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PHYS-1404 Solar System
CORE Requirements
TARRANT COUNTY COLLEGE DISTRICT MASTER SYLLABUS
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Lecture: Study of the sun and its solar system, including its origin.
Co-requisite: PHYS-1404L
Lab: This lab accompanies PHYS-1404, Solar System.
Co-requisite: PHYS-1404
COURSE TYPE
Academic Core
COURSE GOALS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES
Course goals and learning outcomes support the Foundational Component Areas
defined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Course goals are linked to
the respective Core Curriculum Competencies: Critical Thinking Skills,
Communication Skills, Empirical and Quantitative Skills, and Teamwork. Specific
competencies are identified in designated course goals and learning outcomes.
Upon successful completion of this course, students will:
1.
Demonstrate an understanding of basic astronomical concepts by
a.
identifying stars and constellations;
b.
explaining celestial coordinates;
c.
defining astronomical unit;
d.
defining the terms parsec and light year;
e.
explaining the scientific method.
2.
Demonstrate an understanding of the positions of the sun and the moon relative
to each other by
a.
describing sun/moon/stars/planets motions;
b.
describing sun seasonal positions;
c.
describing solar and lunar eclipse phenomena;
d.
describing moon phases;
e.
defining and locate the ecliptic.
3.
Demonstrate an understanding of various cosmological models by
a.
describing several ancient cosmological models;
b.
differentiating between heliocentric and geocentric cosmological models;
c.
explaining the Copernican cosmological model;
d.
explaining Kepler's astronomical work;
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e.
f.
explaining similarities and differences between Copernican and Kepler
cosmological models;
explaining Galileo's contributions to the development of science.
4.
Demonstrate an understanding of motion laws by
a.
defining the following terms: position, velocity, speed acceleration, mass,
weight;
b.
differentiating between centrifugal and centripetal force;
c.
describing escape speed concept;
d.
explaining Kepler’s laws of planetary motion;
e.
explaining Newton motion laws;
f.
explaining Newton gravitation law.
5.
Demonstrate an understanding of light spectrum concepts by
a.
describing continuous/absorption/emission spectra;
b.
describing wavelength/frequency/light speed relationships;
c.
describing electromagnetic spectrum;
d.
describing the particle/wave nature of light;
e.
explaining the Balmer spectral series;
f.
explaining the relationship between temperature and light production;
g.
explaining energy concepts;
h.
explaining the Doppler shift;
i.
stating the speed of light.
6.
Demonstrate an understanding of telescope types and functions by
a.
describing nonvisible astronomy;
b.
describing telescope functions and designs;
c.
distinguishing among telescope light gathering power/resolution/
magnifying power/focal length;
d.
differentiating between telescope types;
e.
explaining space based astronomy.
7.
Demonstrate an understanding of the formation of a planetary system by
a.
describing the abundances of the elements;
b.
explaining the origin and evolution of the solar system;
c.
describing the formation process of gas giants;
d.
describing the formation process of terrestrial planets;
e.
explaining the role of asteroids and trans Neptunian objects in the
formation of the solar system;
f.
describing the search for extra solar planets;
g.
explaining the characteristics of extra solar planets.
8.
Demonstrate an understanding of Earth properties by
a.
describing Earth mass/density determination method;
b.
describing determinations of the age of the Earth;
c.
describing properties of Earth’s magnetosphere;
d.
describing Earth atmosphere effects;
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e.
f.
g.
describing charge particle/magnetic field interactions;
describing the Earth’s interior structure;
explaining the evolution of the Earth.
9.
Demonstrate an understanding of the Earth/Moon system by
a.
describing the physical properties of the moon;
b.
describing the tidal interactions between the moon and Earth;
c.
explaining the surface features of the moon;
d.
explaining theories of the origin of the moon.
10.
Demonstrate the ability to compare and contrast planetary characteristics by
a.
explaining the similarities and differences between the gas giant planets
and terrestrial planets;
b.
explaining the similarities and differences among the inner (terrestrial)
planets;
c.
explaining the similarities and differences among the outer (gas giant)
planets.
11.
Demonstrate an understanding of the nature of the planets of the solar system by
a.
explaining the surface characteristics of the terrestrial planets;
b.
explaining the interior characteristics of the terrestrial planets;
c.
explaining the interior characteristics of the gas giant planets;
d.
explaining the evolutionary history of Venus and Mars;
e.
explaining cratering events in the solar system;
f.
explaining volcanism on planets in the solar system;
g.
explaining the magnetic fields of the planets;
h.
listing the major planets of the solar system.
12.
Demonstrate the ability to compare and contrast the characteristics of the natural
satellites of the various planets by
a.
describing differences in the composition, number, size, and possible
atmospheres of the satellites of the various planets;
b.
describing differences in the orbital characteristics and the gravitational
interactions of the satellites of the various planets;
c.
explaining the nature of ring systems of planets.
13.
Demonstrate an understanding of the nature of small bodies in the solar system
by
a.
describing the characteristics of the Kuiper Belt and its components;
b.
describing the characteristics of the Oort Cloud and its components;
c.
describing the characteristics of the Asteroid Belt and its components;
d.
explaining the nature and composition of asteroids and comets;
e.
differentiating among meteoroids, meteors, and meteorites.
14.
Demonstrate an understanding of teamwork by collaborating in problem solving
sessions, or open discussion on the same, to include but not limited to setting up
the problems, data collection, data analysis, and drawing conclusions.
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COURSE ASSESSMENT
Student success is measured by a variety of assessment techniques aligned with
course goals and learning outcomes. Individual faculty members are responsible for
designing evaluation instruments to measure student mastery of course goals and
learning outcomes and indicating the nature of such evaluation instruments in the
instructor’s class requirements.
This course consists of both a lecture and a laboratory and only one grade is assigned
for the course. Individual instructors are free to determine the percentage that the
laboratory portion of the course is to count toward the course grade. However, since
physics is an experimental science, and since the assigning of a passing grade for the
course infers to transfer institutions that the student passed both lecture and lab, the
following policy applies to all physics, physical science, and astronomy courses. To
receive a passing grade in the course, all students are required to pass the laboratory
portion of the course as determined by the laboratory instructor.
STUDENT ACCESSIBILITY RESOURCES
Any student with a documented disability needing academic accommodations is
required to contact the Student Accessibility Resources (SAR) Office located on each
campus to schedule an appointment with the Coordinator of SAR. All discussions are
confidential. Because SAR accommodations may require early planning and are not
provided retroactively, students are encouraged to contact SAR as early in the semester
as possible. SAR is responsible for approving and coordinating all disability-related
services. TCC professors will honor requests for accommodation when they are issued
by SAR.
SCHOLASTIC DISHONESTY
Students are responsible for adhering to the TCCD policy on scholastic dishonesty as
stated in the online student handbook at www.tccd.edu.
RESOURCES
For additional information regarding the student handbook, academic calendar, course
evaluations, attendance policy, SCANS skills, Core Competencies, etc., see
www.tccd.edu.
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