Syllabus. Canvas Classroom: Pierce Canvas website. Course Introduction, Overview, The Scientific Method, Observing the Night Sky

Transcription

1 Syllabus The Solar System ASTR& 110 Fall 2017 Instructor: Jim Hughes Phone: Office: (will be in RAI 235) Office Hours: 4:45-5:45 pm M&W Other times by arrangement Required Text: Fraknoi, Andrew, et al. Astronomy OpenStax ISBN Textbook available for download at Necessary Materials: Pad of engineering paper for homework. Inexpensive scientific calculator Other Resources: Canvas Classroom: Pierce Canvas website Reading Schedule Week 1: Chapters 1, 2 Week 2: Chapters 3, 4 Week 3: Chapters 5 Week 4: Chapters 6, 7 Week 5: Chapters 8, 9 Week 6: Chapters 10 Week 7: Chapters 11, 12 Week 8: Chapters 13, 21 Week 9: Chapters 15, 16 Course Introduction, Overview, The Scientific Method, Observing the Night Sky The Science and History of Astronomy, Motion, Energy and Gravity Light and Matter Telescopes, Our Solar System The Earth, The Moon and Mercury Earthlike Planets, Venus and Mars The Outer Planets Comets and Asteroids, Extrasolar Planets Our Star

2 Student Outcomes At the end of this course, each student should be able to: Compare the early history of the science of astronomy to science today. Summarize the major contributions of Galileo, Kepler, and Newton to the science of astronomy. Explain the basic design of the optical telescope along with the advantages and disadvantages of optical observations, radio-astronomy observations, and space platform observations. Compare the models of the universe developed by Ptolemy and Copernicus and summarize Kepler s three laws of planetary motion. Identify the basic characteristics of the Jovian and Terrestrial planets and how Earth compares to its nearest neighbor planets of Mars and Venus. Discuss the major characteristics of Earth s moon, including its surface features, stages of development, orbit, lunar eclipses, moon phases, and its relation to the calendar. Contrast Earth s moon with the moons of the other planets. Describe the unique characteristics of the Galilean moons of Jupiter and the moons and rings of Saturn. Describe and contrast the outer planets of Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto, and summarize the major characteristics of Jupiter and Saturn. Summarize and diagram the physical properties and orbital characteristics of asteroids, comets, and meteors. Analyze the importance and contributions of the American, Russian and international space programs to the exploration of space and the solar system. Summarize the properties of the Sun, including its interior, outer layers, composition, temperature, and magnetic field. Also explain the relationship of the solar spectrum of electromagnetic radiation to Earth s energy and life systems. Critical Thinking: Integrate and analyze information and ideas to understand the effects and the sequence of events leading to planet formation to predict planetary systems around other stars. Effective Communication: Recognize and use a variety of methods and styles to convey ideas and information (e.g., conveying information about planetary characteristics in various formats). Information Competency: Evaluate sources in order to assess information. Use and evaluate data from the Internet and library to study various topics in astronomy (e.g., recognize that some sources are more credible than others). Course Approach The Solar System is a one-quarter course intended for non-science majors. In class activities in groups as well as group lab work are a critical part of this course. We will meet twice per week in RAI-235, and as required, in SNR 113. Monday and Wednesday evenings will be split up between lecture, group and lab exercises. Some of the lectures will be conducted in the Pierce College Science Dome. exercises requiring specialized computer programs will be conducted in SNR 113. Night time observing may be scheduled on either nights as weather permits. Exams and homework will provide reinforcement and feedback to the students on their progress. This course will involve mathematics and some physics. All math and physics used in this course will be taught during lectures. The math in this course is not difficult, but if you are having trouble be sure to see me during office hours for extra help.

3 Group Activities Group activities will consist of breaking up the class into small groups of four students which will complete inclass activities. These activities will be handed out in class and must be completed by the end of class. All groups should strive to have each member contribute equally to the discussion and the results. Homework Assignments will be available on Canvas the Saturday before the beginning of each week, and are due Saturday before midnight of the following week. Late assignments are not accepted. Exams Exams will be given after two to three chapters have been covered. Exams will consist of up to ten questions which may be multiple choice, descriptive, or problem solving. Some of the questions may be drawn from unassigned problems in the text. Exams will be closed book. Students can prepare a note sheet for use during the exam. No electronic devices other than scientific calculators will be allowed. oratories oratories will be conducted either on Mondays or Wednesdays and will be conducted either in RAI-235 or SNR 113, depending upon the lab work. activities will be done in groups and are designed to reinforce an appreciation for the tools and techniques used by astronomers. Handouts for each lab will be available on Canvas. The handouts will be filled out during the lab and handed in at the end of class. Final Presentation The final presentation will be an in-depth presentation of an astronomy topic. Visual aids will be required. You can use posters, power point, physical representations and/or animations. These presentations will be researched and conducted by the assigned groups. You can present on any astronomical subject you wish, including presentations about specific space missions, theories of life in the universe, even non-standard cosmological theories. Each person in the group should have a portion of the investigation and talk for between two and three minutes. Make-up Policy In case of illness or emergency, please contact me as quickly as possible so that we can cover any missed work. Depending upon the reasons, it may not be possible to make up missed labs or exams and they may be dropped if the absence was unavoidable. Only absences that are coordinated ahead of time or family illness or emergency will be allowed to make-up exams or labs. These absences may require verification from an appropriate third party (such as a letter from the student s doctor, funeral notice, etc). Do not come to school if you are sick.

