Phys 320, Astronomy & Astrophysics I

Course Outline (Fall 2009)

TIER 112

M. 4:00 PM – 5:25 PM & F. 10:00 AM - 11:25 AM

Dr. Slawomir Piatek

Office: T423F

Office Hours: W.5:00 PM – 6:00 PM & F. 9:00 AM – 10 AM

Phone: 973-596-3551

e-mail: piatek@physics.rutgers.edu

Personal Website: http://www.physics.rutgers.edu/~piatek

Text: An Introduction to Modern Astronomy, by B. W. Carroll & D. A. Ostlie, 2^nd edition. Publisher: Addison-Wesley; ISBN 0-8053-0402-9

Special Notes:

Class website: http://www.physics.rutgers.edu/~piatek/class/Phys320/F09/Outline.htm

Readings: The reading assignments are listed below each lecture. Complete the readings before each corresponding lecture.

Homework: Each week on Monday, I will assign 2 - 4 homework problems; however, the homework will not be collected and graded.

Exams: There will be three exams: two in-class exams and a final. To each exam you may bring one standard sheet of notes on both sides.

Final Exam: Friday, December 11, 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM, GITC 1201

(5 problems drawn (and possibly modified) from the Final Exam Problem Set)

Read and review chapters 7, 8, 11

Final Exam Problem Set

Grades: I will base your final grade on the exams using the following weights: 30% exam 1, 30% exam 2, and 40% final exam. I will assign your course grade using the following grade schedule:

85% - 100% A

80% - 85% B+

70% - 80% B

65% - 70% C+

50% - 65% C

40% - 50% D

0% - 40% F

Grades (Sorted by your ID)

Class Calendar:

Lecture 1 (M. 8/31) Introduction and course overview

Lecture 2 (F. 9/4) Celestial Sphere

Read: Ch. 1, Sections 1 & 2

Lecture 3 (F. 9/11) Celestial Sphere

Read: Ch. 1, Sections 3 & 4

Lecture 4 (M. 9/14) Celestial Mechanics

Read: Ch. 2, Sections 1 & 2

Homework 1: Due 9/21/09 in class at 4 PM

Homework 1 Solution (PDF)

Lecture 5 (F. 9/18) Celestial Mechanics

Read: Ch. 2, Sections 3 & 4

Lecture 6 (M. 9/21) Celestial Mechanics

Read: Ch. 2, Sections 3 & 4

Homework 2: Due 9/28/09 in class at 4 PM

Homework 2 Solution (PDF)

Lecture 7 (F. 9/25) Light and Electromagnetic Spectrum

Read: Ch. 3, Sections 1 & 2

Lecture 8 (M. 9/28) Light and Electromagnetic Spectrum

Read: Ch. 3, Sections 3 & 4

Homework 3: Due 10/05/09 in class at 4 PM

Homework 3 Solution (PDF)

Lecture 9 (F. 10/2) Light and Electromagnetic Spectrum

Read: Ch. 3, Sections 5 & 6

Lecture 10 (M. 10/5) The Theory of Special Relativity

Read: Ch. 4, Sections 1, 2, & 3

Homework 4: Due 10/12/09 in class at 4 PM

Homework 4 Solution (PDF)

Lecture 11 (F. 10/9) The Theory of Special Relativity

Read: Ch. 4, Section 3 & 4

Lecture 12 (M. 10/12) Light and Matter

Read: Ch. 5, Sections 1, 2, & 3

Homework 5:

Lecture 13 (F. 10/16) Light and Matter

Read: Ch. 5, Sections 3 & 4

Lecture 14 (M. 10/19) Exam 1 (20 short numerical problems)

Read & review: Chs 1-4

Homework 6:

Exam 1 Solution

Lecture 15 (F. 10/23) Telescopes

Read: Ch. 6, Sections 1 - 3

Lecture 16 (M. 10/26) Telescopes

Read: Ch. 6, Sections 4 & 5

Lecture 17 (F. 10/30) Introduction to the Solar System

Read: Ch. 19, Section 1 - 3

Lecture 18 (M. 11/2) The Terrestrial Planets

Read: Ch. 20, Sections 1 - 3

Lecture 19 (F. 11/6) The Terrestrial Planets

Read: Ch. 20, Sections 4 & 5

Lecture 20 (M. 11/9) The Giant Planets

Read: Ch. 21, Sections 1 - 3

Lecture 21 (F. 11/13) Minor Bodies of the Solar System

Read: Ch. 22, Sections 1 - 4

Lecture 22 (M. 11/16) Catch up lecture

Lecture 23 (F. 11/20) Exam 2 (5 problems drawn (and possibly modified) from the Problem Set)

Read and review chapters 5, 6, 19 - 22

Problem Set

Lecture 24 (M. 11/23) Binary Stars

Read: Ch. 7, Sections 1 - 4

Lecture 25 (W.(F.) 11/25) Stellar Spectra

Read: Ch. 8, Section 1 & 2

Lecture 26 (M. 11/30) Stellar Spectra

Read: Ch. 8, Sections 1 & 2

Lecture 27 (F. 12/4) The Sun

Review Ch 11, Sections 1 & 2

Lecture 28 (M. 12/7) The Sun

Review Ch 11, Section 3

Final Exam: Friday, December 11, 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM, GITC 1201

(5 problems drawn (and possibly modified) from the Final Exam Problem Set)

Read and review chapters 7, 8, 11

Final Exam Problem Set