Physics U111 -- Astronomy -- Fall 2007

Syllabus -- Professor Vaughn

Final Exam -- Friday, 7 December, 8:00 - 10:00 AM in 201 MUgar

 Any conflicts should be reported immediately both to me and to the Registrar (also known as 'Student Central') in 120 HAyden.
Note. This page is frequently updated. Please check at least once a week to keep current. Last updated 2 December 2007.
This page has the reading assignments, problems, quiz schedules and exam schedules for Physics U111 -- Introduction to Astronomy -- for the Fall 2007 semester. Assignments are from the textbook

Astronomy: A Beginner's Guide to the Universe (5th edition), by E. Chaisson and S. McMillan (Prentice-Hall, 2007)

Sections in parentheses () should be read once over lightly, but not studied in detail.

Weeks 0 + 1 (5 - 13 September) Exploring the Heavens

Readings: pp. 2-21
Problems: problems 2, 4, 5, 9 (p. 23)

Vocabulary (These are terms whose meaning you should understand after studying the reading assignment and the related class discussions.)

Quiz #1: Monday, 17 September

This quiz will be on the material in chapter E (Exploring the Heavens)

Week 2 (17 - 20 September) The Copernican Revolution

Readings: The Copernican Revolution, chapter 1, pp. 24-41
Problems: chapter 1, problems 1, 2, 4, 7, 8 (p. 41)

Vocabulary for chapter 1

Physics Laws: Quiz #2: Wednesday, 26 September

This quiz will be on the material in chapter 1 (The Copernican Revolution) and the related discussions in class.

Weeks 3 + 4 (24 September - 4 October) Light and Matter

Readings: Light and Matter, chapter 2, pp. 42-67
Problems: chapter 2, problems 1, 3, 4, 6, 9 (p. 67)

Vocabulary for chapter 2

Quiz #3: Thursday, 4 October

This quiz will be on the material in chapter 2 (Light and Matter) and the related discussions in class.

Week 5 (10 - 11 October) Telescopes

Readings: Telescopes, chapter 3, pp. 68-95

For now, just read the chapter and understand the different kinds of telescopes that can be used. Test yourself by taking the virtual quiz (this is a pdf file you can download).

Vocabulary for chapter 3

First Hour Exam: Thursday, 11 October

This exam will cover the prologue (chapter E) and chapters 1-3 (only the parts of chapter 3 discussed in class).

Note that there are no classes on Monday, 8 October (Columbus Day holiday).

In the next three weeks, we will discuss the solar system (chapters 4 -- 8). There is some new theory here, but not very much, and we will only discuss the highlights in class -- you should read the chapters carefully on your own and ask questions in class if you want more discussion.

Week 6 (15 - 19 October) The Solar System; Earth and Moon

Readings: The Solar System, chapter 4, pp. 98-130; Earth and its Moon, chapter 5, pp. 132-159

You should just skim sections 5.4,5.5,5.6 (pp. 144-153) -- these sections will not be covered on any quiz or exam.

Problems: chapter 4, problems 2, 5, 6 (pp. 130-1); chapter 5, problems 2, 8 (p.159)

Vocabulary for chapter 4
Vocabulary for chapter 5

Quiz #4: Wednesday, 24 October -- chapters 4 and 5

Week 7 (22 - 26 October) Solar System

Readings: Terrestrial planets, chapter 6, pp. 160-188; Gas Giant Planets, chapter 7, pp.190-210

You should just skim sections 6.4,6.5 -- these sections will not be covered on any quiz or exam -- but do read section 6.6 on the Martian surface.

Problems: chapter 6, problems 1, 3 (see also ch. 5, problem 6), 7 (p. 189); chapter 7, problems 3, 6, 8 (p. 211)

Quiz #5: Wednesday, 31 October (at start of class} -- chapters 6 and 7 (NEW!!)

Second Hour Exam: Thursday, 1 November

This exam will cover chapters 4 -- 7. I will discuss part of chapter 8 on Monday 10/29, but that discussion will not be on this exam. It will be on quiz #6.

Week 8 (30 October -- 1 November) Moons, Rings and Pluto

Readings: Moons, Rings and Pluto, chapter 8, pp. 212-236;

Read especially section 8.1 (pp. 214-219) on the Galilean moons of Jupiter and section 8.2 (pp. 219-223) on the other large moons Titan (Saturn) and Triton (Neptune).

Vocabulary for chapter 8 has a list of items you should understand and remember. Some of these will appear on quiz #6.

Week 9 (5 - 8 November) The Sun

Readings: The Sun, chapter 9, pp. 240-263;

Problems: chapter 9, problems 3, 5, 8 (p. 263)

Vocabulary for chapter 9

Quiz #6: Thursday, 8 November -- chapters 8 and 9

This quiz will cover chapter 8 and most of chapter 9 (sections 9.1-9.4).

Note that there are no classes on Monday, 12 November (Veterans Day holiday).

Weeks 10 + 11 (13 - 19 November) Measuring the Stars; Star Formation

Readings: Measuring the Stars, chapter 10, pp. 264-287; The Interstellar Medium, chapter 11, pp. 288-315.

Problems: chapter 10, problems 3, 4, 5, 8 (p. 287); chapter 11, problems 1, 2, 4, 9

Vocabulary for chapter 10
Vocabulary for chapter 11

Quiz #7: Monday, 19 November -- chapters 9 and 10

This quiz will cover chapter 9 (section 9.5) and chapter 10. Material from chapter 11 will appear on the next quiz.

Note that there are no classes on Wednesday, 21 November or Thursday, 22 November due to the Thanksgiving holiday.

Week 12 (26 - 29 November) Stellar Evolution; Neutron Stars and Black Holes

Readings: Stellar Evolution, chapter 12, pp. 316-343; Neutron Stars and Black Holes, chapter 13, pp. 344-358 (sections 13.1-13.5 only)

Problems: chapter 12, problems 4, 9 (p. 343); chapter 13, problems 2, 4 (p. 371).

Vocabulary for chapter 12
Vocabulary for chapter 13

Quiz #8: Wednesday, 28 November (at start of class} -- chapters 10 and 11 (update from original)

Third Hour Exam: Thursday, 29 November

This exam will cover chapters 9 -- 11 (chapter 12 only on next quiz and final exam). (update from original)

Week 13 (3 - 5 December) Cosmology

Readings: Cosmology, chapter 17, pp. 454-481. There may be one or two questions on the final exam based on these readings and the related class discussions.

Quiz #9: Wednesday, 5 December -- chapters 12 and 13

FINAL EXAM - Friday, 7 December, 8:00 - 10:00 AM

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latest update 2 December 2007