Physics 1030: Introduction to Astronomy

Syllabus for Spring 2005:

WELCOME TO OUR WEBER STATE UNIVERSITY COURSE:
PHYSICS 1030 Introduction to Astronomy
taught by Professor Walther N. Spjeldvik, PhD

Textbook: "UNIVERSE" by: FREEDMAN AND KAUFMANN, Freeman Publishers. The latest edition is most up-to-date, but an earlier edition of the textbook is also fully accepable.

GENERAL EDUCATION = EXECUTIVE KNOWLEDGE: This is a general education course, and the purpose is to gain a fair understanding of how the universe is structured and operates -- using available observations and our best understanding of the laws of nature: the laws of light, the laws of gravitation, and the laws governing nuclear processes. The course content includes the textbook and supplementary material provided by the professor.

USE OF MATH: Mathematics is the language of all of the science, and astronomy is no exception! Elementary symbolic mathematics is often used to show principal and quantitative aspects, but in this course you are not required to do complicated mathematical calculations during examinations. Your professor will highlight and extract some of the most important areas of the textbook, and in some cases will provide additional insight. The course has four major divisions:

Part 1: Textbook Chapters: 1 through 6
Approx. Weeks 1, 2, 3 & 4: Physical Concepts and Classical Observational Astronomy
The view from Earth, the Cosmos around us, the Coordinates of the Heavens. Finding stars and constellations on a star chart that we will make, on the planetarium "projection-sky" and on the real night sky, Luna (our companion in space): its Phases and Eclipses. The Planets: Superior and Inferior planets. Motion in the Heavens: Conjunctions and Oppositions. The role of Gravitation. Laws of Mechanical Motion, Nature and Laws of Light. Design of Telescopes. Solar System Cosmogony: Many Planets, Moons, Minor Bodies, Asteroids, Comets, Meteoroids. How did it get this way? MIDTERM EXAM #1 counts 20% of the course grade.

Part 2: Textbook Chapters: 7 through 17
Approx. Weeks 5, 6, 7, 8 & 9: Solar System Survey of planets and Moons
Origin of the Solar System. Results from United States and Russian Space Probes: [1] The rocky inner planets: Mercury (the scarred, hot and swift), Venus (too hot to handle?), Earth (the planet we know most about), Luna (our moon and "companion planet"), and Mars (the rusty red planet). [2] The Jovian (Jupiter-like) gas giant outer planets: Jupiter (the giant planet with a red spot and complicated cloudy atmosphere), Moons of Jupiter (large and small, one is volcanic!), Saturn (the planet with bright and large rings and hazy atmosphere), Moons of Saturn (a great many moons indeed, one with a thick atmosphere), Uranus (the "fallen-over" planet with the dark rings), Moons of Uranus (five sizable ones), Neptune (the planet with the dark spot and enormous winds), Moons of Neptune (one with geyser-like activity). Other Objects in the Solar System: Planet Pluto (a possible Escaped Moon of Neptune), Asteroids and the Asteroid Belt, Comets and the Oort Cloud, Meteoroids, meteorites and meteors, The Solar Wind, Magnetospheres . MIDTERM EXAM #2 counts 20 % of the course grade.

Part 3: Textbook Chapters: 18 through 24
Approx. Weeks 11, 12, 13 & 14: Our Sun and the Nature of the Stars
Distance to and characteristics of the stars. Structure and activity of our sun Sol. Nucleosynthesis and Solar Energy. How distant are the stars? How luminous? Using laws of light to determine stellar characteristics. Properties of the stars: Temperature on the stellar surface and temperature in the star's interior. Size of the stars (from very small ones to the super-giants), Binary Star Systems: Determination of masses of the stars, Stellar Astrophysics: Star Formation, Interior workings of the Stars: thermo-nuclear processes, Stellar Evolution, Stellar lifetimes: Main sequence O-stars through M-stars, Stellar Death, Stellar Remnants: White Dwarfs, Neutron Stars, and Black Holes. Longevity of the stars, Novae and Super-novae. Nuclear transmutation / generation of heavy elements. Evolution of the universe. MIDTERM EXAM #3 counts 20% of the course grade.

Part 4: Textbook Chapters: 25 through 30
Approx. Weeks 15 & 16: Galaxies, and the Structure and Evolution of the Universe
Macro-structure of the universe: Groupings of Stars, Stellar Open Clusters, OB Associations, Globular Clusters, Classification of Galaxies and Survey of Galaxies, Quasars, Galactic Structure and Evolution, Dark Matter, Galactic Groupings, Collisions between Galaxies. Super-clusters of Galaxies, Olber's Paradox. Galactic red-shift and the Expansion of the Universe. Geometry of space: "curved space" and Gravitation. Cosmology. COMPREHENSIVE FINAL EXAM: At the official time during the EXAM WEEK: It counts 40% of the course grade.

Term paper project: Subject: "STAR CLUSTERS AND GALAXIES".

Detailed instructions will be given in class. The paper is due on the last lecture day of classes. Among the assignments, we will explore the structure of galaxies and resolve the dilemma known as Olber's paradox: Why is the night sky dark when there are so many stars/suns out there? A WELL EXECUTED TERM PAPER PROJECT counts 10 % EXTRA CREDIT in the overall course grade. It also helps with preparation for the final exam..

EXAM LOGISTICS: The three MIDTERM exams and the FINAL examination take place in the Science Learning Center Test Room: SL 228 (2nd floor, Science Lab. Bldg.). ALWAYS BRING: Your student ID-card and a #2 PENCIL.

GRADING: Your course grade will be based on the science knowledge that you have acquired as demonstrated through the four examinations plus your term paper extra credit. The examinations will be of the multiple choice question type where you judge what is right and what is wrong, -- and then your professor evaluates how good your judgment is.

HOMEWORK: Your principal homework assignment is your diligent reading of the textbook preferably well ahead of your class lectures. Count on 4 (four) hours of study for each hour you are scheduled to be in class.

Special homework will be assigned from time to time to help you master some of the astronomical concepts, making constellation drawings and star charts, identifying the brightest stars in the sky, classifying the stars types etc. This particular type of homework will not be explicitly graded, but the learning from these homework assignments will be of GREAT HELP in DOING WELL on the various exams!

SUGGESTIONS FOR EFFICIENT LEARNING: This course will give you an insight into nature's reality that most people never have an opportunity to know. You are strongly urged to read the textbook chapter to be lectured on PRIOR TO the formal class lecture. This will significantly reduce your need for note taking, and it will make the classes more relaxed and enjoyable. You are urged be present and participate:

We will from time to time use the WSU planetarium to become familiar with celestial coordinates, moon phases, constellations, planetary motion, bright stars etc.

Extensive audio-visual material such as: view graphs, videos, slides and movies will be shown in class from time to time, and it is imperative that you do not miss class. Your astronomy professor hopes that this course will be rich in learning, open vistas on our wonderful and awesome universe, -- and that it will substantially challenge your intellectual curiosity!!!

FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITY: Any WSU student requiring accommodations or services due to disability must contact Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) in room 181 of the Student Service Center. SSD can also arrange to provide course materials (including this syllabus) in alternative formats, if necessary. Your professor will be helpful as possible in making reasonable accommodations as necessary and possible.