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ALLEGANY COLLEGE OF MARYLAND
Cumberland, Maryland
Physics 106
Introductory Astronomy
Web-Based
Fall 2012
COURSE SYLLABUS
I. General information
A.
Course:
Physics 106: Introductory Astronomy
B.
Textbooks:
Jeffrey Bennett, Megan Donahue, Nicholas Schneider, and
Mark Voit
The Essential Cosmic Perspective, Sixth Edition, AddisonWesley, 2012.
ISBN: 978-0-321-71823-5
Lauren Jones, Observation Exercises in Astronomy, First
Edition, Addison-Wesley, 2011. ISBN: 978-0-321-63812-0
C.
Professor:
Marc Abe
D.
Time:
Web-Based Lecture and Laboratory
E.
Office:
S-57, Science Building
F.
Office Hours: By appointment only
G.
Telephone: Office (301) 784-5248
Cell
(301) 707-0742
H.
E-mail:
I.
This syllabus is subject to change at the instructor's discretion.
mabe2423@allegany.edu
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II. Purpose
A.
Purpose of Course
A descriptive course intended to familiarize students with the various celestial
bodies and to provide an understanding of the structure and the operating
principles of the universe. As part of the laboratory sessions, students will be
taught to distinguish planets and stars, identify the constellations, and use a star
map. The course is designed for students who need a laboratory science to
complete their curriculum as well as for students who wish a science elective.
There are no prerequisites. Some math skills are required.
B.
Course Objectives
To familiarize the student with the following concepts:
a. Newton’s Laws of motion and gravitation.
b. The historical development of astronomy
c. The development of Kepler's laws and an understanding planetary
motion.
d. The celestial sphere
e. The location of constellations, planets, and stars
f. The use of star maps and coordinate systems to locate celestial bodies.
g. The solar system
h. The terrestrial and Jovian planets
I. The measurement of stellar parameters
j. Stellar evolution
k. The Hertzsprung-Russell diagram
m. Galaxies
n. Optics and the telescope
o. Measurement and uncertainties
p. Exponential arithmetic
q. Simple arithmetical operations
r. An introduction to models and paradigms and the scientific method
s. An examination of the aspects of life in the universe
III. Course Policies
A. Attendance
Attendance in lecture and laboratory classes is expected.
According to the
policy
in the Allegany College of Maryland Student Handbook, each unexcused
absence
may reduce the final grade.
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B. Academic Regulations and Policy on Attendance
Students are required to attend every class session except in cases of an
emergency or illness. Students cannot make-up absences; however, permission
to
make-up assignments will be granted only at the instructor's discretion. Students
must notify their instructor as to the reasons for an absence from class. The
instructor may require such evidence as he/she sees fit to justify an absence.
Unexcused absences may adversely affect a student's grade in a course. If an
instructor does not appear in class within ten minutes after the scheduled starting
times, representatives of the class should attempt to locate the instructor by
visiting
his/her office and the Office of the Vice President of Instructional Affairs. If the
students cannot locate the instructor by these means, the students may consider
the
class session canceled.
When the number of student's absences is such that the instructor believes that
student cannot successfully complete the course in the time remaining, the
instructor may drop the student from the class roll. If the student is dropped after
the last day for withdrawal from a course with a "W", a grade of "F" will be
recorded.
If the student has registered in an audit status, a grade of "W" will be recorded.
the
C. Participation
1. To locate and read all outside assignments suggested during class.
2. To complete and record the required information for all laboratory
exercises.
3. To complete this course with a grade of "C" will require at least two
hours
of study for every course credit hour per week.
4. Do not get behind!!
D. Student Evaluation
1.
Evaluation will be based on the following:
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Four examinations
Laboratory
Observations
Discussion Board
Quizzes
40%
30%
10%
10%
10%
2.
There is an online quiz at the completion of each assigned chapter. The
quizzes will consist of 5 multiple-choice questions and/or problems, will
require 15 minutes and will count 10% toward the final grade. The
quizzes will be available through Blackboard.
3.
Four examinations count 40%. Each examination will require about 75
minutes and will be available through Blackboard.
4.
The laboratory for this course is taken from Observation Exercises in
Astronomy. The only required “on-campus laboratory” is the attendance
of a planetarium program at Frostburg State University. The Frostburg
State University Planetarium visit must be during the first month of class.
Currently, the planetarium programs are presented twice on Sundays. I
will post the times at which the presentations will be made. If the
planetarium presentation is missed, a zero will be recorded for the
laboratory grade. Note: Due to the demolition of Tawes Hall at Frostburg
State University, the planetarium is not a requirement until a suitable
replacement is found.
5.
