FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • Can you give me a hint on Problem 9 in the first homework set?

    Problem 9 is a comparison problem, where one compares two objects.

    For this kind of problem, a comparison of two different objects, the easiest way to solve the problem is to start by writing down the relevant equation twice, once for each object. For this particular problem, the equation in question is the relationship between theta, the angular size, x, the physical size, and D, the distance:

    theta(A) prop. to x(A)/D(A)

    theta(B) prop. to x(B)/D(B)

    Then divide the two equations. When you divide two proportionalities, you can replace the prop. to signs with equal signs. So then you get:

    theta(A)/theta(B) = (x(A)/D(A))/(x(B)/D(B))

    Then simplify. In this case, flip over the fraction in the denominator, and multiply instead of divide:

    theta(A)/theta(B) = (x(A)/D(A)) * (D(B)/x(B))

    and simplify further:

    theta(A)/theta(B) = x(A)*D(B) / (D(A)*x(B))

    Plug in the known values and solve for the unknown.

  • Where is the ETSU Observatory? Here are directions and a map.

  • Where is the ETSU Planetarium? Room 207 (top floor) of Hutcheson Hall. Here is a map.

  • How can I get extra credit for this course? There are several ways to get extra credit. There are 11 scheduled evening labs during the semester, but only 10 are required for full credit-- the 11th is extra credit (or a make-up, if you missed a lab). In addition, there is an optional take-home lab that can be done for extra credit (or an additional make-up). The 6th homework assignment also counts as extra credit (or a make-up, if you missed an earlier assignment). In addition, you can earn up to 3 percent extra credit by class participation, which includes helping with class demonstrations, speaking up in class, or good attendance. Finally, you can earn extra credit by attending one of the two special public astronomy talks during the semester. These talks will be held Friday September 27, at 4:30 PM and Thursday October 3, at 4 PM in Brown 261 (the regular astronomy classroom). The first talk will be on the Deep Impact Spacecraft, by Elizabeth Warner of the University of Maryland, while the second talk will be on the age of the Earth, by Michael Duffy, from Emory and Henry College.

  • What are the pictures on the Astro 1010 home page? Click on the images below and see!

                     

    • How can I find the web pages of various observatories? Here are some useful links, which will connect you to the web pages for various observatories and other relevant places.

    • What is the format of the quizzes? How many questions will they have? The quizzes will consist of 20 multiple choice questions. Some of these questions will be similar to those on the homework, so make sure you understand the answers to the homework.

    • I was sick and missed a quiz. Can I take a makeup? Do not worry about missing a single quiz. The lowest two quiz grades OR your grade on the final will be dropped. There will be NO individual makeups for the quizzes or homeworks. Instead, the final is, in a sense, a general `makeup' for everyone in the class. If you are sick and missed a quiz or homework, take it easy and get healthy, and don't worry about it. Missing one quiz will not hurt your grade. I urge you, however, to take every quiz unless there is an extreme emergency, in case other unforeseen problems arise later on in the semester.


    • Do you have any suggestions that may help me study for the quizzes? Review the study guides, the homework problems, the practice quiz problems, and study the review questions at the back of each chapter in the book. Please get in touch with me if you do not understand something we have covered in class.


    • Can I take the final earlier than the scheduled time? (or later?) The final must be taken at the regularly scheduled time. There will be NO make-ups or early exams. Remember, the lowest of either the lowest two quiz grades OR the grade on the final will be dropped, so if you take all of the quizzes, you do not need to take the final. I suggest, however, that you take the final even if you have taken all of the quizzes unless you have an A average. There is always the possibility that by taking the final you will improve your grade.


    • When is the final for this course? The final will be given Tuesday December 10 at 10:30 AM. MARK THIS DATE AND TIME ON YOUR CALENDAR.


    • Do you have any suggestions that may help me study for the final? One hint is that the final will cover the same material that was covered in the quizzes (plus the additional material covered in class after the last quiz). In studying for the final, make sure you understand the answers to the quiz problems, and review the six study guides and the homework again. Go over the problems that you got wrong on the quiz, and make sure you understand the correct answers. If you are uncertain about the answers to any quiz problem, get in touch with me.


    • Is the final cumulative? Yes, it may contain questions on anything we covered during the entire semester.


    • Because of an emergency, I missed my lab (or will have to miss my lab). Can I go to lab on a different night? In case of emergency only, students are sometimes permitted to attend another lab section. However, the student MUST ask permission in advance from both their regular lab instructor and the instructor of the night they wish to attend. The lab must be handed in at the end of the lab period to the current instructor. The observatory building is relatively small, and gets very crowded. We cannot allow more than 27 students at one time in the observatory. If more than 27 show up for a lab period, the students not officially enrolled in that lab section will be asked to leave. Note that, because of differences in the weather, in a given week, different lab sections may be doing different labs. Thus, if you attend a different lab section, you may be out of synch with your regular lab section, and you may have already done the lab that the other lab section may be doing. Before you go, check the course web page to see what lab is planned for that night.

      Note also that, in the case of a cancellation of lab by the University (because of bad weather, power outage, etc.), only students who are officially enrolled in the cancelled section will be excused. Students who are enrolled in other lab sections who were planning on attending the cancelled lab section must either attend a different lab that week or do the take-home lab instead.