George Mason University
Department of Physics and Astronomy
Astronomy 114 Syllabus
for Spring 2004
OBJECTIVE: This course is the laboratory portion of the introductory course
Astronomy 113. Topics included in Astronomy 113 are atomic spectra, properties of
the Sun, classification of stars, interstellar matter, star formation, stellar explosions,
galaxies, and cosmology. The purpose of the laboratory course Astronomy 114 is to
reinforce the concepts presented in lecture using hands-on experiments and computer
simulations that allow observation of stars and galaxies as well as measurements of
sizes, magnitudes, and distances. These tools and techniques will provide students
with a better understanding of what we know about the universe as well as how we
learn about the universe.
Students will be expected to prepare for each lab before coming to the laboratory.
Instructors will spend some time at the beginning of each session answering questions
students may have about the laboratory exercise. Students will work in groups, and
only confer with one another in the same group. Students should come prepared for
laboratory with the necessary supplies (laboratory manual, pencils,
calculator, data sheets, etc.). Each student will hand in an individual report at
the end of class. A working knowledge of algebra, geometry, and trigonometry is
necessary for arriving at the computed results of some of the laboratory exercises.
Familiarity with using personal desktop computers, keyboard, and mouse is essential.
Week
Beginning
19 January
26 January
2 February
9 February
16 February
23 February
1 March
8 March
15 March
22 March
29 March
5 April
12 April
19 April
26 April
Schedule of Laboratory Sessions
Laboratory Exercise Name
Introduction to Astronomy Laboratory
Atomic Spectra
Energy Flow Out of the Sun
Stellar Classification
NO ASTRONOMY LABS SCHEDULED (unless otherwise
instructed by instructor)
The Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram
Photoelectric Photometry of the Pleiades
SPRING BREAK ----- NO CLASSES
Observation of Variable Stars
Radio Astronomy of Pulsars
Supernova 1987A
Expansion of the Universe
NO ASTRONOMY LABS SCHEDULED (unless otherwise
instructed by instructor)
Make-up Lab - Large Scale Structures of the Universe (or other as
assigned by instructor)
NO ASTRONOMY LABS SCHEDULED (unless otherwise
instructed by instructor)
Grading:
Each lab will be graded on a scale of 0-10 points. A total of 10 labs
will be completed constituting 85% of each student's final grade. Quizzes will
account for 15% of a student's final grade. Quizzes will be conducted in the CAS
Testing and Tutoring Center (please see "Quizzes" on the following page). There
will be no make-up quizzes. One quiz grade may be dropped if students have
taken all quizzes.
Grading Summary
Lab Reports
85%
Quiz grades
15%
Total 100%
Lab reports should be neatly organized, completely legible, and have a
conclusion at the end of the report. If a student has a question about a lab report
grade received, he/she should speak to the instructor at the end of the lab session,
NOT during the lab.
There are provisions for only one missed lab. A makeup lab session will be held at
the end of the semester for any individual's missed lab. If more than one lab is missed
your grade will be effected proportionately. Extra credit will be considered on
individual cases, as assigned by the instructor.
NOTE: Food and drinks are not permitted in the astronomy laboratory. Also, as a
courtesy to your instructor and fellow classmates, we ask that all cellular telephones
and pagers be turned off during the laboratory period.
Quizzes at the Testing and Tutoring Center
The center's website is located at:
http://ttc.gmu.edu/
The hours of operation are posted at the website and may be subject to change during
the semester so please make sure to check the site frequently for updates.
The center is located in Student Union Building II, Room 2002 and 2002A.
Rules and regulations governing conduct while in the center are located on the
website, please make sure to review before coming to the center for testing or tutoring
services. Please make sure you have your student ID before coming to the center for
testing as all students must sign in with a monitor before taking a quiz.
All students must go to the center to complete a quiz before coming to their next
laboratory section each week, except for the first week of classes. The next quiz will
be available after the laboratory and until the end of the business day before the next
laboratory is conducted.
Quizzes will consist of 10 multiple choice questions, 5 of which will cover the
material conducted in the laboratory session already done, and 5 questions will cover
the laboratory session that will be conducted during the NEXT laboratory meeting.
Read the laboratory write-up for the upcoming laboratory before taking the quiz.
Honor Code Adherence
Students are expected to follow the George Mason University rules of student honor.
As noted in the catalog:
"George Mason University shares in the tradition of an honor
system that has existed in Virginia since 1842. The Honor Code is
an integral part of university life. On the application for
admission, students sign a statement agreeing to conform to and
uphold the Honor Code. Therefore, students are responsible for
understanding the provisions of the code. In the spirit of the code,
a student's word is a declaration of good faith acceptable as truth in
all academic matters. Therefore, cheating and attempted cheating,
plagiarism, lying, and stealing of academic work and related
materials constitute Honor Code violations. To maintain an
academic community according to these standards, students and
faculty must report all alleged violations of the Honor Code to the
Honor Committee. Any student who has knowledge of, but does
not report, an Honor Code violation may be accused of lying under
the Honor Code."
The following grade categories will be used for the final grades:
Letter Grade
A+
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD
F
%
97-100
93-96
90-92
87-89
83-86
80-82
75-79
70-74
67-69
60-66
<60
end