ASTRONOMY 311
ProfÕs Rosenfeld, Instructors Page & Overcash
OBJECTIVE
1. Students will be able to
successfully answer over 80% of questions, based upon additional the material
you cover in this course, posed on the following:
a.
Scientific
description of the night sky and how time determines what is visible.
b. The physical laws that determine the
orbits of the planets and who, when, and how these laws were determined
c.
The
nature of light and descriptions of telescopes.
d.
The
methods used to determine the nature of stars and their distances.
2. Students will successfully complete
any of the six three-hour laboratories not previously completed.
3. You will choose an approved topic
and do a computer aided literature search to collect references, read them, and
incorporate them into a coherent report. (NOTE: Such a search should not just
consist of web pages.) Exact requirements for grades are given in the syllabus.
4.
Exact
requirements are given in the syllabus.
GOALS:
1.
Students,
building on their understanding from ASTR 111, 211 and possibly 111A and 211A
will continue to improve their understanding of the nature of astronomy as a
science and the distinction among science, pseudoscience and non-science.
2.
Students
will more deeply understand how physical laws were discovered
And how
this knowledge has enabled astronomers to construct a worldview of the nature
of the universe.
3. Students
will understand astronomerÕs current construct of the universe from the Earth,
through the solar system, our galaxy and the distant universe. They will also
understand the methods used.
4. Students
will more deeply understand astronomerÕs current construct of the universe from
the Earth, through the solar system, our galaxy and the distant universe. They
will also understand the methods used.
THIS SYLLABUS ASSUMES THAT
YOU HAVE RECEIVED CREDIT FOR ASTR 111 AND ASTR 211 AT THIS INSTITUTION. IF THAT
IS NOT THE CASE PLEASE SEE YOUR INSTRUCTOR TO ARRANGE A CONTRACT FOR YOUR
REQUIREMENTS.
GENERAL
You are responsible for
verifying that our records of your work are correct. Your progress can be
viewed on the computer on the WEB.
Keep records of masteries and labs. Report any errors immediately.
The following are the
materials needed for the course.
You should be able to use your previous books if you took your last
course within the past year,
|
TEXT: |
DISCOVERING
ASTRONOMY—USC SHAWL,
LoPRESTO, SAFKO 4TH |
|
STUDY GUIDE: |
SELF-PACED STUDY GUIDE AND
LABORATORY EXERCISES IN ASTRONOMY, J. L. Safko, 9th Ed. |
|
CALCULATOR |
needed for laboratories
-- (one with logs and trig
functions — such as TI 30X or better is required) |
|
SYLLABUS: |
This handout |
|
EMAIL ADDRESS |
An email address at which
you read mail sent to username@mailbox.sc.edu |
|
STUDENT ID |
You must have a USC Student
ID with you at all times in the Astronomy Center. |
http://spastro.physics.sc.edu and at http://129.252.33.15
The same laboratory rules
used in ASTR 111/211 apply. A
calculator and pencil is required for all laboratories.
GRADING
THE FOLLOWING WILL DETERMINE YOUR GRADE:
1. Research Project: This is an opportunity for you
to learn more about any topic of your interest related to astronomy. For this
project, you will do a computer aided literature search to collect references,
read them, and incorporate them into a coherent report. (NOTE: Such a search
should not just consist of web pages.) Although you are welcome to read
professional astronomy journals, often these journals will be difficult to
understand. Articles from popular science magazines such as Sky and Telescope,
Astronomy, Nature, Science, Science News, Mercury, etc. will be at a more
appropriate level. You can find these magazines in the USC library and in the
Astronomy Center. You should discuss your topic with the professor for possible
refinements in its direction, both at the beginning of the semester, and
throughout the semester. Each of you will need to choose a different topic.
A suggested list of topics is available at http://boson.physics.sc.edu/~kulkarni/a115.html.
Please contact Prof. Rosenfeld, Prof. Safko or Inst. Page to get
your paper topic approved. Your paper must be submitted in its final form by
DECEMBER 1,2008
2. You must complete any of Units 16, 39, 40, 41, 42,
and 43 that were not completed in previous astronomy enrollments. If enrollment
justifies, there will be a set of these labs offered at the start of the term
and another starting about midterm. Please check the posted schedule on the
notice board. If there are problems with this proposed schedule, contact your
instructor at once. ASTR 311 students will have seats in the early labs but will
have to take their chances for room in the labs later in the term.
REMEMBER — YOU MUST BRING A CALCULATOR TO ALL LABORATORIES.
3. Credit for 1 to 3 units may be earned by attending
colloquium lectures by Physics and Astronomy faculty. A list of lectures will
be emailed to you throughout the semester. You must attend the lectures and
submit a brief (1 page) reaction paper.
