Download SYLLABUS Spring 2012 SCIE 3304, SECTION 001 ASTRONOMY

SYLLABUS
Spring 2012
SCIE 3304, SECTION 001
ASTRONOMY
Instructor: Dr. Fajer Jaafari
Office Location: Room 120 H, Science Hall
Class Time: Tue, Thu: 12:30 pm– 1:50 pm.
Office hours: Tue, Thu: 12:00pm- 12:30 pm
Email: [email protected]
Class Location: 330 Science Hall
Reference book: Astronomy Today, 7th Edition, Chaisson and McMillan,
(Prentice Hall publication) No need to purchase it.
Required Course Material:
1. Text Book: Discovering the Universe, 8th or 9th Edition, Neil F. Comins
and W. J. Kaufmann (W. H. Freeman and Company publication)
3. Class Slides: The class slides will be available on the Blackboard
(http://elearn.uta.edu/) after every lecture.
Description:
This is a one semester course on astronomy with an emphasis on celestial motions, phases of moon,
eclipses, history of astronomy, gravity, electromagnetic radiation, telescopes, and physical properties
of the planets, asteroids, meteoroids, comets, and the discovery of extrasolar planets, study of the Sun
as a star, measurement of different properties of stars, birth, evolution and death of stars, strange
states of matter (neutron stars and black holes), Milky Way Galaxy, study of the Universe beyond
our Galaxy, formation and evolution of galaxies. As we consider more distant objects, such as active
galaxies and quasars, we move backwards in time, ultimately arriving at Big Bang. The course
finally takes you to the current cosmological ideas.
Learning Objectives:
On the completion of this course students should be able to demonstrate the methods that
astronomers use to obtain information about celestial objects. Describe the nature of scientific
research in the fields of Physics and Astronomy. Explain the basic concepts of Physics, such as
gravity, nature of light, laws of thermal radiation etc. Identify the components of the electromagnetic
spectrum and demonstrate the need of observing outside the visible range and outside the Earth’s
atmosphere. Discuss the properties of the other planets and their moons in our solar system in
comparison to the planet Earth. List and describe the layers of the Sun’s interior and atmosphere,
sunspots and the effects of Sun activities on the Earth. Describe the nature and evolutionary paths of
stars from birth to white dwarf, neutron stars, or black holes. Demonstrate the properties and
evolution of our galaxy, other galaxies and the entire universe. Analyze the various methods used to
measure distances out to the edges of the visible universe. Explain the experimental basis for the Big
Bang theory of the universe. Discuss our place in the Universe. Discuss the possible existence of
extra-terrestrial life in the universe.
Prerequisites:
While there are no formal prerequisites, a familiarity with high school mathematics is needed.
Exams and Grading:
1- There will be three Tests and a Final exam. If you are not present for a test, you will receive a
zero.
2- You will be allowed to drop the test with the lowest grade (including a test that is missed).
3- There will be no makeup tests, except in special circumstances in which case they must be
arranged in advance.
.
The tests are multiple choices. Your course grade will be determined as follows:
Tests: 50% (best 2 out of 3)
HW: 25%
Final: 25%
The grading scale would be as follows.
Grading policy:
Grading Scale
25% Test 1
A: 90 & up
25% Test 2
B: 80 to 89
25% HW
C: 70 to 79
25% Final exam
F: 69 & below
Tentative Tests dates
1- End of Feb, test 1
2- End of March test 2
3- End of April test 3
4- The Final: Thursday May 13th from 11:00 am – 1:30 pm.