Download Syllabus - University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
College of Science and Mathematics
Department of Physics
Spring 2016
Course Syllabus for Astronomy 3301-01 “Stellar & Galactic Astronomy”
Instructor: Satya R. Kachiraju,
E-mail: [email protected]
Office: SCIE 3.162; Phone 956-665-2578
Office Hours: MW 1:00 to 3:00 pm at SCNE 3.162, or by appointment
(Note: Each student must meet the instructor at least TWO times during the semester)
TIME/PLACE: MW 09:25 am – 10:40 am, SWOT 1.406
Textbook: The Cosmic Perspective, 7th Edition by Bennett, Donahue, Schneider, and Voit.
Catalogue Course Description:
ASTR 3301: This is an algebra/geometry/trigonometry/vector-based course in which students
study stars and galaxies. Topics include: our Sun; star types, properties and evolution; our Milky
Way Galaxy; galaxies types and general properties; Hubble’s Law; the expansion of the
Universe; the Big Bang Model.
Prerequisite: ASTR 1402 or ASTR 2301
Student Learning Outcomes, Core Curriculum, and Objectives:
Astronomy is the study of the universe in which we live. The celestial bodies, including Earth,
will be studied to improve our understanding of the origins, evolution, composition as well as the
motion of these celestial bodies including: stars, planets, asteroids, comets, and meteors.
Astronomers look at the universe and see a vast system of objects waiting to be discovered and
understood. At the end of this course students will be able to:
1. Understand and apply method and appropriate technology to study astronomy.
2. To recognize scientific and quantitative methods and approaches used by astronomers to
communicate findings and interpretation.
3. To identify and recognize scientific theories dealing with the creation of our universe
(and our solar system in particular).
4. To demonstrate knowledge of the interdependence of science and technology and the
effects on our modern culture. Today’s astronomical instruments and techniques are
expanding our views of the earth and its place in the universe.
5. To apply quantitative methods in the analysis and study of astronomical objects.
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UTRGV Policy Statements:
Students with Disabilities:
If you have a documented disability (physical, psychological, learning, or other disability which
affects your academic performance) and would like to receive academic accommodations, please
inform your instructor and contact Student Accessibility Services to schedule an appointment to
initiate services. It is recommended that you schedule an appointment with Student Accessibility
Services before classes start. However, accommodations can be provided at any time.
Brownsville Campus: Student Accessibility Services is located in Cortez Hall Room 129 and
can be contacted by phone at (956) 882-7374 (Voice) or via email at [email protected].
Edinburg Campus: Student Accessibility Services is located in 108 University Center and can
be contacted by phone at (956) 665-7005 (Voice), (956) 665-3840 (Fax), or via email at
[email protected].
Mandatory Course Evaluation: Students are required to complete an ONLINE evaluation of
this course, accessed through your UTRGV account (http://my.utrgv.edu); you will be contacted
through email with further instructions. Online evaluations will be available Apr. 13 – May. 4,
2016. Students who complete their evaluations will have priority access to their grades.
Scholastic Integrity: As members of a community dedicated to Honesty, Integrity and Respect,
students are reminded that those who engage in scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary
penalties, including the possibility of failure in the course and expulsion from the University.
Scholastic dishonesty includes but is not limited to: cheating, plagiarism, and collusion;
submission for credit of any work or materials that are attributable in whole or in part to another
person; taking an examination for another person; any act designed to give unfair advantage to a
student; or the attempt to commit such acts. Since scholastic dishonesty harms the individual, all
students and the integrity of the University, policies on scholastic dishonesty will be strictly
enforced (Board of Regents Rules and Regulations and UTRGV Academic Integrity Guidelines).
All scholastic dishonesty incidents will be reported to the Dean of Students.
Sexual Harassment, Discrimination and Violence: In accordance with UT System regulations,
your instructor is a “responsible employee” for reporting purposes under Title IX regulations and
so must report any instance, occurring during a student’s time in college, of sexual assault,
stalking, dating violence, domestic violence, or sexual harassment about which she/he becomes
aware during this course through writing, discussion, or personal disclosure. More information
can be found at www.utrgv.edu/equity, including confidential resources available on campus.