4 Complete
the following total number of Units (including those listed in item 2 and
assuming item 1 is properly completed.) Do not include any units previously
used in ASTR 111, etc.
|
Grade |
Number of Units |
Grade |
Number of Units |
|
A |
12 |
C |
7 |
|
B+ |
11 |
D+ |
6 |
|
B |
9 |
D |
4 |
|
C+ |
8 |
|
|
Incompletes are given only for
UNANTICIPATED illness, accident, family or work related responsibility. Requests
must be in writing, in detail, and clearly explain how the circumstances fit
the eligibility requirements. It
must be submitted no later than reading day and must be submitted to your
instructor in person. A request
will not be considered if you did not
show proportional progress towards a passing grade during that portion of the
term not covered by your exigency.
If your college permits, these courses may be taken on a pass/fail
option. A grade of D or better is
a satisfactory grade. See your dean's office for permission forms. Your instructor does not sign the
request form. Print the
instructor's name in the space on the form. Do not contact the instructor.
USC
Code of Academic Responsibility
It is the responsibility of every student at the University
of South Carolina to adhere steadfastly to truthfulness and to avoid
dishonesty, fraud, or deceit of any type in connection with any academic
program. Any student who violates this rule or who knowingly assists another to
violate this rule shall be subject to discipline.
The discipline referred to in the above is separate
from any grade penalty that we may impose (Usually an F and cancellation of all
the work done for the term).
GO TO http://astro.physics.sc.edu to get
|
Syllabi |
Copies of Units 56,57,59,60 |
|
Access astronomical images |
General information(staff
photos etc.) |
GO TO http://spastro.physics.sc.edu
to get
|
Laboratory schedules |
Reserve laboratory space |
|
Check your progress |
Information on center hours, special events, sample
questions |
|
21-22 Aug. |
Choose laboratory time --
before first lab meeting |
|
24 Aug. |
Center opens for EVÕs and
ASTR 111 Laboratories start meeting |
|
31 Aug.-1 Sept. |
Center closed for Labor Day
Holiday |
|
5-17 Sept.. |
Planetarium lectures –
Unit 51 credit – choose one – only offers for the term. Schedule posted. |
|
5
Sept. |
1st
Milestone. Unit 1 must be mastered by this date -- you are advised to drop
the course if you cannot master the first unit by this date. |
|
26
Sept. |
2nd
Milestone. Mastery of at least three of the required units(not counting unit
1) or a mastery of an equivalent combination of partial units(labs or
masteries will each count as 1/2 unit for this purpose) by this date. |
|
2
Oct. |
DROP
DATE -- Students in 111 who have not mastered at least: Unit 1 and a total of
3 Units from 2-7 are strongly
urged to withdraw (Labs or masteries will each count as 1/2 unit for this
purpose). Students in 211 or 311
should have completed 3 units.
Students in 1 or 2 hours should have completed at least one unit per
hour. |
|
8 Oct. |
Schedule of makeup labs for
Units 2-7 and advanced (211/311) lab schedule available on the WEB. Signup
within one week after prelab. |
|
9 Oct.. |
Midpoint of semester —
use grading information to calculate your midterm grade. One-half the work needed for a
passing grade is considered satisfactory for midterm. Evidence of attendance for Unit 51
must be submitted by this date. |
|
9-12 Oct. |
Center Closed for Fall Break |
|
17 Oct. |
111 Labs finish basic
cycle. Bonus Unit 54 if all 111
Labs completed by closing |
|
19 Oct. |
211 Labs and 111 makeup labs
begin |
|
4 Nov. |
Center Closed for Election
Day(Go Vote!) |
|
26-30 Nov. |
Center Closed for
Thanksgiving Holiday |
|
26 Nov. |
Deadline for Incomplete
Request |
|
3 Dec. |
211 Labs complete cycle |
|
3 Dec. |
Last offers of makeupÕs for
all labs Not all labs available this or the preceding week. |
|
5 Dec. |
Last day to attempt test. Center closes for term at usual hour -- requests
for Incompletes must be in. You should check your progress before the center
closes and report any errors in recording your work. |
|
6 Dec. |
Final grades should be
posted by noon on the wall outside the center entrance – Not on the WEB |
NO GRADES WILL BE RAISED AFTER
THEY ARE SUBMITTED TO THE REGISTRAR
RESTRICTION ON TRIES
You
may take as many different units per day as desired; however, you may attempt
any given Unit or PreLab only two (2) times per day with at least a 30 min.
study period between tries. After 4 attempts on any of Units 1-7 you should
bring your lists of missed objectives to your instructor or a senior student
staff member and about the unit.
(Staff in the EV can help only if the center is not busy.) After discussing your problems you may make additional attempts.
CELL PHONES MUST BE TURNED OFF IN ASTRO
CENTER.