SYLLABUS FOR ASTRONOMY 162
SPRING QUARTER 2006

MTWRF, 9:30-10:18 AM, Stillman Hall 100
Professor: Patrick S. Osmer, 4055 McPherson, 292-1773
e-mail: posmer@astronomy.ohio-state.edu
Web address: www.astronomy.ohio-state.edu/~posmer/
Office Hours: By appointment
T.A. Office Hours: Stephan Frank, 4011 McPherson, 292-5403,
   
MW 1130AM-1230PM, F 2-3PM or by appointment,  
     e-mail frank@astronomy.ohio-state.edu

Textbook: "Universe, 7th ed.", by R. A. Freedman & W. J. Kaufmann III

Course Plan

Week No.          Chapters                  Topics

1-2                     19                            Observed Properties of Stars

3-4                     8, 20, 18, 30             Stellar Structure, The Interstellar Medium,
                                                           Formation of Stars,  Extrasolar Planets, Life on Other Worlds

5-6                     21-24                       Stellar Evolution (continue), Deaths of Stars,
                                                           Neutron Stars, Black Holes

7-8                     25-26                       The Galaxy, Galaxies, Cosmology (Begin)

9-10                   27-29                       Cosmology, Active Galaxies and Quasars, 
                                                           The Universe and Evolution of Matter

Astronomy 162 is a Physical Science course in the Natural Science Category of the GEC.  The goals and objectives of this category are:

Goals/Rationale:
Courses in natural sciences foster an understanding of the principles, theories and methods of modern science, the relationship between science and technology, and the effects of science and technology on the environment.
 
Learning Objectives:
 
1. Students understand the basic facts, principles, theories and methods of modern science.
2. Students learn key events in the history of science.
3. Students provide examples of the inter-dependence of scientific and technological developments. 
4. Students discuss social and philosophical implications of scientific discoveries and understand the potential of science and technology to address problems of the contemporary world.

Course objectives: To provide a fundamental knowledge of astronomy beyond the solar system. We will see how physics is used to understand the observations made and the phenomena found in astronomy, and we will continue the effort begun in Astronomy 161 to illustrate how science works and research proceeds. We will see how the scale and age of the universe are determined, how stars are weighed and studied, what is their source of energy, how they form and evolve. We will explore some of the extreme conditions found in astronomy that have led us to postulate the existence of black holes. We will go on to see how galaxies may be viewed as the building blocks of the universe itself and how observations have led to the present picture of the universe originating in the Big Bang and subsequently evolving to the form and structure we see today. 


Quizzes and exams - There will be 4 biweekly quizzes, which will constitute 60% of the final grade, and a final exam, which will count as 40% of the final grade. The lowest quiz grade will be dropped. There will be one opportunity to make up missed quizzes. All students are expected to take the final examination at the scheduled time, Wednesday, June 7, 9:30 A.M, in Stillman Hall 100. Quizzes and exams are multiple choice and are graded by computer. Note that the order of questions in quizzes and exams will be scrambled at random by computer from one copy to the next. Students are expected to follow the OSU Code of Conduct.  Any suspected cases of academic misconduct will be reported to the OSU Committee on Academic Misconduct.
Course Web Page -  www.astronomy.ohio-state.edu/~posmer/Ay162/ - The main reference for lecture notes, quiz and exam information, review materials, and updates.

Return to Ay 162 Page P.S.O., April 20, 2006