4 Academic Integrity All work turned in must be a product of your own effort. This does not mean that students cannot work together in group activities to solve problems, but each student must contribute. Group efforts must not rely on a single student to do the majority of the work. Any descriptions or explanations given on homework assignments should be in the student s own words, and not copied word for word from a paper or website. Students caught cheating will answer to the judgement of the instructor and in the worst case receive a failing grade for the course. Classroom Behavior Group exercises are intended to be informative and fun, and students can talk freely between group members. During lectures, students are expected to remain attentive and quiet in respect for other students in the classroom. Inappropriate behavior, such as talking during lecture or any other disruptive behavior can result in being asked to leave the classroom. In the worst case, at the judgement of the instructor, the student can receive a failing grade for the course and removed permanently. Inclement Weather In the case of inclement weather, students should check the school s website for closure information. You may also get school closure information from local radio and television stations. Every attempt will be made to keep campus roads and walkways open and students can expect that classes will start at their scheduled start times when/if the school does open. If school is closed because of snow or another emergency, we will pick up where we left off when class resumes. Students with Disabilities Your experience in this class is important to me, and it is the policy and practice of Pierce College to create inclusive and accessible learning environments consistent with federal and state law. If you experience barriers based on disability, please seek a meeting with the Access and Disability Services (ADS) manager to discuss and address them. If you have already established accommodations with the ADS manager, please bring your approved accommodations (green sheet) to me at your earliest convenience so we can discuss your needs in this course. ADS offers resources and coordinates reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities. Reasonable accommodations are established through an interactive process between you and the ADS manager, and I am available to help facilitate them in this class. If you have not yet established services through ADS, but have a temporary or permanent disability that requires accommodations (this can include but not be limited to; mental health, attention-related, learning, vision, hearing, physical or health impacts), you are encouraged to contact ADS at (Fort Steilacoom) or (Puyallup).

5 Emergency Procedures for Classrooms If there is an emergency closure of the college due to weather, threat or widespread illness, adjustments may need to be made to the syllabus and/or mode of instruction in order to achieve the course objectives. In that event, I will be communicating with you through your student accounts or Canvas. In the event of an evacuation (intermittent horns & strobes), gather all personal belongings and leave the building using the nearest available safe exit. Be prepared to be outside for one hour and stay a minimum of 200 feet from any building or structure. So long as it is safe to do so students are expected to stay on campus and return to class after evacuations that last less then 15 minutes. Do not attempt to re-enter the building until instructed by an Evacuation Director (identified by orange vests) or by three horn blasts or bell rings. Please notify the nearest Campus Safety Officer or Evacuation Director of any one left in the building or in need of assistance. Call 911 and then Campus Safety in response to an imminent threat to persons or property. Fort Steilacoom Campus Safety (253) Grading Weekly Exams 30% (lowest one dropped) Homework 20% (lowest one dropped) Group Activities 10% (lowest one dropped) Reports 20% (lowest one dropped) Final Presentation 10% Final Exam 10% Total 100% Grading Scale % % % % % 0.0

6 Tentative Schedule Week 1: Monday, Sep 25 Course overview Canvas information Lecture (Chapters 1, 2) Wednesday, Sep 27 Week 2: Saturday, Sep 30 Previous week homework due Monday, Oct 2 Exam (Chapters 1, 2) Lecture (Chapters 3, 4) Wednesday, Oct 4 Week 3 Saturday, Oct 7 Previous week homework due Monday, Oct 9 Exam (Chapters 3, 4) Lecture (Chapter 5) Wednesday, Oct 11 Week 4 Saturday, Oct 14 Monday, Oct 16 Wednesday, Oct 18 Previous week homework due Lecture (Chapters 6, 7)

7 Week 5 Saturday, Oct 21 Previous week homework due Monday, Oct 23 Exam (Chapters 5, 6, 7) Lecture (Chapters 8, 9) Wednesday, Oct 25 Week 6 Saturday, Oct 28 Previous week homework due Monday, Oct 30 Exam (Chapters 8, 9) Lecture (Chapter 10) Wednesday, Nov 1 Week 7 Saturday, Nov 4 Previous week homework due Monday, Nov 6 Lecture (Chapters 11, 12) Wednesday, Nov 8 Week 8 Saturday, Nov 11 Previous week homework due Monday, Nov 13 Exam (Chapters 10, 11, 12) Lecture (Chapters 13, 21) Wednesday, Nov 15 Week 9 Saturday, Nov 18 Previous week homework due Monday, Nov 20 Exam (Chapters 13, 21) Lecture (Chapters 15, 16) Wednesday, Nov 22 Week 10 Saturday, Nov 25 Previous week homework due Monday, Nov 27 Exam (Chapters 15, 16) Practice Final Presentation Wednesday, Nov 29

8 Week 11 Monday, Dec 4 Final Presentations Wednesday, Dec 6 Bonus Points Week 12 Monday, Dec 11 Review Wednesday, Dec 13 Final Exam