SYLLABUS. Lecture: MWF 12:20 1:10 PM, 158 Willard

Transcription

1 SYLLABUS "##%&'& Lecture: MWF 12:20 1:10 PM, 158 Willard Instructor Dr. Matthew S. Povich 401 Davey Laboratory (814) Office hours: MW 10:00 11:00 AM in TA Headquarters (445 Davey) and by appointment TA Jason Curtis Office hours: T 3:00 5:00 PM in 445 Davey General TA office hours: 1:00 5:00 PM MTF, 12:30 3:30 PM W, 1:30 4:30 PM R Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics 525 Davey (814) Course Website on ANGEL: Recommended Textbook: The Cosmic Perspective: Fundamentals By Bennett, Donahue, Schneider, & Voit >8=6-*?0*602*@ The last century of astronomical observations has greatly expanded the scale of the known universe. The corresponding advancement of scientific theories and computer models of astronomical phenomena have allowed us to make sense of the incredible discoveries revealed by telescopes large and small. We have discovered planetary systems around ever more distant stars, stars surrounded by dusty disks that may be forming planets, galaxies under the influence of a mysterious form of dark matter, supermassive black holes at the centers of galaxies, stupendously distant galaxies forming soon after the beginning of time, an expanding universe apparently driven by some unknown dark energy, and much, much more. In The Evolving Universe, we will investigate both the current understanding of our universe and how the process of science has brought us such awareness. There are no prerequisites for this course. I will not assume you have had any science or mathematics preparation beyond what PSU expects of all entering students. This is a science class, so you will be expected to develop critical-thinking and logical-reasoning skills to understand scientific concepts, apply simple models, and make predictions. Mathematics is an essential tool for any scientist, and astronomers especially need to be comfortable with numbers in order to deal with vast scales of space and time. We will emphasize simple relationships between physical quantities that require at most a little high-school algebra. ()*+*,,-./01,213414*5,20*6-24.7"-468,89.':3*;428,'3.//1<=- '

2 "##%&'& >8=6-*346=;4=6*1,AB*C=26*9*,4- Because Astro 1 is a survey course, we will cover material at a fast pace. In addition attending Lectures, you should spend 6 9 hours per week on assigned readings, homework, surveys, and studying. #*;4=6*1,AD2-;=--28, The three 50-minute class meetings per week will consist of lecture, discussion (involving the whole class or in small groups), and group activities. I will not take attendance, but I will learn your name and occasionally call on you to take a crack at answering questions during lecture/discussion. Class participation counts as part of your overall grade. It will be very difficult to pass this course without attending lectures. I will provide you with a multicolored answer card that you will use to answer in-class, multiple-choice questions that motivate discussion of key concepts with your classmates. B*1A2,E"--2E,9*,4- Reading assignments from the recommended text, The Cosmic Perspective: Fundamentals, are listed below in the Schedule. The reading is strongly recommended. In addition, I will post supplementary reading assignments from various sources on ANGEL. F89*@86G An important part of this course will be weekly homework sets posted on ANGEL. Homework assignments will be due each Wednesday at NOON except during exam weeks (see the Schedule below). The homework questions will develop your ability to solve problems using the knowledge you have gained from class and reading. I will be happy to offer homework assistance in office hours provided that you show evidence that you have already put substantial thought into the problems. There will be 11 homework sets. I will drop the lowest score from your final grade. 3=60*.H=*-428,,126*- At various points throughout the course you will be requested to fill out survey questionnaires on ANGEL. Some of the survey questions will have correct answers like homework questions, while others have no correct answer and will instead ask for your thoughts or opinions. You get full credit for filling out these questionnaires. The surveys will have time limits, like quizzes. IJ19- Like the rest of the course, exams will be designed primarily to test your mastery of concepts, not just your ability to memorize facts. There will be two midterm exams with equal weight. We will have a cumulative final exam at the end of the course. Calculators will neither be needed nor allowed during exams. I will make sure any arithmetic needed is simple and will provide any necessary equations. 3K*;468-;8K.1,A(*/*-;8K*";420242*- Early in the semester (schedule TBA) you will come to Davey Lab on two different evenings to participate in hands-on activities led by Astronomy TAs. One activity is a spectroscopy assignment (in 441 Davey), and the other will involve observing the night sky through one of our fabulous telescopes on the roof (6 th floor Davey). No advance preparation ()*+*,,-./01,213414*5,20*6-24.7"-468,89.':3*;428,'3.//1<=- %