Grading scale:
100.0-90.0% A
89.9-80.0% B
79.9-70.0% C
69.9-60.0% D
59.9- 0% F
E. Tutoring and/or Extra Help Sessions
The instructor will aid the students in obtaining tutoring. This may be
initiated either by the instructor or by the student. For information
concerning tutoring assistance, students may contact the Director of
Instructional Assistance in the James A. Zamagias Student Success
Center in the Humanities Building. Special review sessions may be
arranged at time other than during formal class, when either the instructor
or the students feel that it would be helpful.
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F. Cheating and/or Plagiarism
Cheating in any form will not be tolerated. Students observed, or
otherwise
determined to be cheating, will be dealt with severely and immediately
according to the Policy Regarding Student Cheating as stated in the
Allegany College of Maryland Student Handbook.
G. Make-up of Missed Work
As the all quizzes are on-line and will cover the weekly chapter
assignment,
the completion of each quiz must be no later than Monday of the week
following the beginning of the chapter. If the quiz is not received by
midnight Monday on the following Monday, a score of zero will be
recorded for the quiz, and there are no excuses for a missed quiz. The
quiz will be available beginning at 8:00 AM Friday through midnight
Monday. This provides ample opportunity in which the quiz can be taken.
If three quizzes are missed, the student will receive a “W” for the course,
provided that the deadline for recording a “W” has not passed. If the
deadline has passed, an “F” will be recorded.
All laboratory reports are to be submitted on the Wednesday of the week
after which the laboratory exercise or experiment was assigned. This
exempts the planetarium visitation at Frostburg, which must be completed
during the first month of the course. Dr. Robert Doyle will keep a record of
attendance to the planetarium.
IV.
Online Course Procedure
1. The textbooks for the course are available at the Allegany College of
Maryland Bookstore or from other commercial sources, e.g. Amazon, the
publisher, Borders, etc.
2. A student enrolling in this course should be computer literate with a minimum
of a eleventh-grade reading level and should be placed in Mathematics 93 or
should have taken and successfully completed [C or better] Mathematics 93.
While I am willing to assist in mastering the course content, the student
will have to be sufficiently motivated and academically prepared to
study the subject with less contact with the instructor than in a face-toface instructional setting.
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3. Computer hardware is accessible at any branch campus of Allegany College
of Maryland. The student must have access to a browser, e.g. Mozilla Firefox
or Microsoft Internet Explorer, a modem, and have an email account. The
student must be able to use the browser and communicate with the instructor
and other students through an e-mail account and/or through Blackboard.
4. The course is largely self-paced, but specific deadlines are stated for the
completion of required tasks and assignments.
5. Course quizzes and the four examinations are online. Quizzes and
examinations will be available through Blackboard and can be taken on any
accessible computer. Be sure the computer you select to use has access to
all software available at Allegany College of Maryland campuses!
6. I can be reached at the telephones numbers cited above or at the following
email addresses: mabe2423@allegany.edu and mpabe0@frostburg.edu
7. Please send email addressed to me, give the email a title relevant to
question or to assignment, and be sure your name is on the
communication. I will respond within 24 hours or sooner. If I am out of
town or unavailable for a longer period of time, I will post this on Blackboard,
and I will answer you as soon as I can.
If there is an emergency, please contact me telephone at the numbers
provided in Section I.
8. Blackboard will constitute the major means of communication in the
course. Blackboard has the advantage that I do not have to have your
current email address in order for you to complete the course requirements.
I ask, however, that you notify me immediately as to any changes in your
email address, but regardless you can always access Blackboard, which
allows you to contact me by email.
After you register for this course, point your browser to the Allegany College
of Maryland Homepage. At the bottom right of the screen, you will see an
icon “Bb”. Click on this icon, and a request for a Password and Username
should be seen. Taking the first letter of your first name and the first
letter of your middle name and all the letters in your last name and
typing this string of characters in lower case find your user name! The
Password is your Allegany College of Maryland Identification Number;
type the numbers and press ‘enter’. You should now have access to the
course. If you experience difficulties, please contact me or Computer
Services as your username may require modification.
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On the left side of the screen are a series of “buttons”. Course Information
will display a copy of the course syllabus as a word file. Other files
associated with course requirements will be posted as the semester
progresses. Course Documents will be site at which Word documents
associated with specific day-to-day reading and problem assignments,
solutions to exercises, and course supplemental material will be posted.
While the attached schedule provides the preliminary assignment, a
detailed assignment for each week with all due dates will be posted on
Blackboard one week in advance. This will be posted in
“Announcements.”