The faculty and staff of UTRGV actively strive to provide a learning, working, and living
environment that promotes personal integrity, civility, and mutual respect in an environment free
from sexual misconduct and discrimination.
Course Drops: According to UTRGV policy, students may drop any class without penalty
earning a grade of DR until the official drop date April 13th. Following that date, students must
be assigned a letter grade and can no longer drop the class. Students considering dropping the
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class should be aware of the “3-peat rule” and the “6-drop” rule so they can recognize how
dropped classes may affect their academic success. The 6-drop rule refers to Texas law that
dictates that undergraduate students may not drop more than six courses during their
undergraduate career. Courses dropped at other Texas public higher education institutions will
count toward the six-course drop limit. The 3-peat rule refers to additional fees charged to
students who take the same class for the third time.
Blackboard:
Blackboard Learn (http://mycourses.utrgv.edu/) will be utilized to augment the teaching of the
course. It will be specifically used by the instructor in making announcements, creating
assessments related to advanced reading assignments, e-mailing students, initiating online
discussion, posting course materials (e.g. syllabus, class schedules, lecture summaries, etc.) and
grades. Students are required to have access to Blackboard Learn. All e-mail correspondences to
the instructor regarding the course should be done through Blackboard. Text version of power
point slides will be available for viewing and printing
E-mail Correspondences:
University policy requires all electronic communication between the University and students be
conducted through the official University supplied systems; namely UTRGVMail for email or
Blackboard for course specific correspondence. Please identify you by name and include
‘ASTR 3301-01’ and the section in the subject line. I will check email daily during the week
and respond within 24–48 hours. Questions about assignments should be emailed two days
before the due date to ensure you receive a timely response.
Attendance and class participation:Attendance is mandatory. Students are expected to prepare
for and actively participate in class. Excellence means being prepared, involved, and taking
responsibility for your own learning.
Since class Attendance and participation will be graded, students must attend the entire class
period to earn full Attendance and participation credit. Students missing classes (or significant
portions of classes) will have their grade reduced. One point will be reduced for each day
missed, half point for each “half class”. Missing more than 3 days is automatic loss of all
attendance points.

** Use of phones/tablets/computers in class will not be allowed. You will be asked to leave
the classroom if the teacher sees you using any of these devices and a 1% penalty will be
imposed on overall grade upon each time of violation.
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Grading Policy:
10 Hourly Lecture Exams ..……………………………. 50%
10 Home Assignments ……………………………….... 40%
Attending class, contribution to discussion,
engaging in class activities, etc.. (8%) and
meeting with Instructor (2 x 1=2%)……………………..10%
Note #1:
As indicated above, we will have 10 (ten) exams. The lecture exams will be open-book (only
textbook). Each exam will correspond to chapters of the textbook
MAKE-UP POLICY
MAKE-UP EXAMS will only be given if the instructor is contacted ON OR BEFORE THE
DAY OF THE EXAM AND DOCUMENTATION OF A SERIOUS AND COMPELLING
REASON FOR MISSING THE EXAM IS PROVIDED (e.g. serious illness in yourself or a close
family member)
Note #2:
As indicated above, we will have 10 (ten) home assignments. Each home assignment will also
correspond to a chapters of the textbook.
Late assignments will be accepted only if they are submitted within 2 days of the due date (20 pts
will be deducted from the maximum points available).
Note #3:
It is very much recommended that after the lectures for a given chapter(s) of the textbook have
been completed, that the student work through the “Quantitative Problems” section of the given
chapter(s). Any questions that arise to the student at this point may be addressed during classes
or in office hours.
Note #4:
No Final Exam.
I.
Space and Time(Chapters S2of the Textbook)
Relatives Velocities in Newtonian Mechanics. Inertial Rest Frames. Constancy of the
Speed of Light. Relativity of Time. Special Theory of Relativity (SR). Lorentz
Transformations. Time Dilatation in SR. Length Contraction in SR. Particle Momentum
in SR. Kinetic Energy in SR. Doppler Effect in SR. Mass-Energy.
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II.
