SCI-103-401 Intro Astronomy Summer 2015
Dr. Fred Jaquin, F350, 498-2437,
Class Time: TTh 7:15 pm to 9:30 pm in F381
Lab Time: T 4:10 pm to 7:00 pm in F381
Recitation Time: Th 4:10 pm to 7:00 pm in F381
Text: Astronomy Notes by Nick Strobel available on line at AstronomyNotes.com for no cost.
Day / Date / Topics / Pre-Class Text Reading / Associated Lab / Math Problems1 / T, Jun 02 / Intro to Course
Scale of the Universe / Reading #0 / Lab #1: Star Maps / Ratios
2 / Th, Jun 04 / The Apparent Motion of the Stars: The Celestial Sphere / Recitation / Proportions
3 / T, Jun 09 / The Apparent Motion of the Stars: The Motions and Rules / Reading #1
HW #1 due / Lab #2: Binary Star Masses / t = d/v
4 / Th, Jun 11 / The Apparent Motion of the Sun / Recitation / Angular size problems
5 / T, Jun 16 / Lunar Phases, The Apparent Motion of the Moon / Reading #2
HW #2 due / Lab #3: The Celestial Sphere / Ellipse Problems
6 / Th, Jun 18 / Exam #1, The Apparent Motion of the Planets / Recitation / Gravity problems: Orbital Speed
7 / T, Jun 23 / The Copernican Explanation / Reading #3
HW #3 due / Lab #4: Shape of Earth’s Orbit / Gravity problems: Central Mass
8 / Th, Jun 25 / Copernican Interpretation of Apparent motions., / Recitation / Density
9 / T, Jun 30 / Kepler’s Laws / Reading #4
HW #4 due / Lab #5: Orbit of Mercury / Doppler-Wobble problems
10 / Th, Jul 02 / The Solar System, Formation of the Solar System / Recitation
11 / T, Jul 07 / Extra-solar Planets / Reading #5 / Lab #6: Star & Planet Locator
12 / Th, Jul 09 / Exam #2, The Sun’s structure and energy production / Recitation / E=mc2
13 / T, Jul 14 / Stellar Nomenclature , Stellar Distance Motions, Binary Stars, / Reading #6
HW #5 due / Lab #7: Luminosity of the Sun / Parallax Problems
14 / Th, Jul 16 / Binary Stars, HR Diagram, Light and Radiation Laws / Recitation / Wien’s Law
15 / T, Jul 21 / Star Formation, Main Sequence Stars / Reading #7
HW #6 due / Lab #8: Bright and Nearby Stars / Stefan-Boltzmann
16 / Th, Jul 23 / Giant Stars, Bright and Near Stars
Exam #3 / Recitation / Main Sequence Lifetime
17 / T, Jul 28 / Death of Stars: Low and High Mass / Reading #8
HW #7 due / Lab #9: Disk of the Milky Way / Review
18 / Th, Jul30 / The Milky Way: Structure and Stellar Content / Recitation / Review
19 / T, Aug 04 / The Local Group of Galaxies, Galaxy Clusters and Collisions / Reading #9
HW #8 due / Lab #10: Galaxy Morphology / Review
20 / Th, Aug 06 / Final Comprehensive Exam / Final Recitation
Reading Assignments from Nick Strobel’s AstronomyNotes available at AstronomyNotes.com
Chapter / Sections
#0 / 1 & 3 / · 1.11 & 1.12: Be prepared to discuss the Vocabulary terms and Review Questions 2, 3, 6, 7, 8 on page 10.
· 3.1 through 3.3: Be prepared to discuss the Vocabulary terms and the six Review Questions on page 35.
· 3.4 through 3.6.2: Be prepared to discuss the Vocabulary terms and the Review Questions on pages 39 and 43/44 and the Vocabulary term “sidereal day” and Review Question 2 on page 48.
#1 / 3 / · 3.7 through 3.7.2: Be prepared to discuss the Vocabulary terms and the Review Questions on pages 53/54 and 62/63.
· 3.8: Be prepared to discuss the Vocabulary terms and the Review Questions on page 67.
#2 / 4 & 5 / · 4.1 through 4.4.1: Be prepared to discuss the Vocabulary term “epicycle” and the Review Questions 1, 2, 3, 6 on page 79 and the Review Questions 1, 2, 4, 6 on page 83.
· 5.2 through 5.8.1: Be prepared to discuss the Vocabulary terms and the Review Questions on pages 96, 99, 107, 109.
#3 / 9 & 10 / · 4.5: Be prepared to discuss the Vocabulary terms and the Review Questions on page 88.
· Intro to the Solar System
· 10.8 through 10.8.1: Be prepared to discuss the Review Questions on page 298.
#4 / 10 & 12 / · 10.9 through 109.2: Be prepared to discuss the Review Questions on page 304.
· 12.1 through 12.1.3 and 12.2 through 12.5.6: Be prepared to discuss the Vocabulary terms and Review Questions on pages 358/359.