3 "##%&'& is required, but you will be given written assignments to complete and turn in to the TA on the night of each activity. M>242N*,3;2*,;*O+68P*;4 About midway through the semester you will be assigned a research project. This project will consist of 2 phases. In Phase 1, you will carry out a set of web-based tasks involving measurement and/or classification or astronomical objects using real astronomical survey images. In Phase 2, you will work with a small group of your classmates to complete a guided assignment based on your experiences with the Phase 1 activity. >/ I,0268,9*,4 We all would like our classroom to be a safe and diversity-sensitive learning environment that respects the rights, dignity, and welfare of all students and instructors. Please support our attempt to foster and maintain an atmosphere that is free from discrimination, harassment, exploitation, or intimidation. When we employ group discussion in our class that may invite conflict as you try to convince your peers of a correct answer, please be especially aware of your debate tactics. "The Eberly College of Science (ECoS) Code of Mutual Respect and Cooperation" embodies the values that we hope our faculty, staff, and students possess and will endorse to make ECoS a place where every individual feels respected and valued, as well as challenged and rewarded. Please feel free to contact me at any time regarding your individual circumstances and needs, especially if you have concerns or disabilities that might affect you in this course. I promise to make every reasonable effort to accommodate your situation. Following this principle of respect for others, the following behaviors are not permitted in our classroom: Talking or texting on cell phones, eating, distracting conversations with neighbors, and similar disruptive behavior. Students caught engaging in these activities will be asked to leave the classroom immediately (yes, seriously). ";1A*92;F8,*-4. Your effort spent on personal learning in this course is precious, and I take issues of academic dishonesty (cheating) very seriously. Most of you are familiar with what constitutes cheating for much of the type of work you will do in this course. If you need a policy-heavy refresher, visit For our class, this includes, but is not limited to: Surveys, and quizzes are to be completed on your own. Please do not share answers with your classmates. Although we welcome group discussions of the homework problems, you must submit your homework assignments on ANGEL by yourself, and solutions to shortanswer and essay questions must be in your own words. Exams will not require any outside aids. Notes, calculators, computers, and smartphones will not be allowed, nor is use of other electronic devices like an ipod. ()*+*,,-./01,213414*5,20*6-24.7"-468,89.':3*;428,'3.//1<=- L

4 R61A2,E "##%&'& Grades are meant to reflect your understanding and effort. Especially in an introductory class like The Astronomical Universe, your classmates performance should not affect your own final grade. The subtle competition that a sliding scale introduces is not in line with my goal of fostering a collaborative learning environment. I grade on an absolute scale (no curve). Your final grade will be based on the following elements: S=9<*6 +82,4-I1;) +82,4-(841/ T Survey Questionnaires 4 to Class Participation 50 5 Spectroscopy/Telescope Activities Homework Assignments 11* Project Midterm Exams Final Exam TOTAL *Your 10 highest out of 11 Homework Sets will be counted. Your final letter grade will be calculated as follows: (841/+82,4- "KK68JUT A A B B B C C D F If you want to estimate how you are doing at any time, take the number of points you have earned divided by the total points available up to that point to get your percentage. ()*+*,,-./01,213414*5,20*6-24.7"-468,89.':3*;428,'3.//1<=- Q

