Syllabus: Introduction To Astronomy Page 1 PHY 111 INTRODUCTION TO ASTRONOMY Instructor Dr. Martin Veillette Office: Science Hall, Room 111 Phone: 985-3299 Email: [email protected] Office Hrs: MWF 2:00-3:00 p.m. or by appointment. Website: http://moodle.berea.edu/course/view.php?id=272 Lecture Schedule: MWF 1:00-1:50 a.m. in room 019 SC Lab Schedule: Tuesday 10:00- 11:50 am in Room 027 SC Prerequisite: MAT 012 CATALOG DESCRIPTION This course will explore topics in modern astronomy, including the formation of the solar system, the lives and deaths of stars, the structure of the galaxy, and the origin and evolution of the universe. Both lecture and lab will emphasize a hands-on approach to understanding the underlying physical principles that govern astronomy. Three one-hour lecture periods and one two-hour laboratory each week. Practical Reasoning with Quantitative Emphasis (PRQ). Course Fee: $20. COURSE INTRODUCTION Astronomy is the science dealing with the sky, the universe and all its contents. Astronomy draws from physics, chemistry, geology, and even biology, but tends to have more of a big-picture focus than any of the other physical sciences.Syllabus: Introduction To Astronomy Page 2 Astronomy is one of the most ancient of the sciences, and was practiced in antiquity by cultures as diverse as the Babylonians, Egyptians, Greeks, and Mayans. Although the sky has changed little over the past few thousand years, man’s interpretations of what he sees has changed greatly. We will explore the history of astronomy and thus the changes in mankind’s thinking about the universe. We will explore the sky and the motions of those objects visible to the unaided eye. We will move on to discuss the nature of stars and their lifecycle. We will explore the galaxies in which stars reside. No scientific or mathematical background is assumed beyond the entrance requirements to the college. Astronomy is a science, however, so you will be expected to develop your critical thinking skills in order to understand and apply the scientific method. Modern astronomy is based on both physics and mathematics. Students are advised that this course will require a good working knowledge of basic algebra (after all this class satisfies the Practical Reasoning with Quantitative Emphasis (PRQ) requirement). COURSE OBJECTIVES This class is an overview of astronomy for non-science majors. We will cover most of the material in the Seeds textbook, following roughly the same order of topics. In addition to lecture, we will have in-class activities and short writing assignments, which are designed to help you learn collaboratively. We will use some basic algebra to solve problems, and a calculator is allowed on all exams. The overreaching goals are for you to understand the nature of science through astronomy, understand the big ideas in astronomy, and develop a lifelong interest in astronomy and current events surrounding astronomy. Please feel free to make comments, criticisms, or suggestions at any time. I will make any adjustments that are necessary to ensure that you find the course both challenging and rewarding. By completing this course, students are expected to:  Have a basic understanding of modern theories of astronomical objects including planets, stars, galaxies, and the universe itself, including their composition, motion, origin, and evolution.  Appreciate how explanations of astronomical objects have changed over the past 3,000 years.  Understand the scientific method and its applications in astronomy.  Know the difference between the scientific method and other means of inquiry.  Be able to solve problems in astronomy using mathematical reasoning  Appreciate the notion that the world is knowable, that we may learn about it through observations, experiments, and theory via the scientific process.  Appreciate the notion that physical laws are universal, with the behavior of the largest objects in the universe governed by the behavior of its smallest objects, such as atoms and electrons.  Be familiar with the night sky and how its appearance changes with time and position.Syllabus: Introduction To Astronomy Page 3  Have a basic understanding of how we measure the mass, temperature, brightness, composition, distance, and motion of stars.  Understand how matter is grouped in galaxies, and of the evidence that most matter cannot be seen with light.  Understand of how stars, galaxies, and the universe itself change with time, of how we know, and of what we still don't know.  Be able to critically analyze arguments from a scientific perspective REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS/MEDIA  Stars and Galaxies 7th Ed., Michael A. Seeds and Dana E. Backman, Brooks/Cole ISBN: 978-0538733175. Available at the bookstore. You can buy it online. Alternatively you can buy an eTextbook (with a180-day subscription)  A scientific calculator (good inexpensive choices are Casio FX-260 or Texas Instrument TI-30XA) COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND GRADING Your final grade will be based on the following work: Weekly assignments and Online Quizzes: The material in the course cannot be learned passively. However reasonable, simple, or rational you may find what you read or hear, you do not understand it if you cannot apply it yourself. Thus it is imperative that you test yourself by doing problems. If you have difficulty with a problem, ask your instructor or your fellow students about it; do not suppose that your difficulty will cure itself without treatment. Therefore, the homework assignments and quizzes are primarily a learning tool, not a grading tool. Their purposes are threefold: - To allow the instructor to see how you are doing and to try to correct errors you are making; - To give you a chance to see the errors you are making and to correct them. - To give you practice in explaining the concepts and using the techniques you learn in the course; Late homework will be accepted only if you have made prior arrangements and there is a very good reason for being late. The online quizzes are due before class. You may attempt a quiz as many times as you wish before its due date. LabsSyllabus: Introduction To Astronomy Page 4 Laboratory activities provide experience with