Cypress College

ASTR116 Astronomy

Spring 2005
3/29 - 5/26

Section:  23329.    Lecture:  T R 6-8:50 PM, SEM-308.

Professor:  Mr. Phi Vu      

Office:  SEM-308 

Office hours: By appointment or before class.

Phone:  818-364-7600 Ext.7168

Email:  philaccd@yahoo.com . Always put Cypress College and course number/title in the Subject field. (Email is the best way to contact me.)

Web: http://sem.cypresscollege.edu/~astronomy

Required Text
Astronomy, A Beginner’s Guide to the Universe, by Chaisson and McMillan, 4^th edition.

Catalog Description

ASTR 116 C INTRODUCTION TO ASTRONOMY 

3 Units. Three hours lecture per week.  Credit/No Credit/Letter Grade Option

UC Credit Limitation/CSU, AA GE, CSU GE, IGETC

This course is an introduction to the ideas and concepts, and theories of astronomy.  Topics include the night sky, history of astronomy, the solar system, extra solar planets, stars and the interstellar medium, galaxies and cosmology, and extraterrestrial life in the universe. Visits to local observatories and planetaria may be arranged. High School Algebra or equivalent is recommended. Duplicate credit not granted for ASTR 116HC.

Teaching Philosophy
Math and memorization of facts are not our goals.  I emphasize the understanding of processes and the development of critical thinking skills.  You should plan to spend at least three hours of study for each hour of class each week.

Supplies:  scientific calculator (optional), Web access, Scantron forms No. 882-ES (100 questions in green).

Ground Rules

 Attend all lectures.  It will influence your grade in borderline cases.  If you miss more than 3 classes, you may be dropped.  If the drop date has passed you will receive an F grade.  It is your responsibility to officially drop the course if you want to withdraw.  Check the course schedule for the deadline.

 Be on time.  Tardiness and leaving early are rude and disruptive.  If you are late, you must use the back door of the classroom and be as quiet as possible.  If need to leave early, let me know beforehand. Otherwise, I will consider leaving early as absented for the day.

 Respect your teacher and classmates.  Go outside to talk.

 Eat and drink before, after class, or during break.

 Turn off phones and pagers before you enter the classroom.

 Be honest.  Cheating in any form will not be tolerated.  If caught, you will fail the course.  Refer to the course schedule and catalog for further information on policy about academic honesty.

Grading    

Homework Three Exams Class Activities Extra Credit

20% 63% 17% 3%

Note: If the class normal distribution is below the grading scale, I will use curve in assigning the final grade.

A =85-100% B =75-84% C = 60-74% D = 50-59% F = 0-49%

Homework
You will be assigned homework regularly throughout the course. The homework can be found here:

http://sem.cypresscollege.edu/%7Eastronomy/courses/astr116/homework/version_a/116hw-va.html

Notice that we will use “Version A”. To submit/do your homework

· Go to http://cvc.blackboard.com/

·      Login: input username: fila####c, Password: student.

• Your username is the first TWO letters of your first name followed by the first TWO letters of your last name followed by the last FOUR digits of your ID number, followed by c (lower case only, no spaces). For example: Phi Vu @67891234 would have a username of: phvu1234c

· Select ASTR116 then click on the “Assignments” icon.

·      Select Personal Information and input your email address.

·      For Blackboard help select Help at top after you login.

Collaboration
You can do the homework either individually or work in a small group (2-3).  You must turn in your homework individually. You should also actively participate instead of simply copy the group answers. This will not help you when you have to think on your own during exams.

Before you do the homework
You are required to do the following for each chapter.  In your textbook:

1)  Read the entire chapter.  Pay close attention to the figures and read their captions.  Review your class notes and online study guide, see below.

2)  Read the Chapter Review (Summary) at least once.

Exams
There are three Exams, and they are closed book.  They’re given about every three weeks.  You may use a calculator although only a few mathematical concepts will be tested.  Tests will include roughly 60 multiple choice questions.  No make-ups are given except in cases of documented emergencies.  For Exams, bring Scantron Form No 882-ES, eraser, and a No. 2 pencil.

Class Activities

For each class meeting, we will be watching a movie relating to the subject of astronomy. You are supposed to take note while watching the movie. Points are given based on your notes. Some of the titles we will be watching throughout the semester are: “Mars: Dead or Alive”, “The Universe” , “Standard Deviants: Astronomy 1 & 2”, “The New Solar System”, “The Planets”, “95 Worlds and Counting”, “If We Had No Moon”, “Magnetic Storm”, “Death of a Star”, “Black Holes”, “The Expanding Universe”, “The Elegant Universe”, “The Astronomers”, etc.

Extra Credit

You can do a book report for up to a maximum of 3% point extra credit. The book you choose should be related to the subject of astronomy. The report should be about 4 pages. You will need to get my approval for the book. 

Resourses and Study guide  

Library Reserve Desk

·    Your textbook, CD software, and several other astronomy reference books are available at the reserve desk for you to use in the library.

·    Sky & Telescope Magazine,

Online resources and study guide: http://sem.cypresscollege.edu/~astronomy/courses/astr116

Course Schedule  

WEEK	DATE	TEXTBOOK CHAPTERS/PAGES		CHAPTER TOPICS & ASSIGNMENTS
1	03/28 – 04/03	Chapter Prologue Chapter 1 Chapter 2	pp. 2 - 15 pp. 16 - 41 pp. 42 - 69	Charting the Heavens The Copernican Revolution Light and Matter
2	04/04 – 04/10	Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5	pp. 70 – 95 pp. 98 - 129 pp. 130 – 157	Telescopes The Solar System Earth and Its Moon
3	04/11 - 04/17	Chapter 6 Chapter 7	pp. 158 - 187 pp. 188 - 209	The Terrestrial Planets The Jovian Planets 04/14 – HW Due – Chapters Prologue, 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5 04/14 - Exam 1: Chapters Prologue - 5
4	04/18 - 04/24	Chapter 8 Chapter 9	pp. 210 - 235 pp. 238 - 261	Moons, Rings, and Pluto The Sun
5	04/25 - 05/01	Chapter 10 Chapter 11	pp. 262 - 285 pp. 286 – 311	Measuring the Stars The Interstellar Medium
6	05/02 - 05/08	Chapter 12 Chapter 13	pp. 312 - 337 pp. 338 - 361	Stellar Evolution Neutron Stars and Black Holes 05/05 – HW Due – Chapters 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 05/05 - Exam 2: Chapters 6-11
7	05/09 - 05/15	Chapter 14 Chapter 15	pp. 364 - 389 pp. 390 - 419	The Milky Way Galaxy Normal and Active Galaxies
8	05/16 - 05/22	Chapter 16 Chapter 17	pp. 420 - 443 pp. 444 - 469	Hubble’s Law and Dark Matter Cosmology
9	05/23 – 05/29	Chapter 18	pp. 470- 487	Life in the Universe 05/26 – HW Due – Chapters 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, & 17 05/26 – Final Exam