Therefore, attendance is important for a good grade.
Administrative Details: Performance will be evaluated by home assignments, in-class activities, and 3 tests. Attendance in the two midterm exams and the final exam is mandatory for a passing grade. Numerical scores will be weighted as follows: Home assignments and in-class activities (50%), 2 midterm exams (10% + 10%), final exam (30%).
Good conduct and full participation is expected of each student. Cases of academic dishonesty and plagiarism shall be processed in accordance with the Academic Integrity Policy, as printed in the Student Handbook and the Faculty Manual. If student response statistics indicate probable copying, then suspect students will be placed on probation.
The composite, weighted score will determine each student’s grade according to the table below:
|
W.S.U. Letter Grade |
W.S.U. Grade Point |
Min. Percentage needed |
|
A |
4.0 |
92 |
|
A- |
3.7 |
87 |
|
B+ |
3.3 |
82 |
|
B |
3.0 |
77 |
|
B- |
2.7 |
72 |
|
C+ |
2.3 |
67 |
|
C |
2.0 |
62 |
|
C- |
1.7 |
57 |
|
D+ |
1.3 |
52 |
|
D |
1.0 |
47 |
COURSE SCHEDULE
The schedule below will be updated regularly. We will fill in the chapters as the semester progresses. The dates and times of exams are listed in the calendar below.
Dates of the exams will be added by the second week of classes. Make-up exams must be arranged in advance with the professor with suitable documentation such as a note from the coach or doctor and will suffer a 10% penalty in score regardless of the nature of the excuse. Students that miss class should contact the professor or T.A., preferably during office hours, to pick up any materials that may have been handed out. There will be NO make-ups for missed assignments and in-class group activities. Late submissions will NOT be accepted either.
|
Date |
Chapter |
Topics |
Notes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tues. Jan 9 |
0 |
Introduction to the course |
|
|
Thurs. Jan 11 |
1 |
Position (of stars) |
|
|
Tues. Jan 16 |
2 |
Motion (of stars) |
|
|
Thurs. Jan 18 |
3 |
Seasonal stars |
|
|
Tues. Jan 23 |
4 |
Solar vs Sidereal Day |
|
|
Thurs. Jan 25 |
5 |
The Ecliptic |
|
|
Tues. Jan 30 |
6 |
Star Charts |
|
|
Thurs. Feb 1 |
7 & 8 |
Kepler’s Laws |
|
|
Tues Feb 6 |
Kepler’s 3rd law & Exam study guide
discussion |
|
|
|
Thurs Feb 8 |
9 |
Newton’s law and gravity |
|
|
Tues. Feb 13 |
Midterm EXAM #1 |
|
|
|
Thurs. Feb 15 |
10 |
App. & absolute magnitudes |
|
|
Tues. Feb 20 |
11 |
The Parsec |
|
|
Thurs. Feb 22 |
12 |
Parallax & Distance |
|
|
Tues. Feb 27 |
13 |
Spectroscopic… |
|
|
Thurs. Mar 1 |
… Parallax |
||
|
Tues. Mar 6 |
14 |
Electromagnetic spectrum |
|
|
Thurs. Mar 8 |
15 |
Telescopes |
|
|
Mar 12 - 16 |
SPRING BREAK |
|
|
|
Tues. Mar 20 |
16 |
Luminosity, temperature & size |
|
|
Thurs. Mar 22 |
17 |
Blackbody radiation |
|
|
Tues. Mar 27 |
|
The date of this exam has been
moved to March 29. |
|
|
Thurs. Mar 29 |
Midterm EXAM #2 |
||
|
Tues. Apr 3 |
18, 19 |
Types of Spectra; Light & atoms |
|
|
Thurs Apr 5 |
20 |
Analyzing Spectra |
|
|
Tues Apr 10 |
21, 22 |
Doppler Shift; Star Formation & Lifetimes |
|
|
Thurs. Apr 12 |
23 |
Binary Stars |
|
|
Tues. Apr 17 |
24 |
Motion of… |
|
|
Thurs. Apr 19 |
…Extra-solar
planets |
||
|
Tues. Apr 24 |
25 |
Stellar evolution |
|
|
Thurs. Apr 26 |
26 |
The Big Bang |
|
|
MONDAY, April 30 |
FINAL EXAM venue & other relevant details will be announced a week in advance. |
13:00 - 15:00hrs |
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