- Recommended Text -
- The Cosmic Perspective,
Bennett, Donahue, Schneider and Voit
The lecture schedule lists the chapter of the textbook associated with each lecture topic. Reading the relevant chapter before a topic is covered in
lecture not only reenforces the material in your mind but allows you to bring questions to class and motivates in class discussion.
- Course Policies and Procedures -
Academic Standards
In the process of conducting scientific work, it is essential that an
attitude of trust and honesty exists between all participants. In the
Physics Department, we have an honor code. We expect you to behave
honorably in all aspects of your life. This means that we trust you.
For example, you are free to leave the room during a test without
asking me. We take this trust seriously and a breach of
trust has severe consequences. Cheating in any form is grounds for
dismissal from the course with a grade of F.
Exam Information
Please see the beginning of this document for the exam dates.
Bring two #2 pencils to all exams! You are allowed to bring one
double-sided 8.5'' by 11'' page of notes to each of the exams. Exams are multiple choice and the final exam is comprehensive. I encourage
you to argue with me about your exam score if you believe that something was graded incorrectly or if you believe that you deserve more points.
Makeup Exam Information
If you cannot take an exam, see me
well in advance about scheduling a makeup exam. If you cannot notify me in
advance (minimum 1 week), contact me as soon as possible; this is best accomplished through e-mail.
All makeup exams will have short-answer / essay questions ONLY.
**The Final Exam CANNOT be made up or rescheduled**
Math
Although this course is largely descriptive in nature, proficiency in basic algebra is expected. During lecture and on exams, you will not need a calculator.
I want you to come away with a basic understanding of the mathematical reasoning behind modern scientific research. Plugging numbers into an equation and getting
an 'answer' is not the best way to achieve this. Instead, I would like to help you understand, through some basic algebra, what an equation really has to say about
the natural world.
Tentative Lecture Schedule (Subject to Change)
| February 1st | Scale of the Universe | No Lab |
| February 8th | The Sky From Earth | Mapping the Solar System |
| February 15th | The Solar System- A scientific model evolves | Jupiter's Moons - Lab 1 |
| February 22nd | Newton's Laws
Exam 1 (Friday) | No Lab |
| February 29th | Special Relativity
Quantum Mechanics | Jupiter's Moons - Lab 2 |
| March 7th | The Formation of the Solar System | Under Pressure |
| March 14th | Light and Spectroscopy | Impacts |
| March 21st | ***** Spring Break **** | No Lab |
| March 28th | Planetary Atmospheres | No Lab |
| April 4th | Exam2 (Monday)
The Sun | Spectroscopy |
| April 11th | The Stars
Stellar Evolution | Drake Equation |
| April 18th | Stellar Graveyard-Exotic Objects
Determining Distances | HR Diagram 1 |
| April 25th | Milky Way
Galaxies
Exam 3 (Friday) | No Lab |
| May 2nd | Galaxies and Galaxy Evolution
| HR Diagram 2 |
| May 9th | Cosmology | Galaxy Classification |
| May 16th | Final Exam May 20th
OWS 150 8:00am-10:00am | No lab |
|
Grading
| Material |
% Grade |
| Lab |
16% |
| Mid-Term 1 |
16% |
| Mid-Term 2 |
16% |
| Mid-Term 3 |
16% |
| Homework |
10% |
| Class Participation |
3% |
| Final Exam |
23% |
*NOTE!*
In order to receive a passing grade in the class you must
get
at least 50% of the total available lab points, miss
no more than 2 lab
periods,
and you must take all exams.
Grade Breakdown
| Range |
Letter Grade |
Range |
Letter Grade |
| 95 % - 100 % |
A |
76.7 % - 79.9 % |
C+ |
| 90 % - 94.9 % |
A- |
73.3 % - 76.6 % |
C |
| 86.7 % - 89.9 % |
B+ |
70.0 % - 73.2 % |
C- |
| 83.3 % - 86.6 % |
B |
65.0 % - 69.9 % |
D+ |
| 80.0 % - 83.2 % |
B- |
60.0 % - 64.9 % |
D |
|
|
0 % - 59.9 % |
F |
The grading scheme is guaranteed to be no stricter than that stated above. Any
changes to the grading scheme will be in your favor.