Phys 104: Planets & Astrobiology
Lecturer: Richard Beaver Office: None Phone: (Cell) 869-2557 (no BSU phone)
Email: richardbeaver@boisestate.edu Office hours: Half hour before class or by arrangement.
Welcome to Physics 104-Planets & Astrobiology. We will explore, in detail, the solar system. However, since Phys 104 & 105 are stand-alone classes, we will explore the basics of astronomy in both courses. Therefore, there will be some overlap.
The textbook – Universe The Solar System 4th ed. or Universe 9th ed. is optional but recommended. Lab materials, lecture notes (in pdf format), and other miscellaneous documents can be downloaded or printed off Blackboard. All materials will be in Bb/My Courses/Course Docs. There you will find four files for the lecture and the lab.
Grading
Your grade in Physics 104 will be based on BSU standard percentages.
Your grade will be based on the following components:
- There will be four 100-point multiple-choice exams with 50 questions each. The fourth exam will be proctored as the final exam during the assigned time slot. It will not be comprehensive.
- There will be 13 labs offered of which 12 are required. The labs will count 10 points each. Each lab will be a pass/fail only. Complete the work, in your group, and you will be given 10 points. The observational labs will be with telescope(s). Weather conditions may change an observational lab date. Therefore, the observational labs may vary from the schedule listed below. Please note: All 12 labs will add 120 points to your score and will count more than any one exam. That’s 120 free points that you have total control.
- There will be no make-up labs or extra credit projects. However, the Bruneau lab, (13th lab) will count as a TRIPLE extra credit lab. I will talk about how you go about doing this lab as we go in class.
| The grade point scale will be based on 520 points: |
Four exams
12 labs
Total: |
400
120 (Plus Bruneau, 30 pt. extra cr. lab)
520 550 possible pts will show on Bb |
The school curve, based on 520 possible points: A-; ≥ 468 (90% of 520) B-; ≥ 416 C-; ≥ 364 D-; ≥ 312. Note the 520 possible points can change with the number of observation labs cancelled mostly because of weather. A detailed breakdown can be downloaded off Bb/Course Doc/Syllabus/Misc. Additionally, you may track your scores on Bb/Evaluation/Grade Center.
I want to make this an enjoyable experience for you. Astronomy, by its nature, is a public interest subject. It makes an interesting hobby that either you, or your children, may enjoy later in life. Therefore, math will be covered in the labs. Since this is a class for science and non-science majors alike, there will be no math, "computation" questions on the exams. Additionally, the math is covered in detail in the colored boxes in your optional textbook. The text will read well with or without the math. There is some math in the text and some in the lectures.
This is still a demanding four-credit physics class. Keep up on your studies! Last minute cramming, before an exam, never works. I hope the enjoyment of this astronomy class can be maximized by the elimination of math on exams. EVERYONE SHOULD DO WELL: ENJOY!!!!
Course Schedule for the Spr 2011 Semester (6:00 to 8:30)
| |
Date |
Chapters |
Lecture | Labs |
| Jan | 18 | 1 | Introduction, Bruneau & Astronomy Basics | |
| | 20 | 2&4 | Constellations & Historical Models of Motion | |
| | | | | |
| | 25 | 4 & 5 | Models con’d & The Nature of Light | |
| | 27 | | | 1. Celestial Sphere & Constellations |
| | | | | |
| Feb | 1 | 6 | Exam 1 & Telescopes | |
| | 3 | | | 2. Astronomical Spectra |
| | | | | |
| | 8 | 7 & 8 | Ex 1 Review, Solar System & Solar System
Formation | |
| | 10 | | | 3. Telescopes |
| | | | | |
| | 15 | 16 | The Physical Sun & The Sun as a Star | |
| | 17 | | | 4. Diurnal Motions & the Analemma |
| | | | | |
| | 22 | 9 | The Earth: As a planet & Magnitude Scale | |
| | 24 | | | No lab this week |
| | | | | |
| Mar | 1 | 3 | Exam 2 & Lunar Motions | |
| | 3 | | | 5. Lunar Phases & Eclipses |
| | | | | |
| | 8 | 3 | Ex 2 Review, & The Physical Moon | |
| | 10 | | | 6. Lunar Features & Orbit |
| | | | | |
| | 15 | 11 | Lunar video & Mercury & Venus | |
| | 17 | | | 7. Obs. Lab: Solar viewing |
| | | | | |
| | 22 | 11 | Mars & Mars Exploration Video | |
| | 24 | | | No lab this week |
| | | | | |
| | 29 | | Spring Break | |
| | 31 | | | Spring Break |
| | | | | |
| Apr | 5 | 12 & 13 | Exam 3, Jupiter & The Moons of Jupiter | |
| | 7 | | | 8. Review Ex 3 & Jupiter Video | |
| | | | | |
| | 12 | 12 & 13 | Saturn, The Moons of Saturn & Video | |
| | 14 | | | 9. Obs. Lab: Moon & planets |
| | | | | |
| | 19 | 13 & 14 | Uranus & Neptune | |
| | 21 | | | 10. Drake Equation |
| | | | | |
| | 26 | 14 & 15 | TNOs, Asteroids & Comets | |
| | 28 | | | 11. Comets & Their Orbits |
| | | | | |
| May | 3 | 15 & 28 | Meteorites & ET | |
| | 5 | | | 12. Habitability | |
| | | | | |
| | 10 | Final | Exam 4 | |
| | | | | Bruneau Lab: Choose any Fri. or Sat. night.
30-point pure extra credit lab! Print
Bruneau
lab sheet. There is no street
address, do not rely on GPS!
Print the map! |
|