Transcript 1-Syllabus-Intro

Astronomy 1001
Section 1
Syllabus
Astronomy 1001: Exploring the Universe
Section 1, Fall semester 2014
Prof. Roberta M. Humphreys, 358 Physics, tel. 624-6530
Lectures: 9:45 – 11:00 am on Tues., Thurs. in room 166 Physics.
Office hours: 11:00 – noon TTh
-- The hour before class is usually a bad time except for very
brief matters.
-- I will usually be in class at least 5 minutes before lecture and can stay
afterwards for several minutes. These are good times to take care of
most questions.
For routine questions about course material, please ask a TA first
(see below).
E-mail: [email protected]
Warning: Don’t rely on e-mail for important or urgent questions.
The inflow rate has become far too large.
TA office hours, in 451 Physics (for routine questions):
Hours will be posted on the doors outside rooms 244 and B49.
Textbook: Recommended Book – Discovering the Essential Universe by
Neil Comins.
Any recently published introductory astronomy text however will be
satisfactory. I recommend used and paperback copies for the best price.
Note that exams are based on my lectures. So attend class and take notes.
The textbook is useful for studying and review.
Web page for Ast 1001 http://www.astro.umn.edu/courses/1001/
Book for the lab exercises: Astronomy 1001/1011H Laboratory Manual 2014-15, a
local production available in the university bookstore.
Concerning the lab part of this course:
1. Labs are quite separate from the lectures.
2. Get a copy of the Astronomy 100/1011H1 Laboratory Manual 2014 – 2015,
at the university bookstore. Since this book is a local production, most other
stores won’t have it.
3. Important: Part of the lab course is an “observational project” concerning
the Moon. Read about it and start observing the Moon as soon as possible!
If you fall behind in this project, there honestly is no way to catch up.
( Note that the Moon is full on Sept 9 will be visible all night. It will be 3rd
quarter on Sept 16. Look for it after midnight.)
4. A schedule for lab activities is appended to this syllabus.
Grading: Officially we use the following recipe for final scores and grades.
First mid-semester exam …
Second exam …
Final exam …
12 labs …
Observational project …
160 pts.16%
160 16 %
300 30 %
240 24 %
140 14 %
However, in effect the exams are even more important than these score-numbers
indicate, for a statistical reason that will be mentioned in class.
Grading will be based on a “modified curve”. Anyone earning 90% or better will
earn an A- or higher. 50% is required to pass (D or better) and 60% for a C- or
better. If you’re taking the course S/N, then a grade of ‘S’ will mean “C- or better
(60%).
Note: Furthermore, to get a passing grade you must earn 50% of the lab points
(120/240) and 50% of the Obs. project points (70/140) and take all 3 exams.
Exam dates: Dates for the two mid-semester exams have not been finalized yet
but they will most likely be Oct 9 but could be the week after, when I have finished
the solar system and the week of Nov 11, when I have finished lecturing on stars.
The correct dates will be announced in class at least a week in advance. In each
case the rooms used for the exam will be announced in class.
The final will be given ; Thurs Dec 18, 8:00 am– 10:00 am, room TBD
Academic standards: The CLA and CSE scholastic conduct and classroom
procedures will be followed. You are responsible for knowing these, see the
university website. Students are welcome to work together, exchange ideas, etc.
But for the Observational Project you must do your own measurements and
calculations.
Exam procedures: Room assignments for the exams will be announced
beforehand in class, Bring two pencils and a photo ID to each exam! Exams may
include multiple-choice, short- answer, and essay questions. If you miss an
exam, see the professor.
All makeups are given on study day, Thursday Dec 11. Time and place to be
determined. Exam scores will be posted by your course and ID# on the web. If
you feel there’s a mistake on the multiple-choice part of an exam, please see the
secretary in the astronomy department office, 356 Physics. Questions about
essay questions should be directed to the professor.
Environmental theme: This course satisfies the “environmental theme” specified
on the university website. It introduces students to a wide range of topics,
including physical principles and not just astronomy. One goal is to show the
Earth in a broad context with a unique perspective on our home planet and its
environment in the universe. In this course we’ll see how science views and
interprets the physical world around us.
