PHYS 253 Astronomy Syllabus Summer C 2009
Picture of the daywww.euSouth African Eclipse Video
U of Tennessee Lecture Notes UCSD Lecture Notes
Text: Explorations 5ed by Thomas T. Arny. The book has an accompanying CD ROM and a web site The website have valuable student resources such as simulations, practice quizzes, a variety of essays, and the website has an online learning center (OLC), web tutorials, animation's, etc. .
Professor: Dr. M. Sebhatu; Office: Sims 203: Office Hrs: Available half an hour before and after each class and at other times by appointment..
E-Mail< sebhatum@winthrop.edu > Voice (803) 323-4935
Brief Course Description: PHYS 253 is a descriptive astronomy course primarily intended for non science majors. It deals with the development of astronomy from prehistoric to present times. The solar system, stellar evolution, and cosmology are the major topics covered. Audio visual materials such as slides, movies, videotapes, DVDs, CD ROMS etc. will be used to illustrate key concepts, events, and some phenomena. A successful completion of the course should equip the student with the basic terminology and understanding needed to follow developments and issues related to astronomy and other sciences via popular media such as TV and popular magazines. The main objective, however, is to help students develop a sense of how science develops and works with astronomy as an example.
Tentative Coverage Outline and Test Schedule:
Detailed Study Guides for each of the sections I to IV will be provided prior to each test. The study guides will be posted on the PHYS 253 website and will have valuable links
General Advice Advice:
1. Be able to define key terms at the end of each chapter.
2. Be able to state the major contribution of astronomers, scientists, etc in every chapter.
3. Be able to answer all the end of the chapter multiple choice self-test questions.
4. Be able to repeat sample problems done in class and similar end of chapter numerical problems and thought questions.
5. Visit the textbook website and play the animations relevant to teach chapter..
6. Visit the textbook website and take the Practice Quizzes for the chapters covered in each section.
I. An Overview of the Universe (Ch. 0); Historical Background - .Prehistoric Ancient Greek, and the Renaissance (Ch.1);
Laws of motion and Gravity (Ch. 2); and the Moon( Ch. 6)
II. The Earth (Ch.5); An Overview of the Solar System (Ch.7); The Terrestrial Planets (Ch. 8);
The Jovian Planets and Pluto(Ch. 9); Meteors, Asteroids, and Comets (Ch. 10).
III. Light and Atoms (Ch. 3); The Sun (Ch.11); Stellar properties, structure, classification (Ch. 12) and Stellar Evolution. (Ch. 13, & 14)
IV. The Milky Way Galaxy (Ch. 15); Galaxies (Ch. 16); and Cosmology (Ch. 17).
A link to Steven Hawking's Univrese:
A variety of astrophysics topics from antiquity to the present are discussed in this website.
CA comprehensive Final Exam on Parts I, II, II. & IV : Wednesday July 8
Computation of Final Grades: The average of the best three test grades will contribute 60% , homework and video activities will count 10% and final exam grade will contribute 30%. Assignment of the letter grades depends on the numerical grade distribution. Usually, above 90% is an "A" ,85-89 "B+", 80-84 " B", 75-79 "C+", 70-74 "C", 65-69 a "D+," 60-64 "D" and below 60 an "F."
Make-up Tests: The instructor is not obliged to give a makeup test. A student who misses a test obtains a zero for it. However, consideration will be given for extenuating circumstances at the instructor's discretion.
As soon as a student contemplates missing more than one test due to an extenuating circumstance , it is preferred that the student make this clear to the instructor so arrangements for taking the test, preferably early, can be made.
Class Attendance Policy: The attendance
policy followed in this course is the same as that which appears in the current Winthrop
University Catalog. Briefly, "If a student's absences in a course total 25% or more
of the class meetings for the course, the student will receive a grade of N, F, or U,
whichever is appropriate." Please read the current Winthrop catalog for details. The
means for establishing your attendance of a class period will be your signature. Whenever
all the class members are not present, a copy of the class roll will be passed around for
students to sign on. Those who come excessively late or depart early will also be marked
absent. Summer classes are fast paced. One week is in a C or D session
equivalent to a month in the regular semester. If you miss more than 5 class
periods you will be dropped from the course.