9. All course material can be emailed to me at the addresses given, can be
placed in my mailbox at the Cumberland Campus, can be given to Ms. Mills,
Faculty Secretary for the Science and Forestry Division, S-50, or mailed to
me through the United States Postal Service. Regardless of the mode, I
must receive the mailing prior to the stated deadline. If the deadline is
missed, the submission will not be accepted. Please write and/or type
both your name on each page of the document and the title of the
submission.
10. All communications associated with this course are expected to be
conducted courteously and promptly in standard Netiquette.
11. The student is expected to be self-motivating, industrious, and persistent in
extracting the course material with the guidance provided by the instructor.
By the very nature of this course, you will spend at least ten to twelve
hours per week in mastering required knowledge and skills.
12. The instructor will provide the direction and the structure whereby the student
will be able to master the course material. To this end, the instructor is
available to answer questions and to provide directions for the student’s
study to master the assigned material.
13. At the completion of assigned experiments, a laboratory report will be
submitted for evaluation. I will post the date at which the laboratory report
will be due on Blackboard. While I will generally indicate that the report will
be due by Wednesday of the week after the experiment has been assigned,
there may be changes because of sky conditions or logistics. Watch
Blackboard Announcements!
14. Viewing of the night sky will be required for this course, and a Diary of
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observations and reports must be kept and submitted two weeks prior to end
of the semester. The Diary is 10% of the final grade and will your
observations will appear on examinations and quizzes. Sky observations
begin on the third week of class but is completed until December 1. All
observations are expected to be reported in the format of “Sample Observer’s
Log.” Attached to this syllabus is a Fall Viewing List which lists the objects
to be viewed. This will be addressed during the course.
V. Bibliography
A. Required Supplies
1. Scientific Calculator:
The calculator must perform arithmetic
operations using scientific notation.
2. Internet Explorer or Microsoft Navigator browser
3. Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel
4. A valid e-mail address
B. Selected References
Astronomy. Monthly magazine.
Clayton, Donald D. Principles of Stellar Evolution and Nucleosynthesis.
Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1983.
Coles, P. and Lucchin, F. Cosmology. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1995.
Danby, J. M. A. Fundamentals of Celestial Mechanics. New York:
The MacMillan Company, 1962.
Fairall, Anthony. Large-Scale Structures in the Universe. New York:
John Wiley & Sons, 1998.
Kaler, James B. Stars and Their Spectra. New York: Cambridge University
Press, 1989.
Mason, Stephen F. Chemical Evolution. New York: Oxford University Press,
1991.
Melosh, H. J. Editor. Origins of Planets and Life. Palo Alto, Ca: Annual
Reviews, 1997.
Peterson, Ivars. Newton’s Clock: Chaos in the Solar System. New York:
W. H. Freeman & Co., 1993.
Schutz, Bernard F. A First Course in General Relativity. New York:
Cambridge University Press, 1990.
Sky and Telescope. Sky Publishing Company. Monthly magazine.
Available in the Allegany College of Maryland Library.
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Szebehely, Victor G. Adventures in Celestial Mechanics. Austin, Texas:
University of Texas Press, 1989.
Weedman, Daniel and Routly Paul Rae. Quasar Astronomy. New York:
Cambridge University Press, 1986.
VI.
Tentative Assignment
Physics 106
Fall 2012
Bennett, Donahue,
Date
Schneider, and Voit
Laboratory
Chapter 1, “Our Place in the
Universe”, pages 1-25
August 20
Chapter 2, “Discovering the
Universe for Yourself”,
pages 26-55
Moon Phases and
Scientific Models
September
3
Chapter 4, “Making Sense
of the Universe:
Understanding Motion,
Energy, and Gravity”, pages
84-109
Chapter 5, “Light: The
Cosmic Messenger”, pages
110-141
September
10
Chapter 6, “Formation of
Planetary Systems: Our
Solar System and Beyond”,
pages 142-189
September
Chapter 7, “Earth and the
Chapter 1, “Beyond the
Blue Horizon: A Grand Tour
of the Universe”
Chapter 2, “Science and
Pseudoscience”
Chapter 3, “Astronomical
Observations: Angles and
Uncertainties”
Chapter 3, “The Science of
Astronomy”, pages 56-83
August 27
PowerPoint Lecture
Motions in the
Night Sky and the
Celestial Sphere
Chapter 4A, “Basic
Observations and
Interpretations of the Sky”
Chapter 4B, “Basic
Observations and
Interpretations of the Sky”
The Sun Through
the Seasons
Mars’s Motion and
Models of the Solar
System
How Do We Know
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Chapter 11, “The Nature of
Light”
Chapter 5, “The Historical
Quest to Model the Solar
System”
Chapter 6, “The Structure
and Formation of Planetary
Systems”
Chapter 8, “The Earth and
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Terrestrial Worlds”, pages
190-233
the Mass of
Jupiter, Anyway?
