Physics 109 - Astronomy
Introduction
Am I in the right place?
Eric Carlson
“Eric”
“Professor Carlson”
Olin 306
Flexible Hours
758-4994
ecarlson@wfu.edu
Everyone Pick Up:
•Syllabus
•Set of Voting cards
AB C
http://users.wfu.edu/ecarlson/astro/
http://www.masteringastronomy.com
1/13
Can I add this Class?
•The class is full – there aren’t seats
for more students
•If you are first on your wait list, fill
out an add form
– I can’t add anyone until next week
– Check your email
•If you are in the class and want to
change sections, fill out the lab
switch request
– Based on availability
Fill out add request
Garrett Littenberg
Anna Hathcock
Vinh-Hop Ngo
Qiwen Gao
Elizabeth Ferguson
Dr. Carlson’s Approximate Schedule
9:00
10:00
11:00
12:00
1:00
2:00
3:00
4:00
5:00
Monday
Tuesday
research
Wednesday
Thursday
research
Friday
PHY 712
office hour
office hour
PHY 712
office hour
office hour
PHY 712
PHY 742
PHY 109
Lab Meeting
PHY 742
PHY 109
research
office hour
PHY 742
PHY 109
research
office hour
research
Free food
colloquium
•I will try to be in my office Tues. Thurs. 12-1
•When in doubt, call/email first
Materials
•The Essential Cosmic Perspective, 7th edition
•Calculator
•Laptop
•Starry Night access code
•Mastering Astronomy access code associated
with text
http://users.wfu.edu/ecarlson/astro/
http://www.masteringastronomy.com
Concept Questions
•I present a multiple choice question
•Round 1 – You must figure out or guess the
answer, then vote with your cards
•You discuss the questions with your classmates
•Round 2 – You get a second chance to get the answer right
AB C
Do you understand how concept
questions work?
A) Yes, I’ve done it before
B) Yes, though it’s new to me
C) Sort of, I’ll figure it out
D) Huh?
Mastering Astronomy
•Everyone needs to sign up for Mastering Astronomy
http://www.masteringastronomy.com
•Log onto website using your access code
•Sign up for this class: PHY109S2016
•Input your 8-digit student ID (Not the digit after the space)
•Homework should be visible a week in advance
•This Week Only: there is an extra assignments “due”
• “Introduction to Mastering Astronomy” is not graded, but
I recommend doing it anyway
• Homeworks A, B, C … are graded
Homework
•Homework is due at 11:50 PM every Sunday
•You can complete the homework late, but you cannot get
credit for it
• If you think you have a good excuse, let me know and I
can grant extensions
•To get full credit, get it right the first time
• On 4-way multiple choice, you lose 33% on each failure
• On most problems, you lose 5% on each failure
•Hints are also available
• Tiny bonus if you don’t use hints
•You may discuss homework with others, but do it yourself
• Getting homework done for you is honors code violation
Astronomy Labs
Olin 105
Once a week, 8-10 PM
Date depends on your lab section
Cannot go to a different section
Labs start next Tuesday
•Calculator
•Laptop
•Starry Night Software
•Lab Manual – from website
•Or bring cash
Max
Zalutskiy
Sun-Tue
Ritchie
Dudley
Wed, Thu
Astronomy Labs
What if I miss a lab?
•TA’s cannot excuse absences
•Call me/email me immediately (758-4994)
•If it is scheduled in advance, let me know
•If you are too sick to call or email, doctor’s note
•To make up a lab:
•Get a make-up sticker from me
•Check online for when you can make it up
•Attend the lab, and put the sticker on your lab
•Inform your regular TA you have made it up
•One lab grade is dropped
Exams
•Multiple Choice
•Hard
•Emphasize Concepts
•All formulas provided
Formulas in red
boxes are on the test
Exam
Date
Length
Test 1
Feb. 5
33 Q
Test 2
March 4 33 Q
Test 3
April 6
33 Q
Final
May 4
66 Q
Note your final is
Wednesday, May 4
Plan Accordingly
The normal penalty for cheating is
an irreplaceable F in the course
and one term suspension from WFU.
Absences - from Exams
•Call me/e-mail me immediately (758-4994)
•If you are too sick to call, doctor note
•Schedule make-up time with me
Pandemic Plans
If there is an emergency shutdown of the school:
•Check the website for instructions:
http://www.wfu.edu/~ecarlson/astro
•Check your email
•Call me at home: 336-724-2008
•Call my cell: 336-407-6528
Grading Scheme
Grading Breakdown
Exam 1 14%
Exam 2 14%
Exam 3 14%
Final 28%
Labs 15%
Homework 15%
Grading Scale:
A 94% C 73%
A- 90% C- 70%
B+ 87% D+ 67%
B 83% D 63%
B- 80% D- 60%
C+ 77% F <60%
If you fail Lab, you fail the course!
Units in Astronomy
Time
Distance
s
m
min = 60 s
m = 10-6 m
hr = 60 min
km = 103 m
day = 24 hr
AU = 1.5108 km
yr = 365.25 day ly = 0.9461013 km
kyr = 103 yr
kly = 103 ly
Myr = 106 yr
Mly = 106 ly
Gyr = 109 yr
Gly = 109 ly
(pc = 3.26 ly)
Angles
degrees 1o
arc-minute 1' = 601 o
1
arc-second 1" = 60 '
The Sun has an
angular size of 32',
which is about the
same as
A) 2 o
D) 2"
B) 1 o
E) 1"
C) ½ o
F) ½ "