No
homework assignment will be due on Monday Nov 30, which is the day
after the Thanksgiving Break.
Course Web Page
In this page:
Overview,
Logistics,
Textbook,
Syllabus,
Reading,
Homework,
Examinations,
Grades,
Learning Centers,
Students with Disabilities,
Observing,
Astronomy on the Web.
The course describes the historical foundations of astronomy, and
modern knowledge of our solar system and planets around other stars,
and how they might have originated. Our solar system comprises the
Sun, planets and their associated moons, and other minor bodies
orbiting the Sun. The huge quantity of information now available is
expanding all the time, so the emphasis of the course is on how
astronomers know what they claim to know, and how confident they are
of their claims.
The companion course, PH 110, covers the structure and evolution of
stars, the properties of galaxies, and the past, present, and future
of the Universe. The two courses are independent; if you wish to take
both, they can be taken in either order or concurrently.
The 109/110 sequence is intended for non-science majors. There are no
college-level prerequisites, but minimal high school math and science
preparation are assumed. Students with college-level science & math
credits should consider taking Ph 341/342 instead, which covers much
of the same material as 109/110, but at a more advanced level.
Lecturer The author of this page is the course lecturer,
Dr. Jerry Sellwood.
Office Hour My office hour is Monday 3:20-4:40. I can be found
in room 308 in
the Physics
& Astronomy Building, Busch Campus, telephone 445-5500 xtn 5287.
I am also available to offer help and answer questions for a few
minutes just before or just after every class.
e-mail I prefer not to provide individual help with course
material by e-mail - please ask in class or in my office hour.
Questions on logistics not already on this web page etc. can be
sent to me at sellwood_at_physics.rutgers.edu.
Classes Classes are period 7 (6:40 - 8:00 pm) on Tuesdays &
Thursdays in the Physics Lecture Hall on Busch Campus.
Sakai I have established a course page in the Sakai system. Go
to sakai.rutgers.edu and log in
using your RUId and password. Click on the "Astronomy 109 F09
Sellwood" tab to enter the course site. If you have trouble logging
in, please send e-mail to sellwood_at_physics.rutgers.edu. All
homework assignments, lecture notes, practice exams, scores, and
important information about the course will be posted here, so check
it regularly.
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The book for both 109 & 110 is
Universe 8th
edition (2008) by Roger A. Freedman and William J. Kauffman,
published by Freeman. This excellent book is comprehensive, right
up-to-date and very well illustrated. It contains too much material
even for a two semester course. Some of the material you will have to
read yourself and other material can be omitted altogether, but those
with a strong interest should be able to enjoy the whole book.
Algebra in the book is aimed at readers who enjoy simple math and will
not be tested in the exams.
The book is available as a single volume, which is ideal if you plan
to take both 109 and 110. The book is also published in two separate
volumes, subtitled The Solar System and Stars and
Galaxies, which are separately slightly more than half the price
of the combined volume. If you plan to take only 109 then
The
Solar System (3rd edition 2008) part is all you will need.
You can buy the book from Rutgers University Bookstore or on-line from
e.g. the publisher
or Barnes & Noble.com.
You will not need either a WebAssign Access Code or an
i-Clicker for this course.
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The lectures will not follow the book very closely. I will
omit some parts and provide additional material over and above that
provided in the book in other areas. A preliminary outline of the
topics of each lecture is listed here,
together with an indication of the most relevant chapter.
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The reading assignments given in the syllabus are incomplete as I will
frequently draw material from many different chapters. This will be
particularly true when discussing the different properties of planets,
when I will suggest you dip into small parts of several chapters for
each class. However, by the end of the course, I will expect all
students to have read the entirety of Chapters 9 thru 16, as well as
the other sections listed separately for each class.
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Weekly homework will be assigned and collected on-line
using Sakai. You can use the
browswer on your own computer, or any of the Rutgers student computing
center machines
(see
http://rucs.rutgers.edu/services/instruction).
Deadlines Assignments are due on Mondays one minute before
midnight every week beginning Sep/7 (Labor Day) and ending on Dec/7
(except for Oct/5 & Nov/2). Assignment scores and answers will be
available immediately the submission deadline is passed. No late
homework submissions will be accepted.
Copied Homework It can be beneficial to discuss homework
questions with your fellow students, but your submitted answers
must be your own. Representing someone else's work as your own
is a serious infringement of academic integrity that is reportable to
your College Dean.
Homework scores There will be twelve homework assignments and
your ten best homework scores will count towards your grade for the
course. Completing the homework assignments is the best way to ensure
a good grade because: (1) homework counts for 1/4 your overall score
for the course, (2) homework scores are generally higher than exam
scores, and (3) many of the exam questions will test the material
covered in the homework - thorough preparation for the homework will
help a lot with the tests also.
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There will be three examinations: two mid-terms and a final. The
mid-terms will be held at the usual class time and location on Tuesday
October 6 and November 10. The date of the final exam is Friday
December 18 at 4pm; the location will be announced later. All exams
will be multiple choice and computer graded. Material from the
lectures, homework assignments, and text will be used in selecting
exam questions, which will not be cumulative. Sample mid-term and
final exams will be posted a week or so before each test.
Alternative Final Exam There will be an alternative final exam
during the exam period, at a time and location to be decided. Anyone
who would prefer, for whatever reason, can take this
make-up instead of the regular final, provided you notify
Dr. Sellwood by the time of the last class (Thursday December 10).
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Your course grade will be determined by your overall score out of 400,
which is made up as follows. Each exam will each be scored out of
100 making a maximum possible exam score of 300. The other 100 points
will be given for your ten best homework scores.
Exam scores and final grades will be available through Sakai.
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The Learning Resource Centers
provide a little support for this course.
the Math and Science LCs on
Busch and Douglas offer video tapes, experimental apparatus and
computer demonstrations. If there is a demand, the LRCs will try to
set up tutoring help.
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If you have a disability, it is essential to speak to Prof Sellwood
early in the semester to make the necessary arrangements to support a
successful learning experience. Also, you must arrange for Prof
Sellwood to receive a Letter of Accommodation from the Office of
Disability Services. For more information,
see
http://disabilityservices.rutgers.edu/.
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There are viewing sessions (which are open to the public) using
telescopes located on the roof of the Physics & Astronomy building on
Busch campus. They are held every 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month
when the sky is clear. See
the web
site for more information. Attendance at these observing sessions
is optional.
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This is
a good web
page for astronomical information. Those who like photographs of
planets, etc, can find all NASA's pictures on
their PhotoJournal
website.
Click here for information about
the Southern Africa Large Telescope (SALT), which has recently begun
observations in South Africa. Rutgers owns a 10% share of this
exciting new facility.
You might like to take part in the Galaxy Zoo project, which
involves the general public in classifying galaxies.
Start here to find out more -
it can be addictive!
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for the final three
homework assignments are: Nov 23, Dec 7 & Dec 14.