Astronomy and Cosmology
Fall 2019

LECTURE SCHEDULE AND READING ASSIGMENTS

Readings are from the textbook (The Cosmic Perspective Fundamentals, 2nd ed).

iclicker quizes are given in class on Fridays (except where noted below) and will test the material presented in previous lectures

Date Topic Assignment Quiz covers
Sept 4 1. Introduction ... ...
Sept 6 2. Our Place/Time in the Universe Read: Chap 1, Appendix C
H/W: Chap 1: Q.1-12
...
Sept 11 3. Seasons and Constellations Read: Section 2.1
H/W: Chap 2: Q.1-5
...
Sept 13 4. Moon phases, eclipses Read: Sections 2.2 & 2.3
H/W: Chap 2: Q.6-12, 18
Sept 4/6
Sept 18 5. Aristarchus, Eratosthenes, Ptolemaic System Read: Section 3.1
H/W: Chap 3: Q.1-3
...
Sept 20 6. Copernicus, Tycho, and Kepler Read: Section 3.2
H/W: Chap 3: Q.4-8, 13
Sept 11/13
Sept 25 7. Galileo and Newton Read: Section 3.3
H/W: Chap 3: Q.9-12, 20
...
Sept 27 8. Light (part 1) Read: Tools of Science, pp. 80, 184, 132
H/W: Memorize EM spectrum
Sep 18/20
Oct 2 9. Light (part 2) and Telescopes Read: Tools of Science, pp. 116 & 43
H/W: SA/EQ 13, p127
...
Oct 4 10. Characteristics of the Solar System Read: Section 4.1
H/W: Q.1-4,15
Sep 25/27
Oct 9 11. Conservation Laws Read: Tools of Science, p. 62
H/W: Q.14
...
Oct 11 12. Birth of the Solar System Read: Section 4.2
H/W: Q.5-10,16,18
Oct 2/4
Oct 16 13. Age of the Solar System Read: Section 4.3
H/W: Q.11-12
...
Oct 18 14. Midterm Review ... Oct 9/11
Oct 23 Midterm Covers Chap 1 to 4 plus
all material in lectures 1-14
...
Oct 25 15. The Earth Read: Section 5.1
H/W: Q.1,8,9,10
...
Oct 30 16. Geology of Mercury, the Moon, Mars, and Venus Read: Section 5.2
H/W: Q.2-5,13
...
Nov 1 17. Atmospheres of the Terrestrial Worlds Read: Section 5.2
H/W: Q.6-7,11
Oct 16/25
Nov 6 18. Greenhouse Effect/Climate Change Read: Section 5.3
H/W: Q.12
...
Nov 8 19. Jovian Planets Read: Section 6.1
H/W: Q.1-2,13
Oct 30/Nov 1
Nov 13 20. Jovian Moons/Rings Read: Section 6.1
H/W: Q.3-7
...
Nov 15 Class Cancelled ... ...
Nov 20 21. Asteroids, Meteors, and Comets Read: Section 6.2
H/W: Q.8-10
...
Nov 22 Class Cancelled ... ...
Nov 27 1:10-2:30pm
(Friday schedule)
22. Impacts Read: Section 6.3
H/W: Q.11,12
Nov 6/8
Dec 4 23. Detecting Exoplanets Read: Section 7.1
H/W: Q.1-4,13
Nov 13/20
Dec 6 24. Characteristics of Exoplanets Read: Section 7.2
H/W: Q.5-10
Nov27/Dec 4
Dec 11 25. Formation of Exoplanets Read: Section 7.3
H/W: Q.11-12
Dec 6/11
Dec 19 FINAL EXAM Covers all chapters & material presented in lectures 8:00AM - 11:00AM
Location: SC-123
Dec 20 MAKE-UP FINAL EXAM Covers all chapters & material presented in lectures 12:00N - 3:00PM
Location: SERC 212 (Busch Campus)

The address of this page is http://www.physics.rutgers.edu/~jackph/2019f/reading.html

Please send any comments to Jack Hughes, jph //at\\ physics.rutgers.edu.

Revised Nov 5, 2019