INTRODUCTION TO ASTRONOMY

PHYSICS 113

Course Description

COURSE INSTRUCTOR:

• Instructor: Dr. LorneNelson
• Office: Johnson 2
• Office Hours: MT 11:30-1:30, Th 11:30-4:00 (also, evenings or weekends)
• Telephone: (819) 822-9600 x2372
• Fax: (819) 822-9661
• e-mail: lnelson@hera.ubishops.ca

You should have no difficulty in arranging to see me at a time convenient to both of us. If I am not in my office you can ask my secretary (Mrs. J. Porter, Johnson 117a) to give me a message. If you are having any difficulties in this course, please make sure that you discuss them with me.

TIME:

Monday from 6:00 - 10:00 p.m. in room Nicolls 2

TEXT:

• Title: Voyages to the Stars and Galaxies, 2nd ed.
• Authors: Fraknoi, Morrison, and Wolff
• Publisher: Saunders College Publishing

This text can be purchased in the bookstore. You might also be interested in downloading an excellent desktop planetarium program called "Skyglobe". You can obtain a compressed (zipped), DOS version of this shareware program by clicking on Skyglobe 3.6. A very useful link to other resoures and recent developments in astronomy is provided by Sky and Telescope.

REFERENCE TEXTS:

The list of texts below can be found on reserve in the library. There are many other excellent introductory astronomy texts in the astronomy section of the Library.

• Voyages through the Universe, Fraknoi, Morrison, and Wolff
• Astronomy: The Evolving Universe, by M. Zeilik
• Contemporary Astronomy, by J. Pasachoff

MARKING SCHEME:

Tentative mid-term test dates are February 19th and March 26th. Tests cannot be given at other times, except in cases of illness or other emergencies and these cases must be confirmed with notes from medical doctors or the Dean. Supplemental examinations will not be offered.

CLASSWORK:

The "labs" for this course will consist of observing sessions (as weather permits), simple experiments, computer simulations, and (tentatively) a field trip. You are expected to maintain a log describing what you observed during the observing sessions (it is due on the last day of classes).

ASSIGNMENTS:

Class assignments must be handed in on the due date. Late assignments will not be accepted unless special permission has been granted. Students are encouraged to work in groups when doing assignments. However students MUST NOT copy the assignment solutions of other students.

HELPFUL HINTS:

• Do the homework!
• Do not try to master the material in this course by memorization. Instead try to understand the various components of the course in terms of how they relate to each other. In other words, try to establish the logical foundations since many concepts are synthesized from other ones.
• Recent studies have shown that students are better able to solve problems when they are well rested!
• Read the lecture notes and/or text carefully before attempting to answer the questions.
• If you're having trouble with a particular concept or problem try doing related problems in the text.
• Further infomation, helpful LINKS and QUIZZES can be found here.