Physics 162
ElementaryAstronomy
Section 4
Fall 2011
Number of Credits: 3
Prerequisites: None.
Course Description:
The course includes the study of the motions and structures of the earth, the moon, the sun, planets, stars and galaxies, and consideration of cosmological theories.
Meeting Time and Location:
6:30-9:10pm Mondays in Faraday Hall 144
Instructor Information:
Instructor: Mr. MattWiesner
Office: Faraday 223
E-mail:
Office Hours: 12-1pm Monday, Wednesday and Friday and immediately after class each Monday. Other times by appointment.
Office (Observatory) Phone: (815) 753-1305
Required Textbook:
Comins, Neil F. Discovering the Essential Universe, Fourth Edition. W.H. Freeman and Company, 2009. ISBN-13: 978-1-4292-1797-2.
Course Weighting:
Exams (2)45%
Final Exam (1)25%
Attendance and participation10%
Homework20%
Grading Scale:
90-100%A
79-89%B
68-78%C
57-67%D
less than 56%F
Explanations of Assignments:
There will be two Exams and one Final Exam in this course. The two exams will cover material since the previous exam. The final exam will be cumulative. All exams will cover material presented both in class and in the text book.
Attendance is expected at all classes. At each class, you will be asked to sign the sign-in sheet for attendance. Five points will be available each day for attendance.
Keep in mind: I work under the expectation that you will be present every class day. I will often make announcements and provide information only in class, and not in any other place. Thus if you skip many classes you will be at a strong disadvantage.
Participation credit is earned by attending class regularly and by respecting your classmates. Please do not sleep in class. Please do not use cell phones, IPods or other noise-making technology during class. Please do not use profanity in the classroom. Please also do not carry on conversations during class and please try not to arrive late for class. I will decline or decrease your attendance points for the day if I have to ask you to stop a disruptive activity(like texting, talking, etc.) or if I feel you are not participating. Please do ask any questions you might have and please do participate in class discussions and activities. These are good ways to earn participation points.
Homework will be distributed in class and part of it will be done in class. The other part will require reading the textbook. Due dates will be listed on the homework. It may be necessary to use an Excel spreadsheet which will be provided in order to complete the homework.
Extra Credit will be available for:
(1) Creating a poster or demonstration for STEMfest and presenting it there (October 22) (up to 50 points, depending on rating)
(2) Attending the “Intro to the Night Sky” demonstration (tentatively November 5)(30 points for attending the whole time)
(3) Attending Dr. Michael Turner’s talk in LaTourette Room 200 (October 28)(20 points); (4) Improving your score on the post-test (2 points for each percentage point higher than the pre-test)
All extra credit points will be applied to the Exams category.
If you will be participating in extracurricular activities that will impact course attendance, you need to contact me and advise me within the first week so we can discuss accommodations.
Make up Policy:
Homework is due when stated. You will lose 50% of the credit on the homework if it is up to 1 week late. After 1 week, the homework will not be accepted.
Makeups for exams will only be allowed if a documented emergency or university-sanctioned event has taken place and I have been advised via e-mail BEFORE THE EXAM. Documentation of the excusing event will be required. Makeups for exams may or may not be allowed at the discretion of the instructor. There are no makeups for the final exam.
Honors Program:
Students who are taking this as an honors class should speak to me no later than August 31 to discuss an honors project. The honors project will be treated as pass/fail. It will not directly impact your grade, but it must be completed in order to earn honors credit for this class. Honors projects typically involve a research project at the Observatory.
Right to Modify Course Content:
The instructor and the university reserve the right to modify, amend, or change the syllabus (course requirements, grading policy, etc.) as the curriculum and/or program require.
Accommodation for Disabilities:
Students with documented disabilities who may need accommodations should speak to me as soon as possible to discuss their needs. Assistance is also available from the NIU Center for Access-Ability Resources (
Academic Integrity Policy:
Academic dishonesty on any assignment will result in a failing grade on that assignment and possible referral to university authorities. Other penalties may also be applied as stated in the NIU Student Code of Conduct.
You may not use any books or notes on exams. You may not have cell phones or any other electronic devices out during tests.
Finally, when completing homework, do not copy another person’s work. While discussing the homework with others is fine, copying their work is not and will be treated as plagiarism.
Class Day / Topic / Please Read22-Aug / Syllabus and pre-test; Discovering the Night Sky / Chapter 1
29-Aug / Gravitation and planetary motion / Chapter 2
5-Sept / NO CLASS-LABOR DAY
12-Sept / Light and telescopes / Chapter 3
19-Sept / Earth and Moon / Chapter 4
26-Sept / Planets and asteroids / Chapters 5-6
3-Oct / Review and Exam 1
10-Oct / The Sun / Chapter 7
17-Oct / Classifying stars / Chapter 8
24-Oct / Lives of stars / Chapter 9
31-Oct / Deaths of stars / Chapter 10
7-Nov / Review and Exam 2
14-Nov / Galaxies / Chapter 11
21-Nov / Cosmology / Chapter 12
28-Nov / A little bit of astrobiology and review / Chapter 13
5-Dec / Final Exam, 6:00-7:50pm
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