Diagram

Description automatically generatedPhysics 109: Astronomy & Cosmology

“Planets near and far”

01:750:109:01

Rutgers University, Fall 2023

 

 

Prof. Chuck Keeton

Class meetings: Tuesday/Friday 10:20-11:40am, AB 4225

Office hours: TBD

Learning management system: Canvas

Communication - please use Canvas as much as possible:

·       For general questions about the course, please try Canvas Chat.

·       For questions about specific topics in the course, please use Canvas Discussions.

·       For confidential matters, please use email through Canvas Inbox.

 

Course Description

 

This course describes how we understand planets in our Solar System and around other stars. There are no college-level prerequisites, but typical high school algebra and science preparation are assumed. The companion course, Physics 110, focuses on stars, galaxies, and the universe. The two courses are independent; you can take one or both, in either order.

 

This course is intended for non-science majors. Students who have completed two semesters each of physics and calculus should consider taking Physics 341/342 instead. Those courses cover similar material as Physics 109/110 but at a more advanced level.

 

SAS Core Curriculum Learning Goals for the Natural Sciences

 

This course meets SAS core curriculum natural science requirements:

 

·       Understand and apply basic principles and concepts in the physical or biological sciences.

·       Explain and be able to assess the relationship among assumptions, method, evidence, arguments, and theory in scientific analysis.

 

Active Learning

 

Evidence shows that students learn best when they “try not just to comprehend and remember but also to apply, analyze, synthesize, evaluate, and theorize” (Ken Bain). Furthermore, in my experience doing science and learning about science share a lot of the same activities:

 

·       read what other people have written

·       ask questions, search for answers

·       test your own understanding

·       try explaining what you understand to someone else

·       use a diagram or related tool to illustrate your thinking

·       reason about something you have never seen before

 

I have therefore designed class time to let you engage in these activities. In order for them to be effective, it is important that you read the book before class. If you come to class prepared, we will all find class time to be productive and, I hope, even fun.

 

Topics

 

·       Understanding the Sky

·       Seasons

·       Phases of the Moon, Eclipses

·       Historical Astronomy

·       Kepler’s Laws of Planetary Motion

·       Newton’s Laws of Motion and Gravity

·       Light and Telescopes

·       The Solar System

·       Planetary Surfaces and Interiors

·       Planetary Atmospheres

·       Jovian Planets and Moons

·       Pluto and Beyond

·       Comets and Asteroids

·       Exoplanets

 

Course Materials

 

·       Astronomy 2e from OpenStax (free; digital ISBN-13: 978-1-951693-50-3)

·       Canvas

·       Access to a laptop (preferred) or other electronic device

·       Stellarium astronomy software (free download)

 

Course Structure

 

This class will meet in person Tuesday/Friday 10:20-11:40am in AB 4225. Attendance and active participation are expected. As discussed above, class time will include activities to enhance your learning by engaging with the material.

 

Office hours will be offered in person at a time to be determined.

 

Assessment

 

Your course score will be based on the following elements:

 

·       weekly online homework (20%)

·       astro news item (10%)

·       individual observing project (10%)

·       group poster project (20%)

·       in-class quizzes (20%)

·       final exam (20%)

 

Weekly homework will be assigned in Canvas and will be due on Mondays at 11:59pm. It will consist of multiple-choice questions that assess your understanding of material from the previous week’s classes as well as new material from assigned reading. You may discuss material with the instructor or other students in the class (e.g., in study groups), but you are expected to complete the homework assignments on your own. I will drop your one lowest homework score when computing the semester average.

 

There will be four in-class quizzes on dates to be announced in class. There will be a final exam on a date to be scheduled by the university. The quizzes and final exam will have multiple-choice and short-answer questions similar in style to questions from homework and in-class activities. They will be closed book/notes/laptop/phone; you must not consult anyone else while taking a quiz or exam. Makeup quizzes will not be permitted; I will drop your one lowest quiz score when computing the semester average. A makeup final exam will be scheduled only in the case of an official exam conflict, a medical/family emergency, or another serious and unforeseen event.

 

Concepts from this course should help you understand and appreciate ongoing developments in astronomy. To help you make connections, I will ask you to submit a brief report about an astro news item. The report should identify the discovery or development, discuss why it is important, explain how it illustrates principles from class, and present conceptual and/or quantitative questions like those in class. Details will be given in class.

 

Concepts from this course should also help you understand and appreciate things you see in the night sky. To help you make those connections, I will ask you to conduct a small project to observe the sky and record what you see. You will observe with your own eyes; no telescope or other equipment is needed. Details will be given in class.

 

NASA has created posters that are meant to depict objects in our Solar System or planets orbiting other stars as possible travel destinations. We will examine them in class, and then you will work in groups to create one for an exoplanet of your choice. The goal is to use concepts from this class to understand how astronomers discover exoplanets and determine their properties, and to convey that understanding in a visually interesting way. Details will be given in class.

 

Course scores will translate to letter grades as follows:

 

·       90-100 = A

·       85-89.9 = B+

·       80-84.9 = B

·       75-79.9 = C+

·       70-74.9 = C

·       60-69.9 = D

·       below 60 = F

 

Policies

 

Changes: The course schedule and guidelines are subject to change. Any changes will be communicated promptly and clearly.

 

Absences: Students are expected to attend all classes; if you expect to miss one or two classes, please use the University absence reporting website to indicate the date and reason for your absence. An email is automatically sent to your instructors.

·       If you have been told to quarantine, or are experiencing symptoms of any transmissible disease, please do not attend in-person class meetings. Contact the professor to make arrangements for handling such absences.

