Physics 1411: Astronomy I: Planetary

 

Statement of Purpose

This official course syllabus for Planetary Astronomy is to serve as a guide for part-time and full-time instructors at San Jacinto College.  It is intended to assist them in maintaining reasonable consistency in course content, student workload, and grading standards.

In compliance with the Southern Association Commission recommendations, the syllabus seeks: (1) to insure that every course has clearly defined content goals and requires communication and thinking skills; (2) to reflect concern for quality and properly discern levels of student performance; (3) to maintain and improve academic standards; (4) to meet the curricula needs of the students; and (5) to satisfy the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board guidelines pertaining to core competencies and perspectives.

Course Description: 

PHYS 1411 Planetary Astronomy is the first of a two-semester survey course in astronomy, intended for both science and non-science majors.  The course examines the following topics: the history of astronomy, the physics of planetary motion, astronomical observations, the history of the solar system, and star and planet formation, the terrestrial planets, the Jovian planets, and other bodies (including comets, asteroids, and Kuiper Belt objects).  Laboratory experiences will include computer and paper and pencil exercises, laboratory experiments, telescope operation, and assigned nighttime observations. 

 

Prerequisites and proficiencies:  

Math 1314 (college algebra);  Math Requirement: level 9

 

Reading and Writing Requirement: level 7

 

Textbooks: 

John D. Fix, Astronomy: Journey to the Cosmic Frontier, 3rd edition. 

ISBN: 0-07-248262-1

 

Dale Ferguson, Introductory Astronomy Exercises, 2nd edition.  ISBN: 0-534-37977-X
 

Course Objectives and Student Learning Outcomes for Core Curriculum–

A.     The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and Natural Science Courses

 

1.      Overall Objectives for Natural Science Courses

The objective of the study of a natural sciences component of a core curriculum is to enable the student to understand, construct, and evaluate relationships in the natural sciences, and to enable the student to understand the bases for building and testing theories.

2.      Exemplary Educational Objectives (EEO) for Natural Science Courses

 

a)      To understand and apply method and appropriate technology to the study of natural sciences.

b)      To recognize scientific and quantitative methods and the differences between these approaches and other methods of inquiry and to communicate findings, analyses, and interpretation both orally and in writing.

c)      To identify and recognize the differences among competing scientific theories.

d)      To demonstrate knowledge of the major issues and problems facing modern science, including issues that touch upon ethics, values, and public policies.

e)      To demonstrate knowledge of the interdependence of science and technology and their influence on, and contribution to, modern culture.

 

3.      Basic Competencies and Perspectives

a)      READING: Reading at the college level means the ability to analyze and interpret a variety of printed materials -- books, articles, and documents. A core curriculum should offer students the opportunity to master both general methods of analyzing printed materials and specific methods for analyzing the subject matter of individual disciplines.

b)      WRITING: Competency in writing is the ability to produce clear, correct, and coherent prose adapted to purpose, occasion, and audience. Although correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation are each a sine qua non in any composition, they do not automatically ensure that the composition itself makes sense or that the writer has much of anything to say. Students need to be familiar with the writing process including how to discover a topic and how to develop and organize it, how to phrase it effectively for their audience. These abilities can be acquired only through practice and reflection.

c)      SPEAKING: Competence in speaking is the ability to communicate orally in clear, coherent, and persuasive language appropriate to purpose, occasion, and audience. Developing this competency includes acquiring poise and developing control of the language through experience in making presentations to small groups, to large groups, and through the media.

d)      LISTENING: Listening at the college level means the ability to analyze and interpret various forms of spoken communication.

e)      CRITICAL THINKING: Critical thinking embraces methods for applying both qualitative and quantitative skills analytically and creatively to subject matter in order to evaluate arguments and to construct alternative strategies. Problem solving is one of the applications of critical thinking, used to address an identified task.

f)        COMPUTER LITERACY: Computer literacy at the college level means the ability to use computer-based technology in communicating, solving problems, and acquiring information. Core-educated students should have an understanding of the limits, problems, and possibilities associated with the use of technology, and should have the tools necessary to evaluate and learn new technologies as they become available.

 

B.     Student Learning Outcomes for PHYS 1411

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1.      Demonstrate knowledge of key events in the history of astronomy (to 1900) and their significance (EEO b, c, d, e; BC a, b, d, e) 

2.      Use the coordinate systems to locate and observe celestial objects and demonstrate understanding of the apparent motions of celestial objects (EEO a, b, c, d, e; BC c, d, e, f)

3.      Solve elementary problems involving Newton’s laws, the Newtonian law of gravity, and Kepler’s laws of planetary motion (EEO a, b, c, d; BC c, d, e)

4.      Demonstrate an understanding of the tides (EEO b, d, e; BC d, e, f)

5.      Solve elementary problems involving the physics of astronomical observation (EEO b, d, e; BC d, e, f)

6.      Demonstrate knowledge of key features of various objects in the Solar System including the Sun, Moon, planets, and various other objects (EEO a, b, c, d, e; BC a, b, c, d, e)

7.      Demonstrate knowledge of key features of stars, their formation and evolution as related to the solar system and its origin (EEO b, c, d; BC b, c, e)

8.      Demonstrate knowledge of construction and operation of telescopes and other devices for astronomical observation (EEO a, d, e; BC a, c, d, e)

C.     Student Learning Activities

1. The Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) listed above will be achieved by some combination of activities designed to allow the student to master the course content as well as to develop the basic intellectual competences identified by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. 

