Instructor:
Prof. Elizabeth Lada
· Office:
220 Bryant Space Sciences Building
· Phone: 392-2052
ext 214
· Email:
lada@astro.ufl.edu
· Office
Hours: Tuesday
11:30 – 12:30, or by appointment
Lecture
time: 4th Period
Tuesday 10:40-11:30; 4-5th Period Thursday 10:40-12: 35 in FLG
280
Text: Astronomy:
A Beginner’s Guide to the Universe by Chaisson & McMillan. Books are
available at the HUB, Florida Book Store, and University Book Store.
Course
Contents:
This
course offers a broad overview of modern astronomy. Our goal is to help
you gain a physical understanding for how the universe you live in works.
We will cover:
· Motions
of the sky
· A
historical development of our understanding of the solar system: An example
of the scientific method
· The
properties of the planets within our solar system
· The
nature and lives of stars
· The
nature of our Milky Way Galaxy
· Properties
of other galaxies
· The
origin of the Universe
· The
search for extraterrestrial life.
Class
Expectations and Obligations:
· Prepare
for each class -
¨ I
will provide lecture notes on the WWW and at the copy center in advance
of lecture. Reading assignments
for each class are given in the syllabus and at the end of each lecture.
Ø You
must complete the reading assignment and read the notes before each lecture.
· Participate
in lectures -
¨ In
order to stimulate critical thinking and gauge how well you understand
the material, I will ask you questions based on the lectures and reading
assignments.
Ø You
should participate in the lecture by answering these questions and also
asking your own questions.
Ø You
must give your full attention during lecture -
no talking, reading, etc.
· Remain
for full class period-
¨ I
will try to begin and end class on time.
¨ If
I run over time, please let me know!
Ø You
should arrive on time and not get ready to leave until the lecture is finished.
· Turn
in all work on time-
¨ I
will have all homework assignments ready in advance.
¨ Grades
will be posted promptly
Ø You
must turn in homework on or before the beginning of class on the
day that the homework is due - LATE HOMEWORKS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED!
Examinations:
Three
in class tests will be given during the semester.
These tests will consist of true/false, multiple choice and matching questions. The
lowest grade from the three in class tests will be dropped and the remaining
two test scores will be worth 50% of the final grade (25% for each in class
exam). Since one test score will be dropped, there will be no
official make up examinations.
A
mandatory comprehensive final exam
given during exam period 2E (5:30 pm-7:30) on Thursday, May 2nd
. The final will count for 40% of your final grade.
Homework,
Quizzes and in Class Participation:
Your
major homework responsibility for this class will be to complete the reading
assignments given at the end of each lecture, before the next lecture,
so you can fully participate in the next class. Periodic, unannounced,
quizzes will be given on the reading assignments during class. In addition,
six problem sets will be given out during the semester. These
problems will be similar to questions that will appear on the exams. Your
full attention and participation is expected during class time. Homework,
quizzes and class participation will comprise 10% of your final grade (this
is an entire letter grade).
Extra
Credit:
In
total you can earn up to 10% extra credit (this can be than an entire letter
grade).
1. The
campus observatory has an open house every clear Friday evening during
the semester. Extra credit
worth up to 4% of the final course grade will be given for attending two
open houses and completing 2 short forms (1-2 pages for each object) describing
and sketching at least two different astronomical objects you viewed through
the telescope. You must obtain a special token at the Observatory and attach
it to your form. In addition, the reports should include a description
of the astronomical significance of each of these objects. The
first report must be turned in on or before Thursday, February 28th
.The second report can be turned in anytime before or on Thursday,
April 11th. Do
not wait until late in the semester, it may be cloudy!
2. Extra
credit up to 4% will be considered for creative projects, which demonstrate
knowledge of a subject related to astronomy. This
could include a physical or computer model, an observational or survey
project, a work of art or even a piece of performance art. If you have
an idea you would like to pursue, please come and discuss it with us early
in the semester. Be creative! You
must turn in a written one page proposal for your extra credit project
on or before Thursday, February 28th. Your final extra
credit project must be done on or before Thursday, April 11th. An
oral presentation in front of the class is required for all projects. Please
note written reports, standard term papers and standard WEB pages are not
acceptable as creative extra credit projects, so be imaginative.
3. An
observational project studying the motion of the sun will be worth up to
6% in addition to your final grade. This
project will require observing the sun’s daily motion three times over
the course of the semester (January, March, and mid to late April). A preliminary
progress report will be due on or before Thursday, February 28th
and the final project will be due on or before Tuesday, April 23nd. Sign
up early to receive a hand out describing this project.
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In
Class exams: 50%
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A: 90 -100 |
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Final
exam: 40%
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B:
80 - 89
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Class
participation, homework & quizzes: 10%
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C:
65 - 79
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Extra
Credit: up to 10% above final grade
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D:
55 - 64
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F: <
54
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To be completed before Lecture
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Jan
8-10
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Scale of
Universe
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Prologue 1-11
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Jan 10-15
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Motion
of Celestial Objects
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Pages
14-24
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Jan
17
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Ancient
Astronomy
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Pages
24-40
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Jan
22-24
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Models
of the Solar System
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Chapter
2
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Jan
29-31
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Galileo,
Newton & Einstein
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Chapter
3
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Feb
5
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Test 1 |
Chapter 0,1,3 & Notes
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Feb
7-12
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The
Earth and Moon
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Chapter
5
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Feb
14 –19
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Terrestrial Planets |
Chapter
6
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Feb
21 – 26
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Jovian
Planets
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Chapters
7&8
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Feb
28
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Comets,
Asteroids & Formation
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Chapter
4
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March 4-8
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Spring Break
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March12
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Test
2
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Chapters
5,6,7,8
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Mar
14-19
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Properties
of Light & Stars
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Chapter
2,
Chapter
10 (pages 280-295) |
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Mar
21-28
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Properties
of Star & Star Formation
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Chapter
10 (pages 295-302)
Chapter
9 Chapter
11 |
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April
2-4
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Evolution
of Stars & Death of Stars
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Chapter
12 & 13
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April
9
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Test
3
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Chapters
2,9,10,11,12,13
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April
11
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The
Milky Way & Galaxies
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Chapters
14
Chapter
15 |
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April
16-18
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Galaxy
Distributions, AGN, Expanding Universe
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Chapters
16
Chapter
17 |
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April
23
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Life
in the Universe
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Chapter
18
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