#5 / 11 / · 11.1, 11.1.6, 11.1.7: Be prepared to discuss the Vocabulary terms and Review Questions on pages 308/309, 324/325.
· 11.1.2 through 11.1.5, 11.1.8, 11.2 through 11.2.2: Be prepared to discuss the Vocabulary terms and Review Questions on pages 310, 317, 330/331.
#6 / 11, 7 & 13 / · 11.2.3 through 11.2.5: Be prepared to discuss the Vocabulary terms and Review Questions on pages 336.
· 7.1 through 7.5: Be prepared to discuss the Vocabulary terms and Review Questions on pages 129/130, 133/134, 139.
· 13.1 through 13.2: Be prepared to discuss the Vocabulary terms and Review Questions on pages 378/379.
#8 / 14 / · 14.1 through14.2.7: Be prepared to discuss the Vocabulary terms and Review Questions on pages 404, 421/422.
#9 / 15 / · 15.1 through15.1.8: Be prepared to discuss the Vocabulary terms and Review Questions on pages 430, 449.
AstronomyNotes Reading Assignment
Chapter 1 --- Introduction to Astronomy
· Introductory Comments
· A Sense of Scale
o Size. Answers ``How big is the Universe?'' using a scale model of solar system and galaxy.
o Time. Answers ``How long has the Universe been around?'' using a compressed ``cosmic calendar.''
o Review Questions (pg. 10)
Chapter 3 --- Astronomy Without a Telescope
· Introduction
· Celestial Sphere Defined
· Angles
· Reference Markers
o Review Questions (pg. 35)
· Motion of Our Star the Sun
o Review Questions (pg. 39)
· Coordinates
o Review Questions (pg. 43/44)
· Time and Seasons
o Solar and Sidereal Day
o Solar and Sidereal Time as Viewed from Space
§ Review Questions (pg. 48)
· Motions of the Moon
§ Review Questions (pg. 53/54)
o Phases and Eclipses
§ Review Questions (pg. 62/63)
· Planetary Motions
o Review Questions (pg. 67)
Chapter 4 --- History and Philosophy of Western Astronomy
· Introduction
· Philosophical Backdrop
o 7th Century B.C.E.
o Sophists
o Socrates
o Plato
o Religious Philosophy
o Pythagorean Paradigm
· Plato's Homework Problem
o Observations Against a Moving Earth
o Plato's Instrumentalism
o Aristotle's Realism
o Ptolemy's Geocentric Universe
· Renaissance
o 16th Century Paradigm
o Occam's Razor
o Copernicus's Heliocentric Universe
o Tycho Brahe's excellent observations
o Review Questions (pg. 79)
· Battle with the Church
o Church's Structure
o Giordano Bruno
o Galileo Galilei
o Epistemology
o Confrontational Style
o Review Questions (pg. 83)
· Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion
o Johaness Kepler
o Choosing Heliocentricism
o Elliptical Orbits
o Variable Speed
o Distance and Period
o Review Questions (pg. 88)
Chapter 5 --- Newton's Law of Gravity
· Universal Law of Gravity
o Characteristics of Gravity--
o Review Questions (pg. 96)
· Mass vs. Weight
· Inverse Square Law
o Review Questions (pg. 99)
· Gravitational Acceleration
o Measuring the Mass of the Earth
· A Closer Look at Newton's Gravity
o Occam's Razor and the Progress of Motion Laws
o Nature of Gravity
o Machine Universe
o Material World
· Orbits
o Centripetal Force
o Measuring Planet and Star Masses
o Orbital Speed
o Escape Velocity
o Review Questions (pg. 107)
· Kepler's Third Law
o Interplanetary Trips
o Review Questions (pg. 109)
Chapter 9 --- Planetary Science
· Introduction
· Determining Planet Properties
o Distances
o Masses
o Sizes and Volumes
o Densities and Compositions
Chapter 10 --- Solar System Fluff
· Solar System Formation
o Observables. Twelve observations that the solar system formation model must account for.
o Condensation Model
o Review Questions (pg. 298)
· Testing the Theory: Other Planetary Systems
o Detection methods
§ Direct Imaging
§ Astrometry (star wobbles)
§ Doppler shifts
§ Transits
§ Microlensing
o Results and Testing the Theory
o Extrasolar Planets Web Sites
o Review Questions (pg. 304)
Chapter 12 -- Our Sun and Stellar Structure
· Introduction
· The Sun--An Average Star
o Size
o Composition
o The Sun's Interior
1. Core
2. Radiative Zone
3. Convective Zone
o The Sun's Surface
1. Measuring the Sun's Temperature
2. Features on the Photosphere (sunspots, prominences, flares)
· The Sun's Power Source
o Solar Luminosity---huge energy output!
o Possible Sources of Energy
o Gravitational Contraction Doesn't Power the Sun Long Enough
o Nuclear Fusion Needs Extreme Temperatures and Densities
o Some Mass is Converted to Energy in Fusion Reactions
o Why Stars Use a Complicated Chain Reaction
o Hydrostatic Equilibrium Controls the Reaction Rates
o Summary
· Neutrino
o Description
o Solar Neutrino Problem
o Explorations of Neutrino Detectors
· Interior Structure of Stars
o Mathematical Models
1. Temperature
2. Pressure
3. Mass Density
o Equation of State The ideal gas law relates temperature, pressure, and density.
o Gravity Holds a Star Together Hydrostatic Equilibrium
o Other Pieces
1. Continuity of Mass -- conservation of mass
2. Continuity of Energy -- conservation of energy
3. Energy Transport: radiation, convection, conduction
4. Opacity: how well the gas absorbs light
o Mass-Luminosity Relation Explained
o Mass Cutoff Explained
o Review Questions (pg. 358/359)
Chapter 11 -- Stellar Properties
· Introduction
· Stars--What Are They Like?
o Distances---Trigonometric Parallax
§ Review Questions (pg. 308/309)
o Distances---Inverse Square Law
§ Review Questions (pg. 310)
o Magnitude System
§ Apparent Magnitude
§ Absolute Magnitude and Luminosity
§ Distance Modulus
o Color and Temperature
§ Color Index and Temperature
§ Wien's Law and Temperature
§ Review Questions (pg. 317)
o The Composition of Stars
o The Velocities of Stars Doppler Effect
§ Review Questions
o The Masses of Stars
§ Review Questions (pg. 324/325)
o The Sizes of Stars
§ Review Questions
· Types of Stars and HR diagram
o Temperature dependence
o Spectral Types
§ Review Questions (pg. 330/331)
o Hertzsprung-Russell diagram Color-Magnitude diagram
o Spectroscopic Parallax
o What is a ``Typical'' Star?
§ Review Questions (pg. 336)
Chapter 7 --- Electromagnetic Radiation
· Introduction
· Electric and Magnetic Fields
· Properties of Light
o Review Questions (pg. 129/130)
· Production of Light
o Continuous Spectrum
o Discrete Spectrum Emission lines and absorption lines
o Review Questions (pg. 133/134)
· Bohr atom
· How Atoms Produce the Spectra Includes some nice pictures.
o Universality of Physical Laws in Space and Time
o Review Questions (pg. 139)
· Doppler Effect
Chapter 13 -- Lives and Deaths of Stars
· Introduction
· Stellar Evolution
o Mass Dependence
o The Basic Scheme
1. Stage 1: Giant Molecular Cloud
2. Stage 2: Protostar
3. Stage 3: T-Tauri
4. Stage 4: Main Sequence
5. Stage 5: Subgiant, Red Giant, Supergiant
6. Stage 6: Core fusion
7. Stage 7: Red Giant or Supergiant
8. Stage 8: Planetary Nebula or Supernova
9. Stage 9: Core Remnant
o Stellar Nucleosynthesis
o Review Questions (pg. 378/379)
o Confirmation of Stellar Evolution Models
o Finding the Ages of Clusters
Chapter 14 -- Interstellar Medium and the Milky Way
· Introduction
· Interstellar Medium (ISM)
o Dust
1. Extinction
2. Reddening
o Gas
1. H II Regions
2. 21 cm radiation
3. Using 21 cm radiation to Map the Galaxy
4. Molecules
1. Molecular clouds
2. Molecular Hydrogen and Carbon Monoxide Connection
5. Review Questions (pg. 404)
· Galactic Structure The Milky Way: our galaxy
o Period-Luminosity Relation for Variable Stars
1. Cepheids
1. Type I: classical Cepheids
2. Type II: W Virginis Cepheids
2. RR Lyrae
o Our Location
o Our Motion
o Deriving the Galactic Mass from the Rotation Curve
o Spiral Arms
1. Density Wave Theory
2. Self-propagating Star Formation
3. Transient Spirals
o Populations of Stars
o Galactic Center
o Review Questions (pg. 421/422)
Chapter 15 -- Other Galaxies and Active Galaxies
· Introduction
· Other Galaxies
o Types of Galaxies
1. Ellipticals
2. Spirals
3. Irregulars
o Positions On Our Sky
1. Review Questions (pg. 430)
o Distances to Galaxies
o Hubble Law
o Masses of Galaxies
o Clusters of Galaxies
§ Dark Matter in Galaxy Clusters
o Superclusters
o Galaxy Origins
1. Galaxy Collisions and Mergers
o Review Questions (pg. 449)
“What an asnotisnihg thnig a book is. It's a falt obcejt made from a tere with flixeble prats on wcihh are imnirpted lots of fnuny dark squigelgs. But one glcnae at it and you're indise the mind of anhtoer peosrn, mbyae somobedy dead for thsuoands of yraes. Aorcss the miellnina, an auohtr is spkaeing clraely and siltnely indise your head, dicertly to you. Wrtniig is peahrps the gaertest of hamun intnevions, bniding tohteger pelpoe who never knew each oehtr, cizitens of disnatt ephcos. Books baerk the shkcales of time. A book is proof that hamuns are cabaple of wonikrg migac."
― Carl Sagan, Cmsoos