Astronomy 104 – Astronomy of the Solar System

Fall 2009, MWF 1:50-2:45, TCCW129

Instructor: Dr. Ting-Hui Lee

Office: TCCW 215

Phone: 745-6472

E-mail: ting-hui.lee@wku.edu

Office hours: W 3:00pm – 5:00pm or by appointment

Course description: This course gives an introduction to our understanding of the physical universe. The topics include the motions of the sky, history of astronomy, astronomical tools, and our solar system. We will gain an understanding of our physical world by observing daily phenomena, and learn how to acquire new knowledge through different techniques. It will address General Education Goal: an understanding of the scientific method and a knowledge of natural science and its relevance in our lives.

Required Material:

1. Textbook: The Cosmic Perspective (comprehensive), or The Cosmic Perspective: The Solar System, Fifth Edition, by Bennett, Donahue, Schneider and Voit. Both books include the same material that we will cover in class. The second book listed is cheaper, since it is only a subset of the first one. However, I would suggest you to get the first book if you would like a comprehensive astronomy book for future reference.

2. Mastering Astronomy

3. Lecture-Tutorials for Introductory Astronomy

The above three items can be bought together in a bundle deal. It will save you money to buy a package rather than buying them separately, even with a used textbook. The University Bookstore has packages either with The Cosmic Perspective or The Cosmic Perspective: The Solar System in stock.

4. TurningPoint Clicker: Available in the University Bookstore. You will need to register your clicker on both TopNet and Blackboard before the first use.

5. Edmund Scientific’s Star and Planet Locator: Available in the University Bookstore.

Homework Assignments: We will be using the Mastering Astronomy website for online assignments. Computer and network accessibility are essential for working on the assignments. A free student access kit is included if you bought a new textbook. If you obtained a used copy of the book, you will need to purchase a license.

Website URL: http://www.masteringastronomy.com/

Please select the right textbook, The Cosmic Perspective, 5e. Then find the course ID LEE24403FALL2009 to join. Please make sure you can devote 1 – 2 hours online for each assignment. There will be a total of 11 assignments during the semester. Each assignment is worth 15 points except for the first one. The first assignment is for practice only. Assignments will be given on a weekly basis. Each assignment is due before class one week after it is made available. If you miss the deadline, you will receive a 10% penalty for each passing day until it reaches 50%. The 50% late penalty then will remain the same for the rest of the semester. Even late assignments are worth completing to receive partial credit.

Class policy: Your regular attendance is expected. Please turn off your cell phones and electronic devices during the class period, and talk only when you are participating in class discussion. Research shows that discussing with your peers is a valuable means of developing good understanding. In many classes we will have activities where you will work out problems with other students. Your attendance and full participation at each class period will be an essential component of your success in the class. Following each activity and during the lecture, some questions will be asked, and you are required to use a clicker to answer them. These clicker questions will be used to evaluate your participation in the class.

Reading: It is a good idea to read the relevant material before you come in to the class. The Mastering Astronomy website has a self-study area that you are welcome to explore. To encourage you to keep up with the course material, on-line Mastering Astronomy assignments will be given each week, in sync with lecture. You are required to read the text before working on the assignment.

Laboratory: There will be several observing labs during the semester. These labs will be completed out of class, on your own time. The labs are designed to help you understand the concepts we discuss in class, and learn the basic science skills such as making accurate measurements, graph and table interpretations. All work turned in for grading must be neat and legible. No extensions will be given without a good reason. If you miss the due date, you can still turn in the lab within a week. However, late labs turned in during this period will receive a 5-point deduction. No late lab will be accepted more than one week past the due date.

Grading: In-class exams (2 ´ 150 pt., drop the lowest one) 300 pt.

Final 240 pt.

Labs 160 pt.

Online Assignments 150 pt.

Participation with clickers 150 pt.

A: ³ 900 pt.; B: 800 – 899 pt.; C: 700 – 799 pt.; D: 600 – 699 pt.; F: < 600 pt.

Exams: Exams are closed-note and closed-book. There are three in-class exams and one final scheduled. The final exam will be comprehensive. The questions are primarily multiple-choice questions. You are required to bring #2 pencils and a calculator to each exam. If you miss one of the exams, your grade for that exam will be ZERO. Makeup exams will not be given except in extreme circumstances. If you are not able to take an exam, you need to make arrangement with the instructor before the scheduled exam period.

Exam #1: Monday, Sept. 28, in class

Exam #2: Monday, Oct. 26, in class

Exam #3: Monday, Nov. 23, in class

Final: Monday, Dec. 14, 1:00 pm

Cheating and Plagiarism: Cheating and academic dishonesty are unacceptable. Any work in which cheating is detected will be assigned a grade of ZERO, and may result in failing the course. Any use of a cell phone or other electronic device during exams without the prior permission of the instructor will be considered cheating. All work turned in for a grade must be your own. No credit will be given for work that is not demonstrably your own.

Disabilities: In compliance with university policy, students with disabilities who require academic and/or auxiliary accommodations for this course must contact the Office for Student Disability Services in Downing University Center, A-200. The phone number is 270-745-5004. Please do not request accommodations directly from the instructor without a letter of accommodation from the Office for Student Disability Services.

Course Outline: The course schedule is tentative and subject to change, if we need spend more time on some topics. The exam dates are fixed and you are responsible for remembering these dates and bringing the necessary tools for the exams.

Week of Aug. 31 Introduction (Chap. 1)

Week of Sept. 7 The Sky (Chap. 2)

Week of Sept. 14 Motions of the Sun and Season Change (Chap. 2)

Week of Sept. 21 Moon Phases and Eclipses (Chap. 2)

Week of Sept. 28 Exam #1 on Monday, Sept. 28

Week of Oct. 5 The Science of Astronomy (Chap. 3)

Week of Oct. 12 Motion and Gravity (Chap. 4)

Week of Oct. 19 Light and Matter (Chap. 5)

Week of Oct. 26 Exam #2 on Monday, Oct. 26

Week of Nov. 2 Telescope and Our Sun (Chap. 6 &14)

Week of Nov. 9 The Solar System (Chap. 7 and 8)

Week of Nov. 16 Terrestrial Worlds (Chap. 9 and 10)

Week of Nov. 23 Exam #3 on Monday, Nov. 23

Week of Nov. 30 Jovian Worlds and the Rest (Chap. 11 & 12)

Week of Dec. 7 Extrasolar Planets and Life in the Universe (Chap. 13 & 24)

Week of Dec. 14 Final Exam