Astronomy 50 Class Schedule, Readings, and Homework Assignments
| Week | Topics | Laboratory |
Reading |
Homework/Activities |
| 31 Mar | Introduction
Laws of Motion Gravity |
No Lab | Chapter 1
Online Interactive Powers of Ten Java Tutorial Online Astronomy Notes about Gravity: Start at Introduction page and continue through next 6 pages (through Gravitational Acceleration), clicking on 'Next section' at the bottom of each page. Optional Physics Tutorial: Lessons 1 and the first parts of Lessons 3 and 4 are helpful Mathematics Review from astronomynotes.com |
Homework #1
due Monday, April 7 Solutions linked on Schaffer Library Course Reserves. (Read statement, click to continue, then search on my name or course number. Click on appropriate link, then on "Electronic Copy".) |
| 7 Apr | Gravity and Orbits
Atoms and Light Quiz 1: Friday, April 11 Practice Questions at Schaffer Library Course Reserves. |
Monday Lab does not meet
Wednesday and Thursday labs meet Please read Lab 1 before coming to lab. Readings helpful in reviewing lab |
Online Astronomy Notes about Orbital Motion Chapter 2.1 - 2.3 Determining Planet Properties Chapter 3.1, 3.2 Chapter 3.5 through p. 63 Also read the following 4 web pages about light: Properties of Light The Production of Light: Continuous Spectrum Absorption and Emission Spectra The Bohr Atom How Atoms Produce Spectra The Absorption/Emission Line Spectra for the Periodic Table |
Homework #2
due Wednesday, April 9 Homework #3 due Monday, April 14 |
| 14 Apr |
Measurement of Basic Properties
Overview of the Solar System The Solar Nebula |
All Lab Sections Meet
(Outdoor Lab W,Th if weather permits) Lab 2 Instructions |
Doppler Effect
Animation of Doppler Effect on Spectra Temperature Energy Chapter 3.3 Primitive Rock (pp. 58-59) Chapter 3.4 Skim the rest of Chapter 3 An Overview of the Solar System Section 4.1 Links to Images of Star Formation Process shown in Lecture (Links 1, 2, 4, 8, 9, 10) Chapter 17.1, 17.2, 17.4 (emphasizing material discussed in lecture) Chapter 17, pg. 467: "Evidence from Other Stars" |
Homework #4
due Friday, April 18 Homework #5 due Monday, April 21 (checked, but not collected) |
| 21 Apr | Radioactive Decay: Dating the Solar System
Small Bodies of the Solar System Impact Cratering Special Presentation by Impact Crater specialist Audi Matias (Skidmore) Friday, April 25 Quiz 2: Wednesday, April 23 |
Monday Lab Section Meets
(Outdoor Lab Weather-Permitting)
Wed Meets Thurs does not meet |
Chapter 4.2, 4.3, 4.6; Skim 4.4-4.5
Meteor Page at NinePlanets.org Chapter 5.1, 5.2 through p. 102 (inc. Largest Asteroids), 5.3; Skim 5.4 Read Perspective, pg. 110-111 Asteroid Summary Distribution of Asteroids Chapter 6.1 starting on p. 123 (Orbits), 6.4, 6.5 Skim 6.2-6.3, following class discussion Meteor Showers: Current Activity and Yearly Summary Chapter 7.3 |
Homework #6
due Friday, April 25 Homework #7 Complete by Tuesday, April 29 (not collected) |
| 28 Apr | Small Bodies of the Solar System (continued)
Midterm: Wednesday, April 30 Friday, May 2: No Class: Attend Steinmetz Day Talks |
Monday Lab Section Meets
Wed does not meet Thursday meets |
Complete/review reading from 21 Apr.
Comet Summary See also Comet Orbit Summary Impact Craters on Earth NASA's Asteroid and Comet Impact Hazard Page Solar System Impact Crater Simulator Stardust Mission |
|
| 5 May | The Moon
Origin of Moon The Earth |
Labs do not meet | Chapter 7.1, 7.4, 7.5; Skim 7.6
Chapter 8: Skim sections 1-3 (material on tides will be covered later in term) Chapter 8: Read 8.4, 8.5 Moon Summary (from astronomynotes.com) Messenger misson to Mercury Chapter 9 (emphasis on topics discussed in class) Chapter 2.5: Energy Transport section Planet Interior Summary (from astronomynotes.com) Earth's Past and Future Continents Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) |
Homework #8
Due Friday, May 9 Homework #9 Due Monday, May 12 |
| 12 May | Terrestrial Planets Surfaces, Atmospheres, Weather May 13: Trip to Rose Center, New York Quiz 3: Friday, May 16 |
No labs meet this week |
Review Chapter 9 for discussion of Earth Chapter 10: 10.1-10.3, 10.5, 10.6, skim 10.4,10.7 Chapter 11: 11.2, 11.4, skim rest Mars Rover Mission Planetary Photojournal |
Homework #10
Due Wednesday, May 21 |
| 19 May | Terrestrial Planets:
Magnetic Fields and Interiors The Outer Planets |
All Lab Sections Meet | Magnetic Fields
Summary
Modeling the Earth's Magnetic Field Earth's Magnetosphere Today's Space Weather Chapter 13: 13.2, 13.3 through p. 340, 13.4, 13.6 skim rest Nice Summary of Jupiter Chapter 14: 14.2, 14.5, 14.6, skim rest as discussed in class Summary of Magnetic Field Orientations Saturn Aurora Phoenix Landing on Mars: May 25 |
Homework #11
Due Wednesday, May 28 (not collected) |
| 26 May | Outer Planets:
Satellites and Rings Quiz 4: Friday, May 30 |
Labs Completed | Chapter 8.2
Summary: Tides and the Moon Chapter 15: 15.1, 15.5, skim rest and look at pictures Chapter 16: 16.1, 16.3-16.6 Summary: Jupiter's Moons Summary: Titan and Triton Galileo Images Cassini and Saturn's Moons Uranus's Moons Neptune's Moons Chapter 17: reread to review Solar System history Pluto and Eris |
Homework #12
Due Wednesday, June 4 |
| 2 Jun | The Search for Other Planetary Systems
Life in the Universe |
Labs Completed | Chapter 18
Chapter 12 (as discussed in class) Animation of Planetary Detection Techniques (Click on "Four Ways to Find a Planet" on Multimedia Bar.) Transit Example Detecting Planets Using Interferometry (Nulling) Kepler Mission Terrestrial Planet Finder Comparison of Known Planetary Systems California and Carnegie Planet Search Extrasolar Planets Encyclopedia Extrasolar System 55 Cancri (5 planets) Scientific American Article on Extrasolar Planetary Systems and Possibility of Migrating Orbits Models of Planet Migration Migration in Solar System I Migration in Solar System II Animation of Searching for Earth-Like Planets Spitzer Spectra of Protoplanetary Disks Habitable Zone Timeline of Life Stromatolites: the Oldest Fossils Alien Safari: Extreme Life on Earth The Drake Equation Join the Search for an Extraterrestrial Signal Using Your PC! Unexpected Life Forms? |
|
| 9 Jun | Final:
Monday, June 9 8:30-10:30 AM |
Possible Essay Questions for Final |
Last Updated: June 4, 2008
