A User's Guide to the Universe
DON'T
PANIC
PHYS 176. Introductory Astronomy
(GER 2A, Lab) (AL) Fall and Spring (4), Finn, Staff.
Descriptive study of the solar system; theories of the origin of the solar system. Star classification; descriptive studies of star clusters and galaxies. Recent developments such as quasars, pulsars, neutrino astronomy and radio astronomy. Current theories of the origin of the universe.
Required Text:
Chaisson and McMillan, Astronomy: A Beginner's Guide to the Universe, 2e, 2000 Media Update Ed., Prentice Hall.
Instructor
John Michael Finn
Small Hall Room 331.
TELE: (757) 221-3514 (x13514);
finn@physics.wm.edu.Office hours: Monday and Wednesday: 2-3PM, or by Appointment.
Fall 2000 Lecture Schedule
Phys176-01 M-W-F, 10:00-10:50 AM, Small 113.
Phys176-02 M-W-F, 12:00-12:50 PM, Small 113.
Laboratory Requirement
Concurrent Enrollment required in Phys 176L, Funsten, Staff, various meeting times. Laboratory component consists of computer based exercises and sky observations.
Observations
Because of the large enrollment, formal observations will be conducted as part of the laboratory requirement. The Society of Physics Students (SPS) runs informal observations on a weekly basis, weather permitting.
Syllabus
- Part I. Astronomy and the Universe
- Charting the Heavens
- The Birth of Modern Science
- Light and Matter
- Telescopes and other Tools
- Part II. Our Solar System
- The Origins of the Solar System
- The Earth and its Moon
- The Terrestrial Planets
- The Gas Giants
- Moons, Rings, and Pluto.
- Part III. Stars and Stellar Evolution
- The Sun
- Giants, Dwarfs, and the Main Sequence
- The Interstellar Medium
- The Birth, Life and Death of Stars
- Neutron Stars and Black Holes
- Part IV. Galaxies and Evolution
- The Milky Way
- Normal Galaxies
- Active Galaxies and Quasars
- Cosmology and the Early Universe
- Life, Evolution, and the Future of Man
Grading policy
Homework
25%
Hourly Tests
25%
Laboratory
25%
Final Exam
25%
In Class Exams
In class exams will be multiple choice closed-book and will test your general knowledge of the material covered. Some of the multiple choice questions will involve simple math, similar to the homework problems. A list of relevant equations will be provide. The use of scientific calculators is allowed, provided any memory storage is wiped clean.
Assignment Schedule and Exam Dates
Assignment Due Date HW 1 SEP 8 HW 2 SEP 15 HW 3 SEP 22 HW 4 SEP 29 HW 5 OCT 6 HW 6 OCT 13 EXAM 1 W-OCT 18 (in Class Exam) HW 7 OCT 27 HW 8 NOV 3 HW 9 NOV 10 HW 10 NOV 17 HW 11 DEC 1 EXAM 2 W-DEC 6 (in Class Exam) FINAL EXAM SECTION 01: DEC 18, 1:30-4:30 PM
SECTION 02: DEC 19, 8:30-11:30 AM
Homework Guidelines
- Homework is due in class on Fridays
- Homework must be neat. The graders are instructed not to grade any assignment that is illegible or unnecessarily sloppy.
- You are required to show your work. Partial credit will be given at the discretion of the graders.
- Students may work together or seek advice freely, but the homework should be primarily their own work. Simply copying another's work should be regarded as a violation of the honor code.
- Questions about the grading of problems should be addressed first to the grader before approaching the instructor.
- There will be 11 Homework assignments with the lowest grade dropped before averaging the remaining 10.
- Homework counts as 25% of the course grade, so take it seriously.