"The whole of science is nothing more than a refinement of everyday thinking."

Albert Einstein, 1936

ASTRONOMY 1120H

SYLLABUS - SPRING 2007

Professor Information:

Name: JP Caillault

Office: 237 Physics

Office Hours:  TuTh 2:00-3:00 PM until Feb. 28; then TBD

Phone: 542-2883

E-Mail: jpc@physast.uga.edu

Course Information:

Class Day/Time: TuTh 9:30-10:45 AM

Textbook: Stars, Galaxies, and Cosmology, 4^th ed., by Bennett, Donahue,

Schneider & Voit

Website: www.physast.uga.edu/~jpc/astrh.html

Course Structure: Although formally a lecture course, the majority of the class

time will involve students discussing the textbook material and the homework

problems that have been assigned.

Attendance: Since class participation is such an integral part of the course, a

maximum of two unexcused absences will be permitted.  Three points will

be deducted from your course grade for each unexcused absence beyond two.

Homework:  Will be assigned for each class period, but will not be collected or

graded.  However, a substantial fraction of the exam questions may be similar to

or taken directly from the homework.

Term Paper: Worth 25% of your final grade (details and topics TBA). 

Important dates:

Initial Meeting - Week of Jan. 29 – Feb. 2

Bibliography Meeting– Week of Mar. 5-9

Outline & Introduction - Week of Apr. 2-6

Term Paper Due- Tuesday, May 1

Exams: Three cumulative exams, with increasing weight:

Exam I = 15% of your final grade.

Exam II = 25% of your final grade.

Final Exam = 35% of your final grade.

Grades: Your letter grade will be assigned as follows:

93 ≤ A

90 ≤  A– < 93

87 ≤  B+ < 90

83 ≤  B   < 87

80 ≤  B– < 83

77 ≤  C+ < 80

73 ≤  C   < 77

70 ≤  C– < 73

60 ≤  D   < 70

F < 60

Tentative Class Schedule:

Day      Date                             Chapter            Topic                                                  

T          Jan. 9                           1                      Introduction/Our Place in the Universe

RT       Jan. 11, 16                   4                      Motion, Energy, Gravity

RT       Jan. 18, 23                   5                      Light and Matter

RT       Jan. 25, 30                   6                      Telescopes

Week of Jan. 29-Feb. 2                                 Initial Term Paper Discussion Meetings

RT       Feb. 1, 6                      S2                    Space and Time

RT       Feb. 8, 13                    S3                    Spacetime and Gravity

R          Feb. 15                        S4                    Building Blocks of the Universe

M         Feb. 19                                                Optional Review

T          Feb. 20                                                Exam I

RT       Feb. 22, 27                  14                    Our Star

RT       Mar. 1, 6                      15                    Surveying the Stars

Week of Mar. 5-9                                          Term Paper Bibliography Meetings

R          Mar. 8                          16                    Star Birth

TR       Mar. 20, 22                  17                    Star Stuff

T          Mar. 27                        18                    The Bizarre Stellar Graveyard

W         Mar. 28                                               Optional Review

R         Mar. 29                                               Exam II

TR       Apr. 3, 5                      19                    Our Galaxy

Week of Apr. 2-6                                           Term Paper Outlines/Intros

TR       Apr. 10, 12                  20                    Galaxies & Modern Cosmology

T          Apr. 17                        21                    Galaxy Evolution

RT       Apr. 19, 24                  22                    Dark Matter & Dark Energy

R          Apr. 26                        23                    The Beginning of Time

T          May 1                                                 Term Paper Due

W         May 2                                                  Optional Review

R         May 3                                                 Final Exam (8-11 AM)