Ast 1001 Section 1 Professor Humphreys
Outline of Lectures
powerpoints will be posted at http://www.astro.umn.edu/courses/1001/
Week
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Dates
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Sept 2,4
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Sept 9,11
3
Sept 16,18
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Sept 23,25
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Sept30, Oct 2
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Oct 7,9
Topic(s)
Text
Introduction
Ch 1
Historical Perspective
Ch. 2
Appearance of the Night Sky, Motions of
Ch.1, 2
the Earth and Moon
Light, optics and telescopes
Ch. 3 pg 52-66
Formation of Solar System, Extrasolar planets Ch.4
Terrestrial planets
Ch. 5
Jovian Planets and their satellites
Minor and dwarf planets, comets, meteors
Oct 3 5 pm Moon Obs. Due (3 obs.)
Role of Impacts.
First Exam Oct 9, 14??
Ch. 6
Ch. 7
Ch. 7
Week
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Dates
Topic(s)
Oct 14, 16
The atom and spectroscopy
The Sun as a Star
Oct 21, 23
Properties of the stars
Oct 28, 30
Star formation, Stellar Evolution
Oct 31 5pm Moon Obs. Due (6 new, 9 total)
Nov 4, 6
Star Death - white dwarfs, supernovae,
neutron stars, black holes
Second exam week of Nov 11
Nov 11, 13
Second Exam ?, Milky Way
Nov 18, 20
Normal Galaxies
Nov 25
Galaxies and the distance - redshift relation
Dec 2, 4
Origin, evolution, and fate of the Universe
Dec 9
Dec 5 Moon Project Final Report due 5 pm
Life in the Universe, (catch - up)
FINAL EXAM Sect 1 Thurs Dec 18, 8:00 – 10:00 am, room TBD
Text
Ch. 3, pg 73-84
Ch. 8
Ch. 9
Ch. 10
Ch. 11
Ch. 12
Ch. 12
Ch. 12
Ch. 13
Ch. 14
Schedule for Labs Fall 2014 Ast 1001
Week 1 – Sept 1
No Lab
Week 2 – Sept 8
Lab D
Observing the Moon
Week 3 – Sept 15
Lab A
Astronomical Distances
Week 4 – Sept 22
Lab B
Kepler's Laws
Week 5 – Sept 29
Lab E
Telescopes
(Oct 3 Moon Project Part 1 Due)
Week 6 – Oct 6
Lab L
Impacts from Space
Week 7 – Oct 13
Lab M
Extraterrestrial Life
Week 8 – Oct 20
Lab I
Energy Flows
Week 9 – Oct 27
Lab F
Atomic Spectroscopy
(Oct 31 Moon Project Part 2 Due)
Week 10 – Nov 3
Lab H
HR-Diagram
Week 11 – Nov 10
Lab K
History of Matter
Week 12 – Nov 17
Lab J
The Expansion of the Universe
Week 13– Nov 24
No Labs
Thanksgiving
Week 14 – Dec 1
Lab G
Dark Matter
(Dec 5 Final Moon Project Due)
Week 15 – Dec 8
No Labs
Astronomy -- the study of the stars
The Sun and solar system
The Stars -- their birth and death
Galaxies and the Universe
In Astronomy we are concerned with origins and endings --Your concepts of space and time will be altered.
Time = Ages
Earth, Sun and Solar System --- 4.5 x 109 yrs
--- 10 x 109 yrs
Age of Galaxy (oldest stars) --- ~ 12 x 109 yrs
Solar Lifetime
Age of Universe (expansion age) --- ~ 13 x 109 yrs
Space = Distances
Earth – Moon --- 284,400 km ( 240,000 mi)
Earth – Sun
--- 150 x 106 km ( 93 million miles)
Solar System (to Pluto) --- 5.9 x 109 km (3.7 billion miles)
Nearest Star --- 4.3 light years ( ~ 41 x 1012 km )
Center of Galaxy --- 27,000 light years ( 256 x 1015 km)
Andromeda Galaxy --- 2.3 x 106 light yrs ( 22 x 1018 km )