Physics 102 - Astronomy, Astrophysics, and Cosmology

Gustavus Adolphus College --Spring 2004

Instructors:

Dr. Charles F. Niederriter Office: Olin 211 933-7315

Links to Other Sites:

Archeo-Astronomy Group Project - Spring 2004

Astronomy Audio "Tapes":

Astronomy Physlets

Cool Web Sites Collected by the Spring 1997 Class

Others

• Universe
• Web Site for Snow and Brownberger
• Info Trac
• Galileo at Europa
• STScI/HST Public Information
• NASA Spacelink - An Aeronautics & Space Resource for Educators
• Evidence of Primitive Life From Mars
• Meteorites from Mars!
• Spacelink: Mars Pathfinder
• Mars Meteorite Home Page (JPL)
• NASA - JSC Digital Image Collection home
• Astronomy Picture of the Day
• Space Telescope Electronic Information Service
• Comet C/1996 B2 (Hyakutake) Home Page
• Comet Hyakutake Finder Chart
• UC Santa Barbara Astrophysics Home Page
• HEAT (High-Energy, Antimatter Telescope)
• Stardust Home Page
• PDS Home Page
• SKY Online - Sky Publishing Corp.'s Web Site
• MWO Online Stargazer Map
• MILLS OBSERVATORY, BALGAY PARK, DUNDEE
• Henrietta Leavitt Flat Screen Space Theater:Opening Page
• Bradford Robotic Telescope Operations Menu
• Latest HST Releasess
• Mars Global Surveyor Home Page
• Mullard Radio Astronomy Observatory (MRAO)
• JPL Mars Pathfinder Mission Home Page
• PROJECT CLEA HOME PAGE
• Planet Search Project
• Extrasolar Planet Index
• Exploratorium - San Francisco
• ExtraSolar Planets Pages

Textbooks: Universe: William J. Kaufmann and Roger Freedman, Sixth Edition (2001)

Study Guide for Universe:  (This contains additional examples and problems)

Astronomy Laboratory Manual, Charles F. Niederriter (2003)

Course Policy and Evaluation

1. Lecture and Recitation: The class will meet four days a week (MTRF) for lecture and discussion in Olin 103. Wednesdays will be reserved for laboratory in either 103 or 215, 217 & 219 (or 224) (as announced). The student will be responsible for reading the text before coming to class.

2. Homework: Homework will be assigned on a regular basis. Some will be done on Network computers (refer to the WebAssign description). Some will be turned in to the instructor, graded and returned. Homework should be neat and orderly. Late homework will be accepted at the discretion of the instructor with some loss of points.

3. Laboratory: There will be fourteen required laboratory experiments and several extra credit labs as described on the following page.  Students are also required to perform at least four observatory exercises with three more available for extra credit.  Due dates are listed on the following schedule for the observing exercises.

4.Observing Sessions: Observatory times  will be scheduled for Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday evenings (as weather permits).  Students, working in groups of 2-3, will sign up for one or two 30-minute time slots (limit 4 groups per slot).  Additional observing sessions will be scheduled occasionally and when needed.

5. Attendance: Regular attendance at all lectures and laboratories is expected and excessive absenteeism will result in some reduction of final grade. Participation is expected and is part of the students final grade.

6. Quizzes: There will be several ten-minute quiz throughout the semester based on the assigned reading.

7.Exams: There will be four one‑hour exams and a comprehensive two‑hour final exam as indicated on the following schedule.   Students are expected to arrange in advance to take an exam at other than the announced time.  Permission to make up a missed exam after the fact will be at the discretion of the instructor.

8. Incompletes: A grade of incomplete will be given only for work not completed due to circumstances beyond the control of the student.

9. Extra Credit:  Additional credit may be earned toward the final grade by performing additional lab or observing exercises or viewing video(s) and writing report(s).  The total extra credit may be up to the equivalent of one-half letter grade (2 points on a 100 point scale).

10. Email: You may contact me by electronic mail; chuck@gac.edu. I will respond as soon as we can to answer any questions that you might have.

11. Physics Tutors: Limited tutoring for this course will be available at times announced in the departmental tutoring schedule.

12. Office Hours, etc:  My scheduled office hours are 1st hour and 3rd hour MTWRF.  I will be available during these times for individual assistance and advising.  I will also be available at other times by appointment.  In general, if you want to stop in and you see me in the office, feel free to ask for help.  If I can't help you then, I'll suggest some later time.  Don't be afraid to ask for help.

13. Evaluation:

Assignment of final letter grades will also take into account the instructors' subjective evaluation of the student's attendance, initiative, class participation, preparation, and evidence of improvement.

14. Objectives, Goals, and Expectations:

This course is designed to illustrate the methods used by scientists (particularly astronomers) and to describe how these methods have changed over the course of history. The student will learn about the relationships between observations and theories by studying examples from astronomy and physics. In this course we will also discuss the relationships between science and mathematics, science and religion, and science and society.

Students who successfully complete this course should be able to understand the processes involved in developing models and theories and those involved in testing models and theories. These students should also have a basic understanding of the motions and properties of the heavenly bodies, know how to observe these motions and properties, and know how to relate these observations to models and theories.

The student beginning this course will be expected to understand basic mathematical principles such as those taught in high school algebra and geometry. During the course of the semester, algebra and geometry will be used extensively to discuss physical processes. The student will also be introduced to some concepts in trigonometry to illustrate the connection between mathematics and science but the student is not expected to use trigonometry to solve any problems. It is hoped that over the course of the semester the math skills of most students will improve as a result of the assignments in this course.

15. Course Schedule

Laboratory Schedule

Lab 1 Observation and Star Chart

------------------------------------------------------

Rotation Group 1

Lab 2 Dance of the Planets

Lab 3 Determining the Spectrum of a Substance

Lab 4 Lenses and Telescopes

------------------------------------------------------

Rotation Group 2

Lab 5 Rotation of Mercury and Jupiter's Moons

Lab 6 Lunar Features and Mountain Heights and Image Processing

Lab 7 Solar Rotation

-------------------------------------------------------

Rotation Group 3

Lab 8 Photometery and The HR Diagram For Pliedes

Lab 9 Palomar Sky Survey Experiment 1 & Spectral Classification

Lab 10 Determining the Masses of Binary Stars

-------------------------------------------------------

Rotation Group 4

Lab 11 Distance to Pliedes and Distance to a Cepheid Variable

Lab 12 Hubble's Law

Lab 13 Palomar Sky Survey 2 and The BT Atlas

-------------------------------------------------------

Lab 14 Large Scale Structure - Where the Galaxies Are

Other Labs available for extra credit:

Those Contained in the Lab Manual and Independent Astrophotography