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Course Title: Astronomy
Course Prefix & No.:
SCIE 1300
LEC: LAB:
4.5 0
Credit Hours:
4.5
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course is an introductory course in astronomy that covers the tools of astronomy, the night sky,
the solar system, stars and star systems, galaxies, and cosmology. This is a lecture-only course. The lab course that complements this
course is SCIE 1310.
COURSE PREREQUISITE (S): College-level reading, writing, and math proficiency; and MATH 0931 or
MATH 0960
RATIONALE:
The popularity of astronomy as a general science is due in large part to its intrigue and subject matter. While
engaging in the study of astronomy, students contemplate larger expanses of space and time than in any other
discipline. It uniquely provides connectivity between the life and physical sciences. Only through astronomy
can one truly have perspective on the earth.
REQUIRED TEXTBOOK (S) and/or MATERIALS:
Title:
Investigating Astronomy
Edition:
2012
Author:
Slater
Publisher: Freedman & Co.
Materials:
Attached course outline written by: Howard Bohm
Date: 03/WI
_
Reviewed/Revised by:
Date: 12/FA
_
Effective quarter of course outline: 12/FA
Date:
_
Academic Dean:
Date:
_
Kendra Sibbernsen
Course Objectives, Topical Unit Outlines, and Unit Objectives must be attached to this form.
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TITLE: Astronomy
PREFIX/NO: SCIE 1300
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
1. Understand and contemplate the earth’s position in the universe.
2. Beware of and explain the contributions of early and contemporary astronomers to the science.
3. Understand the physics of light, the spectrum and their application to telescopes.
4. Describe the motions of the planets and the organization of the solar system.
5. Understand deep space phenomena and the nature of the universe.
6. Understand the life cycles of stars as well as our nearest star, the sun.
TOPICAL UNIT OUTLINE/UNIT OBJECTIVES:
Chapter 1 Predicting the Motions of the Stars, Sun, and Moon
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Explain the concept of the celestial sphere and the celestial poles.
Be aware that constellation patterns are of an arbitrary nature.
Describe the basis for the seasons on the earth.
Describe the fundamental basis of the celestial sphere model
Describe the observed motions of the planets that must be explained by a scientific model explaining
planetary motion.
7. Evaluate astrology on the basis of criteria for scientific models.
8. Explain what causes the phases of the moon.
9. Explain and solve problems related to solar and lunar eclipses.
10. Explain why there is not a lunar eclipse every month.
Chapter 2 Decoding the Hidden Messages in Starlight
1. Describe the fundamental terms of wave motion.
2. Describe how light behaves as a wave, and understand visible light in the context of the electromagnetic
spectrum.
3. Describe how color can be associated with reflection properties.
4. Describe how color can be used as a measure of temperature.
5. Relate Kirchoff’s Laws and the nature of atom and energy levels.
6. Describe the Doppler Effect and its use in astronomy.
Chapter 3
Analyzing Scales and Motions of the Universe
1. Discuss the observations of Galileo and decide if they provide key data on distinguishing between
geocentric and heliocentric models.
2. Discuss the difference between mass and weight.
3. Give a summary and demonstration that illustrates each of Newton’s laws.
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4. State the Law of Universal Gravitation in words and in mathematical form and be able to solve problems
using it.
5. Succinctly state the meaning of “center of mass.”
Chapter 4 Exploring Our Evolving Solar System
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Differentiate between Jovian and Terrestrial planets
Describe the relative sizes of the two different types of planets
Explain how spectroscopy reveals the chemical composition of the planets
Understand how our planets formed and describe the supporting evidence
Determine how common it is for other stars to form planets
Chapter 5 Uncovering Earth’s Systems
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Describe the conditions present in the interior of the Earth.
Summarize the basic principles of plate tectonics.
Describe the utility of the ozone layer.
Describe the lunar surface conditions.
Discuss the four theories related to the origin of the Earth-Moon system.
Chapter 6 Exploring Terrestrial Surface Processes and Atmospheres
1.
2.
3.
4.
Compare terrestrial planets and moons for similarities and differences in appearance.
Determine underlying processes to reveal age of terrestrial worlds.
Explain how tectonics and volcanism influence surface features.
Describe how atmospheres of terrestrial planets vary.
Chapter 7 Observing the Dynamic Giant Planets
1.
2.
3.
4.
Compare Jovian planets similarities and differences in appearance.
Explain why Titan and Triton have atmospheres.
Describe how atmospheres of Jovian planets vary.
Describe the ring systems of the Jovians.
Chapter 8 Looking for Life Beyond Earth
1.
2.
3.
4.
Explain where the chemical building blocks for life are found.
Explain why Mars and Europa have the potential for life to have evolved.
Describe the Drake equation and what it estimates.
