Fall, 2017

Astronomy
Phys Y234 17F
MWF 9:30-11:45
James C. Carter, S.J.

Office hours by appointment

Physics department. Room 262, Monroe Hall
865-2168

I. GOALS
The purpose of this course is to place the participant in one of the cultural mainstreams of
mankind's past, present, and future by making available the rich mines of historical and
practical astronomy, as well as modern space age discoveries and theories, in a
comprehensive form. The course will involve a minimum of mathematical tools.

II. LEARNING OUTCOMES

Critical thinking skills will be developed by consideration of the scientific method.
Students will explore the Copernican revolution, the laws of planetary motion, Newton's
laws, the electromagnetic spectrum, thermal radiation, spectroscopy, telescopes--the tools
of astronomy, the solar system--interplanetary matter and the birth of the planets, the sun,
the stars, luminosity and apparent brightness, stellar evolution, neutron stars and black
holes, the milky way galaxy, the big bang and the fate of the universe, cosmic dynamics,
the geometry of space, and the formation of large-scale structure in the universe.

III. REQUIRED TEXT: Astronomy: A Beginners Guide to the Universe, 6th Edition
Chaisson/McMillan

IV. PREREQUISITES
There are no prerequisites at this time.

IV. PARTICIPATION
Discussion will be an integral part of every session. Quizzes based on the review section
at the end of each chapter of the text will be administered as needed to sustain student
interest. Examinations will be given at mid-term and at the end of the semester.
Problems will be regularly assigned from the text. Email submissions are acceptable as
exceptions. The student should know that the email submission has not been officially
received unless a graded hard copy is returned or there is a return receipt. Late
submissions will receive a reduced grade. Cheating or plagiarism can merit a failing
grade.

V. STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

A student with a disability that qualifies for accommodations should contact Sarah Mead
Smith, Director of Disability Services at 865-2990 (Academic Resource Center, Room
405, Monroe Hall). A student wishing to receive test accommodations (e.g., extended test
time) should provide the instructor with an official Accommodation Form from Disability
Services in advance of the scheduled test date.

VI. ATTENDANCE
Students are expected to attend all classes. A student with more than two excused
absences and two unexcused absences can expect that his/her final grade will be severely
reduced.

VII. COMPUTATION OF GRADE

Assignments will be given a letter grade (F, D, D+, C, C+, B, B+, A) depending on the
student's comprehension of the subject matter, creativity, and use of the English
language.. A numerical grading system will be used for written tests. (F, below 70; D, 70-
74; D+, 75-78; C, 79-82; C+, 83-85; B, 86-89; B+, 90-93; A, 94-100.) The final grade is
computed as follows The final exam counts for 25 percent of the final grade. All other
work, including the mid term exam, counts for 75 percent of the final grade. The mid
term examination counts for roughly 15 percent of the final grade. Numerical grades are
translated into letter grades using the above formula (F, below 70; D, 70-74; D+, 75-78;
C, 79-82; C+, 83-85; B, 86-89; B+, 90-93; A, 94-97; A+, 98-100.)