Introduction to Astronomy Mr. Steindamm 2014 2015 Hello and welcome to your first formal course in astronomy. Yes, I know your schedule lists this as Earth Systems Science but Astronomy sounds a lot more exciting and easier to say. Astronomy has been and is important to many cultures and has been studied over tens of thousands of years. It is a vast science that includes astrophysics, computer science, math, engineering, history, biology, geology, mythology, public relations, and a lot more. Don t worry about this course being too in-depth, it is just an introductory course in astronomy. Since we will be covering a lot of subjects, we won t get too technical. Because we live in the astronomy capital of the world, I would like us to take some field trips to some of our astronomical centers. Also, I would like us to learn by doing some hands on activities such as: creating/using astronomical tools, creating/using models to understanding concepts, going to the library to create/research presentations, and hopefully a lot more. Here are a few things I hope you ll walk away from this course with Basic principles of astronomy that you should know! How small you are compared to the universe. There are forces of nature outside of Earth that are beyond your control. How to think big. How some of the other sciences you ve learned are relevant to astronomy. An appreciation and respect for the beauty and power of nature. Understand why knowledge is the most important thing in your life. The math prerequisites for this course are algebra, geometry, and a little trigonometry (although it won t be required). If you feel that you aren t comfortable with math I strongly recommend that you make the extra effort to come see me for assistance. As far as science goes, you should have at least completed physics and chemistry. Lastly, all of you are upperclassmen and soon-to-be adults. This is a senior class where a lot of the credit you earn for this class comes from the work you do outside of class on your own time. That s not to say you won t be getting any credit in class but you will need to take the initiative to do well in this class. Also, I don t think we need to waste too much time on behavior problems; everything will go a lot smoother for you and the rest of the class if we all come here to do our job. Homework Yep, there s homework and it will be given 3 4 times a week. Included into your homework are your reading assignments; I can t stress how important to keep up with the readings I assign to you. Take it from me, a former physics major you will be a lot happier if you keep up with it! Aside from bookwork, homework may include
supplemental current event articles from Sky and Telescope magazine or completing assignments from a mobile night sky simulation program. Also, please turn in your homework before the bell rings if you do not it will be marked late (a 10% decrease in your homework grade). If you did not turn homework in on the day it was due, you may turn it in for late credit before the bell rings for the next class period (again, for a 10% decrease in your grade). After that day, the assignment will no longer be accepted and it will receive a zero. Classwork At the beginning of almost every class there will be questions on the overheard that will be answered by a podcast. Please make sure to write these questions and answers written down in your notes as soon as you get to class. There will sometimes be practice for the homework, some kind of activities done in class, or on the computers in the library. In addition to individual work, you ll be required to work with others daily answering review questions during the lecture by coming to a group consensus. Also, you will be turning in your class notes periodically (every 2 weeks or so) for credit. Class Website I hope to utilize this as a component to the class as another educational tool. The website will be used for announcements about upcoming tests, homework, quizzes, projects, extra credit, and other fun stuff. In an effort to streamline things, I ll be using the school website. The URL for the site is below in the contact section. Field Trips There will be (hopefully) 3 or 4 field trips scheduled for this year. The field trips include Imiloa Astronomy Center and Planetarium, Keck Observatory, the Galaxy Garden, and Keck Headquarters. I will be requiring you to attend these field trips. Classroom Visits Various professionals in the field of astronomy will be visiting our class from time to time to give talks and/or demonstrations. This is intended to give a more direct perspective from the field of astronomy. Labs, Activities, and Projects In order for you to fully understand the concepts we cover you will be conducting labs or activities that will be hands on and visual. Also, there will be several other types of presentations and research papers that you will be undertaking to better help your understanding of the subject. Quizzes and Tests I hope to give small quizzes every week or so, this is just to see where your understanding is and to better distribute your grade so it won t rely just on tests or homework. Tests will usually be given after every major unit or topic we cover, which will be about every month or so.
Grading Policy Daily Work 50 % o Homework o Practice worksheets o Class activities o Quizzes o Labs Tests/Projects 50 % o Tests o Projects o Research Projects Grade Scale 100 97 A+ 96 93 A 92 90 A- 89 87 B+ 86 83 B 80 82 B- 79 77 C+ 76 73 C 72 70 C- 69 60 I 59 0 F Contact Info E-mail: Arash_Steindamm@notes.k12.hi.us School Phone: 808-313-3701 Website: www.khswaveriders.org Tentative Topic Sequence I. Mapping the Night Sky (3 weeks) Position, measurement, and motion of Earth and celestial objects. Getting to know constellations and other major celestial objects in the sky. Mythology in the sky. II. Astronomy throughout Time (2 weeks). Different models and ideas of our Solar System and the Universe throughout the ages. III. The Nature of Light (2 weeks) Light as a wave. The Electromagnetic Spectrum and its properties. How light relates to objects in the sky. Blackbody spectrum and Wien s Law. How astronomers observe and interpret light from celestial objects. Doppler Effect. IV. Our Solar System 1 (1 week) Study of each of the planets (group presentations). 1 This section will be covered concurrently with either III or V and will be taught by students via group presentations.
V. Spectroscopy (2 weeks) Different types of spectra emitted and their characteristics and causes. Review of the Bohr model. Light and quantum mechanics (light as a particle). How astronomers derive information from spectra. VI. Telescopes (2 weeks) Different types of telescopes used throughout time and modern telescopes. Anatomy of a telescope and how they catch light. How weather and other outside sources effect observing. VII. The Sun (2 weeks) How different cultures value the sun. Physical properties of the Sun. The Sun and E = mc 2. VIII. IX. Stellar Astronomy (4 weeks) Measuring the stars size, distance, brightness, motion, age, and luminosity. Stellar classification. H-R diagrams. Stellar formation and evolution. Exotic stars white dwarves, neutron stars, and black holes. Galactic Astronomy (3 weeks) Milky Way and other galaxies. Galactic motion (rotational and translational). Galaxy types. X. Cosmology (2 ½ weeks) The twin cosmological principles and Hubble s Law. Big Bang Theory. Dark matter and energy their influence on the universe s evolution. Cosmic microwave background radiation evidence of the Big Bang. Evolution of the universe difference eras of the universe. String theory and its influence on cosmology.
Parent and Student Signature (detach this and return, but keep the syllabus in your binder) Students: I have read and am willing to abide by GUIDELINES/RULES for Mr. Steindamm s Astronomy course. PRINT NAME: PERIOD: STUDENT SIGNATURE DATE Parents: Please sign below to that have read the GUIDELINES/RULES of the Astronomy course and find them appropriate for your child. If you have any comments or concerns write them below or contact me at 808-313-3701. Please come to OPEN HOUSE on 9/4/14 for more information on this course. PRINT NAME: RELATION TO STUDENT: PARENT SIGNATURE DATE COMMENTS: