ASTR 250 (Fundamentals of Astronomy), Spring 2007

MWF 10:00-10:50 AM, Steward Observatory, Room N210

Prof. Adam Burrows (Instructor), Mr. Suresh Sivanandam (Teaching Assistant)

Office Phone: 621-1795 (Burrows), 621-1455 (Sivanandam)

Office Hours:

Email: aburrows@as.arizona.edu, suresh@as.arizona.edu

Web Page: http://zenith.as.arizona.edu/~burrows/classes/250

Textbook: INTRODUCTORY ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS (4th Ed.), by Zeilik and Gregory

ANNOUNCEMENTS

STEWARD OBSERVATORY HAS A WONDERFUL PUBLIC EVENING SERIES OF ASTRONOMY LECTURES. Click here for more info.

This is an introductory course in astronomy and astrophysics for freshman astronomy majors and other science majors with strong interests in astronomy, physics, and mathematics. The class covers most aspects of astronomy, including stars, galaxies, and cosmology, but with a more rigorous physical and mathematical treatment than in any General Education Natural Science class. The course focuses on the application of mathematical and physical principles to astronomical problems -- so there will be lots of problem sets handed out as homework assignments. The emphasis of the course is on understanding, not on memorization.

Background

Prerequisites: MATH 124 or 125 and PHYS 141, 151, or 161H. Should be taking PHYS 142, 152, or 162H and MATH 129 concurrently.

You should be comfortable with basic algebra, trigonometry, calculus, vectors, and scientific notation. The development of basic physical concepts as they relate to the detection and workings of astronomical objects will be a basic part of the course. This course will also require frequent reading and discussion of the text, as well as some independent research on the part of the student. You should have a calculator at your disposal (one that does powers, roots, and trigonometric functions). Please seek help when you encounter a concept that you do not understand. You are encouraged to get and to use a U of A computer account.

Evaluation

Your grade in this course will depend on your performance on the problem sets (40% in total), midterm exam (20%), the final exam (40%), and, in the case of a borderline grade, your class participation and grades on pop quizzes during the review sessions. Both exams are closed-note and no calculators are allowed. The exams may consist of multiple-choice questions, short written essays, or mathematical problems, with an emphasis on the latter.

Interactive Learning

On many Fridays during the term, we will conduct the class as a recitation section, reviewing important mathematical and physical concepts relevant to the week's lectures and practicing problem solving. These sessions will provide an excellent opportunity for students who have reviewed their recent lecture notes to ask more questions about the material and to gain insight into the latest homework assignment.

Policies

  • Do your own work. Modern science is collaborative, and people learn from talking to each other. Feel free to talk to the instructor, TA, or other students about homework assignments. But the work you turn in must be your own -- don't just copy assignments. Copying is cheating and will be handled according to university policies. The instructor subscribes to the University's Code of Academic Integrity (click here for more info). The Code prohibits all forms of academic dishonesty, including cheating, plagiarism, and facilitating dishonesty by others. The repercussions for those found guilty of violating the Code will include loss of credit for the work and may include failure of the course or more extreme measures.
  • Attendance, participation, and conduct. Attendance and participation in class are important -- especially as the exam and homework material will be drawn from the lectures, and only supplemented from the textbook. Students who are regularly absent will be dropped from the course. You are strongly encouraged to participate in class by asking questions. Eating or drinking are not permitted in the lecture hall. Talking is also prohibited unless you want to ask a question during lecture or during the Friday discussion sessions.
  • Late Homework. No credit, WITH NO EXCEPTIONS, will be given for late homework. Because we want to be fair to those that turn in work on time, we will not accept late work. There is an absolute deadline for homeworks. If you are concerned about not being able to turn in your work in class on the due date, feel free to turn it in early! We will accept homework at any class meeting prior to the deadline.
  • Missed Tests. No makeup tests, WITH NO EXCEPTIONS, will be administered. The exams are already scheduled and posted on the class schedule. If you know that you will miss an test, you must make arrangements (for valid reasons) for an oral exam at a time and date prior to the written test. Missing the midterm exam is an automatic loss of 20% of your course grade. Missing the final is a loss of 40%.
  • Grading. You have one week from the time an assignment or exam is returned to challenge any perceived errors. Although rare, there are occasions when grading errors occur, and you should review your returned work.

    The final course grades will be on a curve, but you can be assured that if you have > 90% of the total number of points available you will receive an A, 80 to 90% at least a B, 70 to 80% at least a C.

Web Site

The course website includes the most recent course syllabus, schedule, special announcements, and other course materials.

Check the website frequently for updates.

Our textbook is Introductory Astronomy and Astrophysics (4th Ed.) by Zeilik and Gregory. The book is available at the U of A Bookstore.