ASTRONOMY - Summer 1999

COURSE: PHYSICS 1015, TIME: 6:00--10:00 p.m., PLACE: B113 (Math/Science Building)

INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Robert Gardner

OFFICES: Gilbreath Hall 308L, 308G and Brown Hall 201, ETSU

PHONES: 439-6978 (308L), 439-6977 (308G), 439-8684 (201)

E-MAIL: gardnerr@etsu.edu

HOMEPAGE: www.etsu.edu/math/gardner/gardner.htm

NOTE: Since I am an adjunct here at NSTCC, I will be difficult to contact locally. Therefore, I have created a homepage for this class at:

www.etsu.edu/math/gardner/nstcc/astro.htm
I expect that our primary means of communication will be through e-mail. I will keep the class homepage updated and maintain a list of commonly asked e-mail questions, along with their answers. This will serve as my "virtual office hours."

COURSE DESCRIPTION (from NSTCC syllabus): Introduces the history and concepts of modern astronomy. Covers historical background, stellar, galactic astronomy, cosmology, the solar system and modern theories.

COURSE OBJECTIVES (from NSTCC syllabus): Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to :

  1. work effectively with the concepts of processes in the universe including: planetary motion, star formation, stellar life cycles, and cosmology,
  2. solve elementary problems in astronomy,
  3. better understand basic physical concepts that underlie how the universe functions, and
  4. carry the skills learned to other areas of their lives.

ENTRY LEVEL STANDARDS (from NSTCC syllabus): The student must have a working proficiency in algebra.

PREREQUISITES (from NSTCC syllabus): MATH 0810 (Intermediate Algebra) or equivalent or with departmental approval.

TEXT: Voyages Through the Universe, by A. Fraknoi, D. Morrison, and S. Wolff, Saunders College Publishing, 1997.

LAB BOOK: Investigating Astronomy: Model Building and Critical Thinking, by C. Burnham, C. Bridges, and M. French, McGraw-Hill, 1997.

SUPPLEMENTAL TEXT: Telecourse Student Guide for: Universe, The Infinite Frontier, 2nd Edition, by S. Lattanzio, J. Levine, and V. Lee, Wadsworth Publishing, 1998.

VIDEOS: Universe: The Infinite Frontier. Available in the NSTCC Library.

SOFTWARE: Redshift 2: Multimedia Astronomy. Maris Multimedia Ltd., 1995.

MATERIALS: A scientific calculator will be required for the labs, but not for the tests. You may also want to purchase a planisphere (for constellation identification) and a flashlight.

NOTE: Since this class is a telecourse, you are to a great extent on your own! I will start each lecture session with a very sketchy overview of the material to be covered. I will also address any questions on the current or past material. We will take a break after 60 to 90 minutes. We will spend the last part of our time working in-class on lab assignments and possibly looking at the Redshift software provided with the text. If the weather permits, we will step outside and make some informal observations.

REPORT: A written report will be required of each student. The report must be type-written and at least 8 pages long (double spaced with 1 inch margins). Details will follow on the format and use of internet resources.

GRADE: You will be evaluated based on your performance on a midterm (M), final (F), homework (H), report (R), and labs (L) as follows:

AVERAGE= (M+F+R+L+H)/5.
Grades will be based on a 10 point scale.

ADDITIONAL NSTCC POLICIES:
Attendance Policy. The Division of Mathematics and Sciences Attendance Policy is designed to foster student success. Prompt and regular attendance is the respondibility of each student. The student is responsible for all material covered and all assignments made in class. Any time a student is absent from a class, laboratory or other scheduled event, it is the student's responsibility to make satsifactory arrangements for any make-up work permitted by the instructor. An absence is defined as nonattendance for any reason including illness, emergency or official leave. A student is considered to have accumulated excessive abseencs when he/she has been absent more than the number of times a class meets in one week. The instructor may define a number of tardies to be equal to an absence. The instructor may impose a penalty for excessive absences from class.
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities. In order for the College to make reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities, the student must notify the instructor of any special needs. This notification should take place during the first week of class. The student may notify the instructor by meeting with the instructor privately, either before or after class, or in the instructor's office.
Special Note Regarding Attendance. Due to the intensive "hands-on" nature of the learning process in this course, the successful student must take an active role in all activities, inside the classroom and out. The learning process depends very strongly upon the completion of each activity in the proper sequence. An absence of one class can have a serious negative effect on the learning process and the student's grade.
Learning Environment. It is the responsibility of each student, as well as the instructor, to maintain an environment conducive to the learning process. Any action or behavior that disrupts this learning process for another student cannot be condoned or permitted to continue. Each student is therefore asked to participate in maintaining a relaxed friendly environment that promotes good learning for all. Enrollment in this course also indicates the student's acceptance of responsibility for the care and maintenance of equipment and for following the normal and prescribed safety procedures.
Helpful Hint. A teacher can help, but you must take charge and be responsible for your own learning. You will find that regular study and daily practice are necessary efforts to be academically successful, especially in a physics class.

Course Outline

Return to Bob Gardner's NSTCC astronomy homepage.