University of San Diego
Physics 107 – Astronomy – Spring 2015 – Sec 1
Instructor: Dr. R. Thomas Skelton, Adjunct Lecturer at USD.
EMail: rskelton@sandiego.edu.
Office: SCST 282.
Office Hours: Tue 3:30 to 3:55; Tue/Thu 5:25 to 6:00; or by appointment.
Class Website: http://home.sandiego.edu/
∼ rskelton/phys107
Course meets: SCST 231, Tue/Thu, 27 Jan – May 7, 2015; 4:00 to 5:20 PM.
Final Exam: Tuesday, May 19 2:00 to 4:00
CRN: 2612 Units: 3
Grading: Homework: 10%; Observation Project: 10%; 3 Mid-term Exams: 10/20/20%; Final Exam
30%. Your lowest midterm will count 10%, and the two best will count 20% each. Grades are 90=A-;
80=B-; 70=C-, 60=D. The Final Exam will be comprehensive , covering the entire course.
Homework: Homework includes the applicable reading will be to study all assigned problems and turn in the ones indicated to turn in. Homework will be accepted up to one week late for reduced credit. Lowest homework will be dropped. Grading is typically on a check basis. Homework assignments may also be made out of the Lecture-Tutorials workbook.
Observation Project: The Observation Project calls for observations in day early evening to acquaint you with some visual astronomy common to human culture and to modern astronomy.
Progress Checks: Tue Feb 24 and Thu Apr 9. Due Tue Apr 28. Further details will be provided early in the term.
Exams: Exams will be mostly multiple choice, with some short essay questions and some calculational problems. There will be some questions about astronomical terms. Closed book/notes, except that you are permitted one page (one-sided, standard size) of notes in your original handwriting. Two pages are allowed for the final exam. Makeup exams are given only with a Dean’s excuse or prior arrangement with me.
Withdrawal Deadline: Wed Apr 8.
Course texts: Discovering the Universe by Comins and Kaufmann, 9th ed. (8th or 10th edition OK)
AND Lecture-Tutorials for Introductory Astronomy, by Prather, Slater et al.
Student Learning Outcomes:
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Understand the basic concepts of astronomy;
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Appreciate the process by which knowledge in the natural sciences is advanced;
Distinguish between sound science and unsound pseudoscience;
Use rigorous reasoning and the scientific method to test hypotheses;
Show familiarity with tools, techniques and instrumentation used in astronomy;
Appreciate the power and beauty of the natural sciences (i.e., overcome the all-too-common aversion to science and mathematics by seeing just how cool they really are!)
The underlying goal of this course is an understanding of modern astronomy and of the scientific method at the level of an educated citizen in today’s society. Some specific objectives:
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Gain a sense of perspective of the Universe;
Develop the ability to visualize events from different viewpoints;
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Recognize that equations are simply a compact means of expressing concepts, and develop confidence in applying them;
Develop an understanding of physical science in its interplay with astronomy – gravitation, forces, motion, energy, heat, phases of matter, atomic physics, nuclear physics, and relativity;
Gain a historical perspective on the relationship between astronomy and society.
Prerequisites: There are no formal prerequisites. The ability to do basic algebra, arithmetic in scientific notation, and to convert units is assumed.
Academic Integrity: Cheating on exams will not be tolerated. Collaboration on homework and Observation Projects is OK provided collaborators are identified. Details are in the USD policy on academic integrity at http://www.sandiego.edu/honorcouncil/integrity.php
Accomodations for Students with Disabilities: The University recognizes its obligations to students with disabilities. The USD Disability office can be contacted at: Phone: 619-260-4655; Fax: 619-260-4699;
TTY: 619-260-4673; web: http://www.sandiego.edu/disability

Date
Tu 27 Jan
Th 29 Jan
Tu 03 Feb
Th 05 Feb
Tu 10 Feb
Th 12 Feb
Tu 17 Feb
Th 19 Feb
Tu 24 Feb
Th 26 Feb
Tu 03 Mar
Th 05 Mar
Tu 10 Mar
Th 12 Mar
Tu 17 Mar
Th 19 Mar
Tu 24 Mar
Th 26 Mar
Tu 31 Mar
Th 02 Apr
Tu 07 Apr
Th 09 Apr
Tu 14 Apr
Th 16 Apr
Tu 21 Apr
Th 23 Apr
Tu 28 Apr
Th 30 Apr
Tu 05 May
Th 07 May
Tu 19 May
University of San Diego – Phys 107 – Spring 2015
3
5
5
2
2
1
1
Corrected 2/12/2015: several dates in March were marked “Apr”
Chap Subject
Night Sky
Gravitation and the Motion of the Planets
Light and Telescopes
Formation of the Solar System and Other Planetary Systems
4
4
8
9
6
7
Exam 1: Chapters 1–3
6 Earth and Moon
Terrestrial Planets
Outer Planets
Observation Project Check Date
Vagabonds of the Solar System
Atomic Physics and Spectra
10
10/11
The Sun
Characterizing Stars
12
12/13
13
14
15
16
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Exam 2: Chapters 5–9
Spring/Easter Break
Spring/Easter Break
11
Life Cycles of Stars Observation Project Check Date
Deaths of Stars
Black Holes and Relativity
The Milky Way Galaxy
Galaxies Observation Project DUE
Exam 3: Chapters 4, 10–14
18 Cosmology
19 Astrobiology/Review
Final Exam – 2:00 to 4:00 – comprehensive