Describe the past and current searches for extraterrestrial life
Chapter 9 Probing the Dynamic Sun
1. Understand the importance of even small changes in solar luminosity upon Earth’s temperatures.
2. Distinguish between fission and fusion reactions.
3. Describe fusion reactions which are the source of the sun’s energy.
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4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Describe the forces that hold the sun together in equilibrium.
Describe heat transfer methods that transport solar energy from the center of the sun outward.
Outline the solar neutrino problem.
Describe the basic characteristics of the solar atmosphere.
Graph a typical pattern of sunspot numbers over time
Chapter 10 Observing Properties of Distant Stars
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Distinguish between brightness and luminosity.
Describe the apparent magnitude scale and the magnitude limit of the naked eye.
Draw a diagram illustrating the parallax angle.
Define the term absolute magnitude.
Discuss the term proper motion.
Give the orders of the spectral types with temperature.
Sketch the H-R diagram, with labels.
Describe how luminosity class and temperature of a star can lead to a determination of absolute
magnitude and distance.
9. Describe several kinds of multiple star systems and describe how distinctions among them can be
determined from observations.
10. Describe how stellar masses can be determined from binary star systems.
11. Describe how Cepheid variables can be used as distance indicators.
Chapter 11 Inferring Patterns in Star Life Cycles
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Describe the process of the collapse of the interstellar clouds.
Describe the evolution of a protostar into a main sequence object.
Distinguish between the different types of star clusters.
Describe the characteristics of a brown dwarf.
Describe why a star is stable during the period it “remains “ on the main sequence.
Contrast the end stages of “flyweight” stars with more massive stars.
Chapter 12 Predicting the Violent End of the Largest Stars
1. Describe the helium flash.
2. Describe two models to explain planetary nebulae.
3. Describe the properties of white dwarfs.
4. Describe the difference between a Type I supernova and a nova.
5. Describe the general processes taking place in Type II supernovae.
6. Describe the frequency with which supernovae occur in our galaxy.
7. Relate the discovery of pulsars by J. Bell.
8. Describe the “lighthouse” model for pulsars.
9. Describe some aspects of the General Theory of Relativity.
10. Describe the properties of black holes.
11. Describe how black holes can be protected.
Chapter 13
Exploring Our Galaxy
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1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Relate that, with few exceptions, every naked-eye object in our sky is part of the Galaxy.
Draw sketch of Galaxy, label its parts, and place the Sun in its proper place.
Describe the distribution of globular clusters around the Galaxy.
Summarize the Shapley-Curtis Debate.
Describe the galactic rotation curve and its significance in describing the mass distribution in the
Galaxy.
6. Describe how radio observations have been used to map the Galaxy.
7. Describe the density wave theory for spiral arms.
8. Describe the chain reaction theory for spiral arms.
9. Describe the hypothesis and the evidence supporting it for a super massive black hole at the center of
our Galaxy.
10. Describe the history of our Galaxy.
Chapter 14 Investigating Other Galaxies
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Describe the Hubble classification scheme.
Describe how the distances to galaxies can be measured.
Describe in graphical form the Hubble Law.
Explain how the Hubble Law can be used to measure distances to galaxies.
Describe several methods for measuring the masses of galaxies.
Describe two theories for the origin of different types of galaxies.
Describe how active galaxies and quasars differ from “normal” galaxies.
Chapter 15 Observing the Evolution of the Universe
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Describe the difference between an “open” and a “closed” universe.
Describe some simple models for an expanding system.
Develop the arguments for a cosmological redshift.
Succinctly describe Olber’s paradox.
Define the cosmological principle.
Give evidence for the Big Bang Theory.
Explain dark matter and dark energy and the acceleration of the expansion of the universe.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS/EVALUATION:
Upon completion of the objectives of this course, each of the objectives will be assessed and measured as
follows.
COURSE OBJECTIVES/ASSESSMENT MEASURES
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COURSE OBJECTIVES
ASSESSMENT MEASURES
1.
Understand and contemplate the earth’s position in
the universe.
1.
A student will successfully complete 60% of the
problems assigned as homework, exam questions,
exam problems in this area.
2.
A student will successfully complete 60% of the
problems assigned as homework, exam questions, and
exam problems in this area.
3.
A student will successfully complete 60%
of the problems assigned as homework, exam
questions, and exam problems in this area.
4.
A student will successfully complete 60% of the
problems assigned as homework, exam questions, and
exam problems in this area.
5.
A student will successfully complete 60% of the
problems assigned as homework, exam questions, and
exam problems in this area.
6.
A student will successfully complete 60% of the
problems assigned as homework, exam questions, and
exam problems in this area.
2.
Be ware of and explain the contributions of early
and contemporary astronomers to the science.
3.
Understand the physics of light, the spectrum and
their applications to telescopes.
4.
Describe the motions of the planets and the
organization of the solar system.
5.
Understand deep space phenomena and the nature
of the universe.
6.
Understand the life cycles of stars as well as our
nearest star, the sun.
ESO Revised 3-13-01