5 "##%&'& 3;)*A=/* I will try very hard to keep to this schedule, but if later on we find that modifications are required I will produce an updated version. D14* (8K2; (*J4<88G F89*@86G Week 1 Aug 23 M Introduction: A Science Course Aug 25 W Our Place in the Universe Chapter 1 Aug 27 F Celestial Motions I Chapter 2 Week 2 Aug 30 M Celestial Motions II Spectroscopy Activity Begins Sept 1 W The Moon and Celestial Motions III Sept 2 R HW 1 Due at 11:55 PM Sept 3 F Math Review Week 3 Sept 6 M LABOR DAY HOLIDAY Sept 8 W A Brief History of Modern Astronomy Chapter 3.1 & 3.2 HW 2 Due at noon Sept 10 F Motion, Energy, & Gravity I Spectroscopy pp. 62 & 96 Activity Ends (9/9) Week 4 Sept 13 M Motion, Energy, & Gravity II Chapter 3.3 Sept 15 W Light & Matter I p. 80 HW 3 Due at noon Sept 17 F Light & Matter II p. 130 Week 5 Sept 20 M Light & Matter III p. 115 Sept 22 W Telescopes p. 43 HW 4 Due at noon Sept 24 F Catch-up End of Open- Access Telescope Activity (9/23) Week 6 Sept 27 M Exam Review Sept 28 T Sept 29 W Midterm Exam 1, 50 min Anytime between 8 AM 11 PM Survey of the Solar System Chapters 4.1, 5 & 6 At the Testing Center, 104 Pollock Oct 1 F Origin of the Solar System Chapter 4.2 & 4.3 Week 7 Oct 4 M Planets Around Other Stars Chapter 7 Oct 6 W Properties of the Sun and Stars I Chapter 8 HW 5 Due at noon Oct 8 F Properties of the Sun and Stars II Week 8 Oct 11 M Properties of the Sun and Stars III Oct 13 W Stars and the H-R Diagram HW 6 Due at noon Oct 15 F Lives and Deaths of Stars I Week 9 Oct 18 M Lives and Deaths of Stars II Chapter 9 Oct 20 W Black Holes and Other Stellar Remnants I Chapter 10 HW 7 Due at noon Oct 22 F Black Holes and Other Stellar Remnants II Week 10 Oct 25 M Star Birth I Chapters 4.2 & 9.1 ()*+*,,-./01,213414*5,20*6-24.7"-468,89.':3*;428,'3.//1<=- V

6 "##%&'& Oct 27 W High-mass stars and H II regions HW 8 Due at noon Oct 29 F The Milky Way Galaxy I Chapter 11.1 Week 11 Nov 1 M Term Project Demonstration Term Project Phase I begins Nov 3 W The Milky Way Galaxy II Nov 5 F Supermassive Black Hole Activity Week 12 Nov 8 M Galaxies & Modern Cosmology I Chapter 12 HW 9 Due at noon Nov 10 W Exam Review Nov 11 R Midterm Exam 2, 50 min At the Testing Anytime between 8 AM 11 PM Center, 104 Pollock Nov 12 F Galaxies & Modern Cosmology II Term Project Phase II begins Week 13 Nov 15 M Galaxy Classification and Evolution I Week 14 Nov 17 W Galaxy Classification and Evolution II Chapter 11.2 & 11.3 Nov 19 F Dark Matter Chapter 14.1 Nov THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY Nov 29 M Dark Energy Chapter 14.2 & & The Fate of the Universe I 14.3 Dec 1 W Dark Energy & The Fate of the Universe II No HW DUE. Work on Term Project HW 10 Due at noon Dec 3 F The Beginning of Time Chapter 13 Term Project Due Week 15 Dec 6 M Life in the Universe Chapter 15 Dec 8 W Catch-up & Final Exam Review I HW 11 Due at noon Dec 10 F Catch-up & Final Exam Review II Dec 16 R FINAL EXAM, 2:30 4:20 PM 111 and 112 Boucke ()*+*,,-./01,213414*5,20*6-24.7"-468,89.':3*;428,'3.//1<=- W