 

Fostering an equitable and inclusive classroom:  All instructors, students, and staff associated with the Physics and Astronomy Department are expected to follow the Department’s Policy against Discrimination and Harassment https://physics.rutgers.edu/about-us/about-us-policy-affirmation. As stated in this policy, “The Rutgers Department of Physics & Astronomy strives to foster an academic, work, and living environment that is respectful and free from discrimination and harassment. The Department recognizes the human dignity of each member of the community and believes that each member has a responsibility to promote respect and dignity for others so that all community members are free to pursue their educational and work goals in an open environment, to participate in the free exchange of ideas, and to share equally in opportunities.” 

 

Resources for Student Success

 

The faculty and staff at Rutgers are committed to your success. Students who are successful tend to seek out resources that enable them to excel academically, maintain their health and wellness, prepare for future careers, navigate college life and finances, and connect with the RU community. Helpful resources include the Rutgers Learning Centers and school-based advising (for SAS, SOE, SEBS, and RBS). Additional resources that can help you succeed and connect with the Rutgers community can be found at https://success.rutgers.edu.

 

Please visit the Rutgers Student Tech Guide for resources available to all students. If you do not have the appropriate technology for financial reasons, please email the Office of the Dean of Students – Student Support (deanofstudents@echo.rutgers.edu) for assistance. If you are facing other financial hardships, please visit the Office of Financial Aid.

 

Disability Accommodations: Rutgers University welcomes students with disabilities into all of the University's educational programs. In order to receive consideration for reasonable accommodations, a student with a disability must contact the appropriate disability services office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation: https://ods.rutgers.edu/students/documentation-guidelines. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus’s disability services office will provide you with a Letter of Accommodations. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. To begin this process, please complete the Registration form on the ODS web site at: https://ods.rutgers.edu/students/getting-registered

 

Academic Integrity

 

Rutgers University takes academic dishonesty very seriously. By enrolling in this course, you assume responsibility for familiarizing yourself with the Academic Integrity Policy and the possible penalties (including suspension and expulsion) for violating the policy. As per the policy, all suspected violations will be reported to the Office of Student Conduct. Academic dishonesty includes (but is not limited to):

 

·       Cheating

·       Plagiarism

·       Aiding others in committing a violation or allowing others to use your work

·       Failure to cite sources correctly

·       Fabrication

·       Using another person’s ideas or words without attribution

·       Re-using a previous assignment

·       Unauthorized collaboration

·       Sabotaging another student’s work

 

If in doubt, please contact the professor. Also review the Academic Integrity Policy and Academic Integrity Resources for Students.

 

Use of external website resources (such as Chegg.com or others) to obtain solutions to homework assignments or exams is cheating and a violation of the University Academic Integrity policy. Cheating in the course may result in grade penalties, disciplinary sanctions or educational sanctions. Posting homework assignments or exams to external sites without the instructor's permission may be a violation of copyright and may constitute the facilitation of dishonesty, which may result in the same penalties as cheating.

 

The Rutgers honor pledge will be included on all major assignments for you to sign: “On my honor, I have neither received nor given any unauthorized assistance on this examination/assignment.”

 

Almost all original work is the intellectual property of its authors. This includes not just books and articles, but the syllabi, lectures, slides, recordings, course materials, presentations, homework problems, exams, and other materials used in this course, in either printed or electronic form. You may not copy this work, post it online, or disseminate it in any way without the explicit permission of the instructor. Respect for an author’s efforts and intellectual property rights is an important value that members of the university community are expected to take seriously.

 

Student Wellness Services

 

The university provides a number of resources to support your physical and mental well-being. Several valuable resources and listed here and you are encouraged to contact the Professor for more guidance about university resources.

 

Report a Bias Incident If you experience or witness an act of bias or hate, report it to someone in authority. You may file a report online and you will be contacted within 24 hours. The bias reporting page is here.

Bias is defined by the University as an act, verbal, written, physical, psychological, that threatens, or harms a person or group on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, disability, marital status, civil union status, domestic partnership status, atypical heredity or cellular blood trait, military service or veteran status.

Click here to report a bias incident

 

Counseling, ADAP & Psychiatric Services (CAPS)

(848) 932-7884, 17 Senior Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 http://health.rutgers.edu/medical-counseling-services/counseling/

CAPS is a University mental health support service that includes counseling, alcohol and other drug assistance, and psychiatric services staffed by a team of professionals within Rutgers Health services to support students’ efforts to succeed at Rutgers University. CAPS offers a variety of services that include: individual therapy, group therapy and workshops, crisis intervention, referral to specialists in the community, and consultation and collaboration with campus partners.

Crisis Intervention: http://health.rutgers.edu/medical-counseling-services/counseling/crisis-intervention/

Report a Concern: http://health.rutgers.edu/do-something-to-help/

 

Violence Prevention & Victim Assistance (VPVA)

(848) 932-1181, 3 Bartlett Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, http://vpva.rutgers.edu/

The Office for Violence Prevention and Victim Assistance provides confidential crisis intervention, counseling, and advocacy for victims of sexual and relationship violence and stalking to students, staff, and faculty. To reach staff during office hours when the university is open or to reach an advocate after hours, call 848-932-1181.

 

Disability Services

(848) 445-6800, Lucy Stone Hall, Suite A145, Livingston, 54 Joyce Kilmer Avenue, Piscataway, NJ 08854, https://ods.rutgers.edu/

Rutgers University welcomes students with disabilities into all of the University's educational programs. In order to receive consideration for reasonable accommodations, a student with a disability must contact the appropriate disability services office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation: https://ods.rutgers.edu/students/documentation-guidelines. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus’s disability services office will provide you with a Letter of Accommodations. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. To begin this process, please complete the Registration form on the ODS web site at: https://ods.rutgers.edu/students/getting-registered.