Physics 162
Elementary Astronomy
Section 3
Fall 2011
Number of Credits: 3
Prerequisites: None.
Course Description:
The course includes the study of the motions and structures of the earth, the moon, the
sun, planets, stars and galaxies, and consideration of cosmological theories.
Meeting Time and Location:
1:00-1:50pm Monday, Wednesday and Friday in Faraday Hall 144
Instructor Information:
Instructor: Mr. Matt Wiesner
Office: Faraday 223
E-mail: matthewwiesner@aol.com
Office Hours: 12-1pm Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Other times by appointment.
Office (Observatory) Phone: (815) 753-1305
Required Textbook:
Comins, Neil F. Discovering the Essential Universe, Fourth Edition. W.H. Freeman and
Company, 2009. ISBN-13: 978-1-4292-1797-2.
Course Weighting:
Exams (2)
Final Exam (1)
Attendance and participation
Homework
Grading Scale:
90-100%
A
79-89%
B
68-78%
C
57-67%
D
less than 56% F
45%
25%
10%
20%
Explanations of Assignments:
There will be two Exams and one Final Exam in this course. The two exams will cover
material since the previous exam. The final exam will be cumulative. All exams will
cover material presented both in class and in the text book.
Attendance is expected at all classes. At each class, you will be asked to sign the sign-in
sheet for attendance. Five points will be available each day for attendance.
Keep in mind: I work under the expectation that you will be present every class day. I
will often make announcements and provide information only in class, and not in any
other place. Thus if you skip many classes you will be at a strong disadvantage.
Participation credit is earned by attending class regularly and by respecting your
classmates. Please do not sleep in class. Please do not use cell phones, IPods or other
noise-making technology during class. Please do not use profanity in the classroom.
Please also do not carry on conversations during class and please try not to arrive late
for class. I will decline or decrease your attendance points for the day if I have to ask
you to stop a disruptive activity (like texting, talking, etc.) or if I feel you are not
participating. Please do ask any questions you might have and please do participate in
class discussions and activities. These are good ways to earn participation points.
Homework will be distributed in class and part of it will be done in class. The other part
will require reading the textbook. Due dates will be listed on the homework. It may be
necessary to use an Excel spreadsheet which will be provided in order to complete the
homework.
Extra Credit will be available for:
(1) Creating a poster or demonstration for STEMfest and presenting it there (October 22)
(up to 50 points, depending on rating)
(2) Attending the “Intro to the Night Sky” demonstration (tentatively November 5) (30
points for attending the whole time)
(3) Attending Dr. Michael Turner’s talk in LaTourette Room 200 (October 28) (20 points);
(4) Improving your score on the post-test (2 points for each percentage point higher than
the pre-test)
All extra credit points will be applied to the Exams category.
If you will be participating in extracurricular activities that will impact course
attendance, you need to contact me and advise me within the first week so we can
discuss accommodations.
Make up Policy:
Homework is due when stated. You will lose 50% of the credit on the homework if it is
up to 1 week late. After 1 week, the homework will not be accepted.
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Makeups for exams will only be allowed if a documented emergency or universitysanctioned event has taken place and I have been advised via e-mail BEFORE THE
EXAM. Documentation of the excusing event will be required. Makeups for exams may
or may not be allowed at the discretion of the instructor. There are no makeups for
the final exam.
Honors Program:
Students who are taking this as an honors class should speak to me no later than August
31 to discuss an honors project. The honors project will be treated as pass/fail. It will
not directly impact your grade, but it must be completed in order to earn honors credit
for this class. Honors projects typically involve a research project at the Observatory.
Right to Modify Course Content:
The instructor and the university reserve the right to modify, amend, or change the
syllabus (course requirements, grading policy, etc.) as the curriculum and/or program
require.
Accommodation for Disabilities:
Students with documented disabilities who may need accommodations should speak to
me as soon as possible to discuss their needs. Assistance is also available from the NIU
Center for Access-Ability Resources (www.niu.edu/caar/).
Academic Integrity Policy:
Academic dishonesty on any assignment will result in a failing grade on that assignment
and possible referral to university authorities. Other penalties may also be applied as
stated in the NIU Student Code of Conduct.
You may not use any books or notes on exams. You may not have cell phones or any
other electronic devices out during tests.
Finally, when completing homework, do not copy another person’s work. While
discussing the homework with others is fine, copying their work is not and will be
treated as plagiarism.
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Tentative Schedule
Class Day
Topic
Please Read
22-Aug
24-Aug
26-Aug
29-Aug
31-Aug
2-Sept
5-Sept
7-Sept
9-Sept
12-Sept
14-Sept
16-Sept
19-Sept
21-Sept
23-Sept
26-Sept
28-Sept
30-Sept
3-Oct
5-Oct
7-Oct
10-Oct
12-Oct
14-Oct
17-Oct
19-Oct
21-Oct
24-Oct
26-Oct
28-Oct
31-Oct
2-Nov
4-Nov
7-Nov
9-Nov
11-Nov
14-Nov
16-Nov
18-Nov
21-Nov
23-Nov
25-Nov
28-Nov
30-Nov
2-Dec
7-Dec
Syllabus and pre-test
Discovering the Night Sky
Chapter 1
Gravitation and planetary motion
Chapter 2
NO CLASS-LABOR DAY
Light and telescopes
Chapter 3
Earth and Moon
Chapter 4
Planets and asteroids
Chapters 5-6
Review for Exam 1
Exam 1
The Sun
Chapter 7
Classifying stars
Chapter 8
Lives of stars
Chapter 9
Deaths of stars
Chapter 10
Review for Exam 2
Exam 2
Galaxies
Chapter 11
Cosmology
Chapter 12
NO CLASS-THANKSGIVING
NO CLASS-THANKSGIVING
A little bit of astrobiology
Post-test
Review for final
Final Exam, 12-2pm
4
Chapter 13