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Astronomy 171 Solar System Astronomy Prof. Paul Martini |
Recommended Textbook: Universe (7th Edition), by Roger A. Freedman and William J. Kauffmann. This textbook is recommended for both Astronomy 171 and 172. There is also a shorter (and slightly less expensive) volume entitled Universe: The Solar System (2nd Edition) by the same authors that contains only the material for Astronomy 171. If you plan to take both Astronomy 171 and 172, you may find it more economical to purchase the larger Universe.
Course Objectives
Astronomy 171 is a Physical Science Course in the Natural Science category of the General Education Curriculum. Courses in this category are intended to meet several or all of the following:
Goals: Courses in the 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
In Astronomy 171 we will meet these goals and objectives through the study of astronomy, with an emphasis on the solar system. The course will begin with a study of how simple observations and measurements can be used to understand the world around us, such as the origin of the seasons and the phases of the moon. Along the way we will introduce basic physics concepts to understand astronomical observations as well as use these observations to understand physics and scientific theories. The second half of the course will concentrate on modern solar system astronomy. Here the emphasis will be on what we know about the constituents of the solar system, most notably the planets, and how these discoveries were made. We will conclude the course with a study of planets around other stars and the prospects for life on other planets.
Homework Assignments
There will be five (5) homework assignments during the quarter, each consisting of a set of short answer or multiple-choice questions. The questions are open book, open notes, open discussion. Homework will be due on the following Fridays:
Collectively the homework will count for 25% of your grade. The questions on the homework will generally be more challenging than those on the quizzes. They are designed to get you thinking about the course topics in an active way. I strongly encourage you to form study groups to discuss the questions, though you must decide on the final answers yourself.
Homework is due in class on the due date and no late homework will be accepted, except for legitimate, documented emergencies.
In-Class Quizzes
There will be four (4) in-class quizzes, scheduled for the following Fridays:
Your three highest quiz grades will count for 45% of your grade; I will drop your lowest quiz score. The quizzes will cover the material in the lectures and readings since the previous quiz. All of the quizzes are closed-book, closed-notes multiple-choice tests. You only need to bring a #2 pencil for the quiz. Please mark your calendars with the quiz dates. The quizzes will be held at the normal class time and you will have the entire class period to complete the quiz. Makeup quizzes are only offered by advance arrangement with the professor. Exceptions are for legitimate, documented emergencies and require no advance notice. If you will be away on an official University-sponsored activity (e.g., sports teams, band, etc.), you must bring me a letter from your coach, director, etc. in advance of the quiz. Quizzes must be made up by the Wednesday after the missed quiz, otherwise that quiz becomes the one that I will drop in computing your final grade.
Final Exam
The Final Exam will be on Tuesday, March 13 from 9:30-11:18am in 0050 Scott Laboratory. Attendance at the Final Exam is mandatory. You only need to bring a #2 pencil for the final.
The final will be comprehensive, covering all lectures, and has the same multiple-choice format as the in-class quizzes, only it will be twice as long. It is worth 30% of your final course grade. No makeup final will be offered. If you miss the final exam, you will be given an incomplete (I) with an alternative grade equal to getting a zero on the final, and have to make it up during Spring Quarter 2007 to avoid the alternative grade.
In keeping with official University policy, early finals will not be available for those persons who wish to depart early for the break. Please plan ahead and make your travel plans accordingly.
Grading Policy
Lectures & Attendance
Lectures will be daily, 9:30-10:18am, in 0050 Scott Laboratory. The daily lectures are your primary resource for this course. We will not cover all of the topics in the book and I will supplement the book with additional material that is not covered in the book. Outlines of each lecture will be available via the class website. These outlines are intended to be useful aids for studying and following along in class. I recommend that you print out the outlines, bring them to class, and take notes in the margins. Remember, these are only outlines of what I cover each day in class, not comprehensive transcripts of the lectures. In particular, I will show many images and animations during class that will not be available on the class website. Because of the importance of the lectures, I will also take attendance on a semiregular basis and consider both attendance and class participation in the determination of your final grade.
Related Readings in Universe
Because introductory astronomy textbooks designed for non-majors are rarely organized exactly the same as our courses, we will not strictly follow the order of topics in the book. You can expect to jump around some as the course progresses. As such, instead of specific reading assignments, each section of the course will have reading suggestions listed on the class website. However, not all topics in this course are covered by the book, and similarly not all topics covered in the book will be discussed in class. You are only responsible for the contents of my lectures.
Students with Disabilities
Any student who feels that he or she may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact Professor Martini to discuss their specific needs. We will rely on the Office of Disability Services at OSU to verify the need for accommodation and to help develop the appropriate strategies. Students with disabilities who have not previously contacted ODS are encouraged to do so by visiting the ODS website and requesting an appointment.
Academic Misconduct
All OSU professors are required to report suspected cases of academic misconduct to the Committee on Academic Misconduct. See the University's Code of Student Conduct for details. The most common forms of misconduct in classes such as this one are copying from another student's exam. All cases will be investigated following University guidelines.
Classroom Etiquette
To help establish and maintain a courteous, distraction-free learning environment in our classroom, I ask that all students please observe the following basic rules of behavior during lectures and exams:
Your cooperation in observing these rules is greatly appreciated.
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