Our Star (Chapter 14 of the Textbook)
Nuclear Fusion. Nuclear Fission. Strong Nuclear Force. Mass-energy conversion. Solar
Wind. Thermostat. Energy Emission from Sun’s Surface. Density (in Astronomy).
Pressure. Gravitational Equilibrium. Plasma. Electron. Proton. Neutron. P-P Chain.
Neutrino. Solar Neutrino Problem. Solar Activity (Solar Weather). Solar Vibrations.
Sunspots. Magnetosphere. Spectral Line. Solar Prominences (Solar Loops). Solar Flares.
Sunspot Cycle. Solar Minimum. Solar Maximum.
III.
Surveying the Stars (Chapter 15 of the Textbook)
Nebula. Luminosity. Apparent Brightness. Luminosity-Distance Relation. Apparent
Magnitude. Absolute Magnitude. Stellar Temperature and Thermal Emission. Parallax.
Stellar Parallax. Parsec. Electromagnetic Wave. Wavelength. Frequency. Photon. Energy
of a Photon. Momentum of a Photon. Doppler Effect. Doppler Shift. Blue-shifted. Redshifted. Binary System. Visual Binary. Eclipsing Binary. Spectroscopic Binary. Stellar
Masses in Binary Systems. H-R Diagram. Main Sequence. Giants. White Dwarfs.
Spectral Classes. Luminosity Classes. Degenerate Matter. Star Cluster. Open Cluster.
Globular Cluster. Halo. Main Sequence Turn-Off. Big Bang.
IV.
Star Birth & Star Stuff (Chapter 16 and Chapter 17) of the Textbook)
Galactic Recycling. Star Clusters. Stellar Life Cycle. Gravitational Equilibrium. Jean’s
Mass. Nebula. Protostar. Jet (of a Protostar). Brown Dwarf. Electron Degeneracy
Pressure. Main-Sequence Star. Low-Mass Star. Red Giant. Helium Flash. Double-Shell
Burning. Planetary Nebula. White Dwarf. High-Mass Star. Supergiant. Multiple-Shell
Burning. Main-Sequence Supernova (Type II). Neutron Star. Neutron Degeneracy
Pressure. Black Hole. Supernova Remnant. P-P Chain. CNO Cycle. Binary System.
Close Binary System. Accretion Disk.
V.
The Bizarre Stellar Graveyard (Chapter 18 of the Textbook)
Stellar Life Cycle. Low-Mass Star. High-Mass Star. White Dwarf. Neutron Star. Black
Hole. Main-Sequence Supernova (Supernova Type II). White Dwarf Supernova
(Supernova Type I). Binary System. Accretion Disk. Nova. Isolated Star. Pulsars. X-ray
Binary. X-ray Burster. Escape Velocity. Event Horizon. Schwarzschild Radius. Quasars.
Gamma-ray Bursts.
VI.
Our Galaxy (Chapter 19 of the Textbook)
Galaxy. Milky Way. Interstellar Medium. Ionization Nebula. Spiral Galaxy. Elliptical
Galaxy. Irregular Galaxy. Galactic Disk. Spiral Arms. Halo. Galactic Bulge. Globular
Clusters. Open Clusters. Density Wave. Heavy Element (in Astronomy). Disk Stars
(Population I). Spheroidal Stars (Population II). Protogalactic Cloud. Star-gas-star cycle.
Hot bubbles. Sgr A*. Supermassive Black Hole. Accretion Disk.
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VII.
Galaxies and the Foundation of Modern Cosmology & Galaxy Evolution
(Chapters 20 & 21 of the Textbook)
Barred Spiral Galaxy. Lenticular Galaxy. Dwarf Galaxy. Giant Galaxy. Radar. Parallax.
Standard Candle. Main Sequence Fitting. Local Group. Cepheids (Cepheid Variables).
Period-Luminosity Relation (Cepheid Variables). Andromeda Galaxy. Light. Frequency
(of light). Expansion of the Universe. Big Bang. Red Shift “z” (Newtonian and SR).
Hubble’s Law. Observable Universe. Protogalactic Cloud. Galactic Evolution. Active
Galactic Nuclei (AGN). Quasar (QSO).
VIII.
