Physics 103 General Astronomy

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Physics 103General Astronomy
Dr. Tyler E. Nordgren
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Organization

• Lecture three days a week (MWF)
• 1 hour and 20 minutes
• Lectures available on website
• Lab one day a week (Tues. am or pm)
• 2 hours and 50 minutes (meet AHON 117)
• Off campus observing (3 times) lab nights
• Check the syllabus and website for exact dates
  and times!

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Structure

• 930 am homework due
• 30 minute lecture
• Concept questions
• In-class discussion
• 15 minute quiz
• New homework assigned.

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Homework Quizzes

• Assigned every class.
• Due 930 morning of every class.
• Two or three questions.
• Must include a topic of confusion.
• I will tailor class lecture to homework.
• At end of class, a short quiz.

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Observing Labs

• Three off campus meetings in the evenings (730
  pm).
• Jan 17 (back-up is Feb 7)
• Feb 21 (back-up is March 28)
• April 4 (back-up none)
• Attendance is mandatory at two.
• In event of clouds, back-up date.

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Observing Project

• Science is a process, not a body of knowledge!
• You will do a scientific project.
• Observe the sky
• Make observations
• Predictions
• Presentation at end of semester.

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Grading

• Homework 10
• Quizzes 20
• Labs 10
• Observing project 15
• Class citizenship 5
• Exams 20
• 3 exams, lowest grade dropped
• Each exam 10
• Final 20

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Class Rules

• See hand-out and website.
• You are adults and responsible for ALL rules.
• A few in particular
• No late homework is accepted.
• No admittance to lab once started.
• No make-up exams.

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Grades

• Final Grades
• C Acceptable. The quality of work was
  acceptable meeting minimal course standards but
  was not exceptional.
• University of Redlands Catalog 2002-2004

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Semester Goals

• What is science? How does it work?
• Why is science different from philosophy or
  religion?
• Why is a scientific theory different from a
  conspiracy theory?
• Learn about the Scientific Method through study
  of Astronomy
• Are there planets around other stars?
• How are stars and planets born, live, and die?
• What are black holes?
• Where did the Universe come from and where is it
  going?
• Are we alone in the Universe?

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Why should I believe?

• How do we decide what to believe is true?
• Astrology.
• Astronomy.
• UFOs.
• Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI).
• Creationism (Intelligent Design).
• The Big Bang.
• Why should you believe one over any other?

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Homework 1

• Due Wed 11-Jan Read Tyson Ch. 2.
• (denoted Ty2 on Physics 103 lecture web page)
• What are the steps of the scientific method? Use
  an example from your personal experience to
  briefly illustrate each step.