Course Syllabus

Instructor

Prof. Frank Zimmermann (fmz@physics.rutgers.edu)

Description

This course describes the foundations of astronomy and modern knowledge of our solar system as well as planets around other stars. While astronomers know a tremendous amount about the universe, science is not just about a static set of facts, but also about the dynamic process of discovery. We will therefore consider science as a way of understanding the world we live in. There are no college-level prerequisites for this course, but typical high school algebra and science preparation are assumed. The companion course, PHY 110, covers stars, galaxies, and the universe as a whole. The two courses are complementary and independent; you can take one or both, and in either order. Note that PHY 109 and PHY 110 are intended for non-science majors. They cannot be taken for physics or astrophysics major or minor credit. Physics majors/minors should take PHY 341/342 instead, which cover much of the same material, but at a more advanced level.

Learning Goals

• Understand and apply basic principles and concepts in astronomy and astrophysics.
• Explain and be able to assess the relationship among assumptions, method, evidence, arguments, and theory in scientific analysis of astrophysical topics.

Topics covered

• Overview of the known universe and our place in it: Our cosmic address.
• Understanding the sky and the apparent motions of the sun, the moon, the stars, and the planets.
• History of astronomical knowledge and understanding.
• Kepler's laws of planetary motion.
• Newton's laws of motion and gravity.
• More physics - light, heat, atoms, energy, density, pressure.
• The Solar System - scale, content, age, and formation.
• Terrestrial planets - geology and atmospheres.
• Jovian planets - their orbits, moons, rings, and atmospheres.
• Dwarf planets and the Kuiper Belt.
• Asteroids, comets, and the Oort Cloud.
• Exoplanets - planets orbiting distant stars.

Lectures

Tuesdays and Fridays, 12:10 - 1:30 pm,  Scott Hall 123

Office Hours

Tuesdays 2:30 - 3:30, location TBD

Also: By appointment.

Grading

• Homework: 20%
• In-class iclicker questions: 20%
• Midterm exam: 25%
• Final exam 35%

A:   80% - 100%

B+: 70% - 80%

B:   60% - 70%

C+: 50% - 60%

C:   40% - 50%

D:  30% - 40%

Textbook

The primary textbook for this course is The Cosmic Perspective: The Solar System (nominally 9th edition, but previous editions may be OK with some cross-referencing), by Bennett, Donahue, Schneider, & Voit, published by Addison-Wesley/Pearson  ISBN 978-0134990774. While this book is self-contained, I will supplement it from time to time with additional material in the slides for my lectures. You will be responsible for material that appears in our book, and any clearly designated additional material in my slides, which I will make available after class on Canvas.

Iclicker

We will use iclicker for polling during the lectures. You can use the iclicker web app on your laptop, or the mobile app on your phone. You are responsible for having an iclicker account (paid subscription required) and bringing a device to lecture with which you can access the iclicker app. Detailed instructions are here. During each lecture where you respond to a majority of iclicker questions, you will receive 5 points (attendance credit). In addition, you will receive 1 point for each question that you answer correctly.

Homework

Homework will be assigned on Canvas, under Assignments. The solutions will be available right after the submission deadline. For this reason, there will be NO LATE HOMEWORK ACCEPTED!

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to maintain the highest level of academic integrity.  You should be familiar with the university policy on academic integrity (Links to an external site.). Violations will be reported and enforced according to this policy.

Use of external sources 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 penalties ranging from a zero on an assignment to an F for the course, or expulsion from the University. 

Posting of homework assignments, exams, recorded lectures, or other lecture materials to external sites without the permission of the instructor is illegal (copyright infringement) and constitutes a facilitation of dishonesty, which may result in the same penalties as other forms of cheating. 

Policies

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 transmissable disease, please do not attend in-person class meetings. Contact me to make arrangements for handling such absences.

Student Resources

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 Dean of Students (deanofstudents@echo.rutgers.edu ) for assistance. If you are facing other financial hardships please visit the Office of Financial Aid.

Disability Services: (848) 445-6800 / Lucy Stone Hall, Suite A145, Livingston Campus, 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

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.

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.