Dark Matter, Dark Energy, and the Fate of the Universe (Chapter 22 of the Textbook)
Galaxy Group or Cluster. Supercluster. Dark Matter. Rotation Curve (in Spiral Galaxies).
“Flatness” of a plotted Curve. Mass-to-Light Ratio. “Hot Gas” (found in between
galaxies of a cluster). Gravitational Lensing. Baryonic Matter. Non-baryonic matter.
Protons. Neutrons. Neutrinos. Photons. MACHOS (in Astronomy). WIMPS (in
Astronomy). Large-scale structure. Protogalaxy. Recollapsing Universe. Critical
Universe. Coasting Universe. Accelerating Universe. Dark Energy.
IX.
The Beginning of Time (Chapter 23 of the Textbook)
Big Bang Theory. Particle Creation and Annihilation. Matter and Antimatter.
Antiparticle. Fundamental Forces. Gravity. Electromagnetic Force. Weak Nuclear Force.
Strong Nuclear Force. Superforce. GUT (Grand Unified Theory) Force. Planck Era. GUT
Era. Electroweak Era. Particle Era. Nucleosynthesis Era. Nuclei Era. Era of Atoms. Era
of Galaxies. Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB).Temperature and Wavelength of
CMB. Large-Scale Structure. Inflation (in the Big Bang Theory). Critical Density (of the
Universe).
X.
Life in the Universe (Chapter 24 of the Textbook).
Greenhouse Effect. Runaway Greenhouse Effect. Heavy Bombardment. Isotope. Theory
of Evolution. Natural Selection. DNA. Mutation. Prokarya. Eukarya. Bacteria. Archaea.
Black Smoker. Ozone. “habitable” world. “habitable zone” (of a star). Kepler Mission.
Planetary Transits. Rare Earth Hypothesis. SETI. Drake’s Equation.
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Tentative Schedule for ASTR 3301-01
(Subject to change):
Week
Date
Week
Lecture
Date
Lecture
1
Mon Jan 18
No class, MLK day
9
Mon Mar 14
No Classes. Spring Break
1
Wed Jan 20
Course Introduction /Topic 1 (Chapter
S2)
9
Wed Mar 16
No Classes. Spring Break
10
Mon Mar 21
Topic 6 (Chapter 19)
10
Wed Mar 23
Topic 6 (Chapter 19)
11
Mon Mar 28
Exam #6 (Chapter 19)
11
Wed Mar 30
Topic 7 (Chapters 20 and 21)
12
Mon Apr 4
Topic 7 (Chapter 20 and 21)
12
Wed Apr 6
Exam #7 (Chapter 20 and 21)
13
Mon Apr 11
Topic 8 (Chapters 22)
13
Wed Apr 13
Topic 8 (Chapters 22)
14
Mon Apr 18
Exam #8 (Chapters 22)
14
Wed Apr 20
Topic 9 (Chapter 23)
15
Mon Apr 25
Exam #9 (Chapter 23)
15
Wed Apr 27
Topic 10 (Chapter 24)
16
Mon May 2
Topic 10 (Chapter 24) - Review
16
Wed May 4
Exam #10 (Chapter 14)
16
Thu May 5
No Classes. Study Days
2
Mon Jan 25
Topic 1 (Chapter S2)
2
Wed Jan 27
Topic 1 (Chapter S2)
3
Mon Feb 1
Topic 1 (Chapter S2) - Review
3
Wed Feb 3
Exam #1 (Chapter S2)
4
Mon Feb 8
Topic 2 (Chapter 14)
4
Wed Feb 10
Topic 2 (Chapter 14) - Review
5
Mon Feb 15
Exam #2 (Chapter 14)
5
Wed Feb 17
Topic 3 (Chapter 15)
6
Mon Feb 22
Topic 3 (Chapter 15) - Review
6
Wed Feb 24
Exam #3 (Chapter 15)
7
Mon Feb 29
Topic 4 (Chapters 16 and 17)
7
Wed Mar 2
Exam #4 (Chapters 16 and 17)
8
Mon Mar 7
Topic 5 (Chapter 18)
8
Wed Mar 9
Exam #5 (Chapter 18)
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