Astronomy 10 (Solano Community College--Dr. Philip S. Petersen)
TEXT: Explorations: An Introduction to Astronomy by Thomas T Arny (4th Editon);
Instructor's notes: Perspectives On The Universe (power points and notes online: at http://empyreanquest.com/perspectives.htm). For extra credit read and write 3 pg. book report on Cosmic Acceleration–my book. Free online version: empyreanquest.com/science/cr/cr.htm
HELP!: See me during my office hours, or send me e-mail at synchrofil@aol.com. If necessary, call 707-864-7000. Press * key, then enter my mailbox number: 613.
ATTENDANCE: From experience, your grade will suffer if you often skip class. In borderline cases,
I may grade on class participation. I may also drop you after 6 non-consecutive hours of absence.
COURSE WORK: (Turn off cell phones before entering class)
1. GRADING BREAKDOWN: (Field trip 3% boost to grade) 85-100% A
Homework 20% 75-84% B
3 Hour Exams + 3 quizzes 50% 60-74% C
Final 30% Total 100% 50-59% D
2. Homework sets are included in with syllabus or online.. These are 3 sample hour exams, and each is due at the beginning of the hour exam period. Absolutely no homework will be accepted late, as I will be handing out solutions. If you are absent, find someone to turn it in for you. Find a buddy, and take their phone number. Not turning in homework may hurt your grade. Homework questions will be answered at the beginning of the period.
3. Hour exams will be closed book, closed notes, and consist of: (1) 20 true or false, (2) 30 multiple choice, 2 points each. Calculators not required--there are no calculations. You must attend or get notes or tape of exam review session at meeting preceding exam.
5. The final will be 2 hours long, with 40 true or false questions, 60 multiple choice. It will be comprehensive, emphasizing subjects after 3rd exam, but material will be covered at exam review. (Exams closed book and closed notes.)
6. Quizzes will be 10 questions each on reading assignment, given at time of each hour exam and final.
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE (Please read ahead from both sources. One field trip.)
MEETING: (Titles from notes, Perspectives On The Universe, chapter nos. from Explorations)
1, 2 The Overall Perspective (not in notes–given in Power points) & The Story From Earth's Perspective (Preview, Ch 1, Essay 1)
3 Story From Sun's Perspective & A Matter Of Gravity (Ch. 2, Relativity in class and notes only)
4 What Is Light? (Ch. 3)
5 Telescopes--Astronomy's Eyes (Ch. 4), Review for Exam I,
6 EXAM I (Chs. 1-4), HW I due. The Earth, The Moon, and The Solar System (Chs.5, 6, 7)
7 The Planets and Their Satellites (The Inner Planets) (Ch.8.)
8 The Planet and Their Satellites (outer planets and debris) (Chs.9, 10)
9 Review for Exam II, The Sun (Ch. 11)
10 EXAM II (Chs.5-10 NOT 11), HW II due, Touring the Homes of the Stars (Part I) (Ch. 12)
11 Touring the Homes of the Stars (Part II) (Chs. 13)
12 Touring... (Death of Stars and Black Holes) (Ch. 14),.
13 Take-home EXAM III (Chs. 11-14), HW III due. The Milky Way (Ch. 15)
14 Galaxies... (Galaxy characteristics, Classification, Active Galaxies, Evolution) (Chs. 16)
15 The Cosmic Perspective (Dark matter and Cosmology) (Chs.17), Review for Final.
Power Point lectures: All my lectures are available online as Power Point Presentations.
Go to: http://empyreanquest.com/perspectives.htm, and follow instructions. Lecture notes, syllabus, and homework are also available at the preceding URL. I highly recommend downloading the lecture notes, and referring to them during the lectures.
SUCCESS: The six keys to success in my course in order of importance are as follows:
1. Learn the terminology! If you live in foreign country it really helps to learn the language. I suggest you learn Astronomese. Get some blank flash cards or 3x5 cards from the bookstore, and write the term on one side and its definition on the other. Then test yourself until you can give the definition by looking at the term.
Example: Supernova–exploding star.
If you DON’T study the terminology before the Final Exam Review,
you run a good chance of FAILING the exam, as it is detailed and challenging.
2. Attend the Exam Reviews: they will be announced at least a week ahead of time
Stay tuned. There will be no Exam Review for the Third Exam which is a take-home.
3. Attend class. You may be dropped if you miss six hours of class. Let me know if you are going to miss more than one week. Attending class is VERY important during the section on Stars, as the take-home depends on what I give you in class, and you are allowed to ask questions (though I may just give hints).
4. Do the assigned reading. There will be 10 reading questions NOT COVERED IN
CLASS on each hour exam with the exception of the take-home. The final exam
will have 20 reading questions: the ones that would have been on the take-home
plus 10 more on Galaxies and Cosmology.
5. Do the homework in a timely fashion. Once we finish a section, do the 10 questions
relating to it. Ask questions on the homework at the beginning of class. I will open it
up to homework questions at that time.
6. Take advantage of the extra credit possibilities.
You can get a 3% boost to your grade by attending our field trip to the Chabot Space
and Science Center in Oakland. See www.chabotspace.org for directions, ticket prices, and schedule. Stay tuned for announcement of date.
You can also get up to 3% more by writing a 3 page (type-written, double-spaced) book report on Cosmic Acceleration: Hounding the White Whale of Cosmology –my book. Free online version: empyreanquest.com/science/cr/cr.htm
CHEATING: Any student caught cheating will receive a zero on that assignment and be reported to the Dean of Student Affairs. I may ask the student to drop the course. I have caught
students every semester lately–so don’t try it. I know the tricks and can spot them.