2. Relationship between Student Learning Outcomes and Basic Competencies These SLOs include the following components:

a. Reading

1. Textbooks

2. Additional readings and research for essays

b. Writing

1. Assigned essays and laboratory exercises

2. Research paper

3. Compare and contrast papers

4. Observing reports

c. Speaking

1. Class discussions

2. Report presentations

d. Listening

1. Class lectures

2. Audio-visual materials

3. Critiquing presentations of group reports

e. Critical Thinking

1. Problem solving exercises

2. Analysis of laboratory exercises

3. Observing reports

f. Computer Literacy

1. Computer-based laboratory exercises

2. Internet research for essays

3. At a minimum, an instructor should use at least one teaching strategy from each of the above categories.  Guidelines for developing additional strategies:

a. Class Lectures: Lectures should be well prepared, organized, and continually updated to include the latest factual material and ideas.  They should involve a significant amount of material not contained in the textbooks.  The lectures are intended to supplement and enrich not repeat information from the textbook.  Class lectures should develop the students’ ability to analyze, interpret, and discuss spoken information.

b. Class Discussion:  This discussion should be related to the topic under consideration and help students develop critical thinking and problem solving skills.  Discussion should stress development of the students’ ability to speak, listen, and think critically.  Socratic techniques are encouraged.

c. Textbook Readings:  An important part of the college experience is learning how to learn independently from the instructor.  Students should not expect to learn everything they need to know from textbooks by simply listening to class lectures.  Instead, they should be required to read, synthesize, and learn on their own from the textbook and as well as other sources. 

d. Additional Readings:  Because of the time lag between writing and publication of textbooks, extra reading assignments are necessary to provide students with up to date ideas, interpretations, and material from a variety of sources.  Some of these sources may be from journal and magazine articles, others from sources available on the Internet.

e. Written Assignments:  Demonstrating the ability to communicate effectively in writing is a significant objective of this course.  In this context, the instructor should assign students written assignments which require students to clearly demonstrate their ability to synthesize material from a variety of sources and to communicate their analysis of that material effectively. 

f. Computer Assignments: Students are expected to be able to use computers in their writing assignments, in searching for and selecting appropriate additional sources, for solving problems in laboratory exercises, and in presenting material from group projects. 

4. Tentative Lecture Schedule:

Week   Topics

1        Coordinates and the celestial sphere

2        Pre-Copernican history of astronomy

3        Tycho Brahe, Johannes Kepler, and Isaac Newton (orbits of planets)

4        Solar System Physics

5        Review and Exam 1

6        Formation of stars and planets

7        The Sun

8        Review and Exam 2

9        The Earth and the formation of the Moon

10    The Terrestrial Planets (Mercury and the Moon)

11    The Terrestrial Planets (Venus and Mars)

12    Review and Exam 3

13    The Jovian Planets – Jupiter, Saturn, and their satellites

14    The Jovian Panets – Uranus and Neptune and their satellites

15    Asteroids, Comets, Kuiper Belt objects and the Oort Cloud

16    Review and Final Exam

 

5. Tentative Lab Schedule:

Week   Topics

1.      Coordinates and the celestial sphere

2.      The motion of the sky and precession

3.      Phases of the Moon

4.      Photogeologic mapping of the Moon

5.      Exam 1

6.      Black Body Radiation and Temperatures of the Planets

7.      Kepler’s 3rd Law – applications to Jupiter’s satellites

8.      Interplanetary Spacecraft Trajectories

9.      Geologic Features of Outer Planet Satellites

10.  Preparing for Night-time Observing Sessions

11.  Exam 2

12.  Photogeologic mapping of  the Moon

13.  Photogeologic mapping of Mars

14.  Fieldtrip to the George Observatory

15.  Exam 3

 

D.    Grading System and Student Learning Outcomes Inventory

The grading System should measure how well the student has mastered the course material, the student learning outcomes of the course, and the basic intellectual competencies identified by the Coordinating Board.  Accordingly, a variety of evaluative measures are recommended to determine course grades.  Objective and subjective examinations, written assignments, individual or group projects, and computer assignments allow the instructor to measure a student’s mastery of the content, the SLOs, and the basic competencies identified by the Coordinating Board.  These may include the following components:

1. Examinations                                                                                          50%

There should be at least 3 major exams during the semester plus a final exam.   Exams should include short essay questions counting about one third of the exam credit as well as multiple choice, true-false, or fill-in-the-blank questions for the remaining portion of the exam.  Exams should cover material from additional readings and assignment questions.

2. Written Assignments                                                                               20%

Students must complete a written assignment during the semester such as a research paper, analytical papers over further research, and book and journal or magazine article reviews. 

3. Laboratory Exercises                                                                              25%

Laboratory Exercises may stress computation or analysis of data and should include integrating computer skills with the lab. 

4. Individual or Group Projects                                                                   5%

Projects should require students to analyze and synthesize material from at least 3 sources which contain differing points of view.  They should provide students with opportunities to think critically and interact with other students effectively.   

A student’s work/test display or inventory will be completed at the end of each semester demonstrating that the SLOs and basic competencies have been met.