Chapter 8, “Jovian Planet
Systems”, pages 234-259
September
24
Chapter 9, “Asteroids,
Comets, and Dwarf Planets:
Their Nature, Orbits, and
Impacts”, pages 260-285
How Did Galileo
Go Blind? Or, It’s
the Data, Stupid!
October 1
Chapter 10, “Our Star”,
pages 286-307
What’s an
Astronomical Unit
October 8
Chapter 11, “Surveying the
Stars”, pages 308-331
Reading the Stars
October 15
October 22
Chapter 12, “Star Stuff”,
pages 332-361
Chapter 13, “The Bizarre
Stellar Graveyard”, 362-385
October 29
Chapter 14, “Our Galaxy”,
pages 386-409
November
5
Chapter 15, “Galaxies and
the Foundation of Modern
Cosmology”, pages 410-443
Inferring Physical
Properties
What Are Stars
Made Of?
What Is the Milky
Way Made Of?
The Galaxy Zoo
November
12
November
19
Thanksgiving Break
November
Chapter 17, “The Beginning
Moon: Processes and
Facts”
Chapter 9, “The Earth-Like
Planets”
Chapter 10, “The Jovian
Planets and Pluto”
Chapter 7, “The Smallest
Bodies of the Solar System:
Comets, Minor Planets, and
Meteorites”
Chapter 16, “The Sun and
Stars: Their Energy
Sources and Structures”
Chapter 13, “Spectra: The
Key to Understanding the
Universe”
Chapter 14, “Understanding
Stellar Spectra”
Chapter 15A, “The
Observed Properties of
Normal Stars”
Chapter 15B, “The
Observed Properties of
Normal Stars”
Chapter 19, “Stellar Death
and Catastrophes”
Chapter 20, “The Milky
Way: Our Galaxy”
Chapter 21, “Galaxies”
Chapter 22, “Peculiar and
Unusual Extragalactic
Objects”
Chapter 17, “Star
Formation and Evolution to
the Main Sequence”
Chapter 18, “Stellar
Evolution After the Main
Sequence”
Thanksgiving
Break
Thanksgiving Break
Our Expanding
Chapter 23, “The Origin
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of Time”, pages 470-499
December
3
December
10
Chapter 18, “Life in the
Universe”, pages 500-531
Universe
and Evolution of the
Universe”
Chapter 24, “The Search
for Extraterrestrial Life”
Final Exam
Fall Observing List
I.
Planets
1. Mercury
2. Venus
3. Mars
II.
Constellations
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
III.
4. Jupiter
5. Saturn
Ursa Major
Ursa Minor
Draco
Cepheus
Cassiopeia
SAgittarius
Lyra
Aquila
Cygnus
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
Sagitta
Delphinus
Capricornus
Aquarius
Pegasus
Andromeda
Pisces
Cetus
Aries
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
Triangulum
Perseus
Taurus
Orion
Lepus
Auriga
Gemini
Canis Major
Canis Minor
Bright Stars
Find at least five of these.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
IV.
Polaris (α UMi)
Vega (α Lyr)
Altair (α Aql)
Deneb (α Cygni)
Aldebaran (α Tau)
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Capella (α Aur)
Betelgeuse (α Ori)
Rigel (β Ori)
Castor (α Gem)
Pollux (β Gem)
Binary Stars
Find at least three.
1. Albeiro (β Cygni)
4. Almach (γ Andromedae)
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2. Mizar and Alcor
3. Epsilon (ε) Lyrae
V.
5. Eta (η) Cassiopeiae
6. Alpha (α) Piscum
Open Clusters
Find two of these with a telescope or binocular.
1. Pleiades
2. Double cluster in Perseus
3. M35 in Gemini
VI.
4. α Persei
5. M41 in Canis Major
6. Hyades
Globular Clusters
These are optional.
1. M15 in Pegasus
2. M2 in Aquarius
4. M22 in Sagittarius
VII.
4. M30 in Capricornus
5. M79 in Lepus
Nebulae
1. M57; ring Nebula in Lyra
2. M42 and M43; Great Nebula in Orion
3. M1; Crab Nebula in Taurus
VIII.
Galaxies
Find one of these visually or with a telescope.
1. M31; Andromeda Galaxy
2. M81 and M82 in Ursa Major
3. M33; Spiral Galaxy in Triangulum
IX.
The Moon
Find these lunar features visually and/or with binoculars or telescope.
1. Copernicus
2. Plato
7. Mare Tranquillitatis
8. Mare Crisium
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3.
4.
5.
5.
Tycho
Archimedes
Kepler
More Serenitatis
9. Mare Imbrium
10. Mare Nubium
11. Apennine Mountains
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