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

Albert Einstein, 1936

ASTRONOMY 1120H  SYLLABUS

SPRING 2008

Professor Information:

Name: JP Caillault

Office: 237 Physics

Office Hours: W 9-11 AM

Phone: 542-2883

E-Mail: jpc@physast.uga.edu

Course Information:

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. 28 – Feb. 1

Bibliography Meeting– Week of Mar. 3-7

Outline & Introduction - Week of Apr. 7-11

Term Paper Due- Tuesday, April 29

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. 8                           1                      Introduction/Our Place in the Universe

RT       Jan. 10, 15                   4                      Motion, Energy, Gravity

RT       Jan. 17, 22                   5                      Light and Matter

R         Jan. 24                         6                      Telescopes

Week of Jan. 28-Feb. 1                                 Initial Term Paper Discussion Meetings

TR       Jan. 29, 31                   S2                    Space and Time

TR       Feb. 5, 7                      S3                    Spacetime and Gravity

T          Feb. 12                        S4                    Building Blocks of the Universe

W         Feb. 13                                                Optional Review

R         Feb. 14                                                Exam I

TR       Feb. 19, 21                  14                    Our Star

TR       Feb. 26, 28                  15                    Surveying the Stars

T          Mar. 4                          16                    Star Birth

R         Mar. 6                          17                    Star Stuff

Week of Mar. 3-7                                          Term Paper Bibliography Meetings

TR       Mar. 18, 20                  18                    The Bizarre Stellar Graveyard

T          Mar. 25                        19                    Our Galaxy

W         Mar. 26                                               Optional Review

R         Mar. 27                                               Exam II

TR       Apr. 1, 3                      20                    Galaxies & Modern Cosmology

TR       Apr. 8, 10                    21                    Galaxy Evolution

Week of Apr. 7-11                                         Term Paper Outlines/Intros

TR       Apr. 15, 17                  22                    Dark Matter & Dark Energy

TR       Apr. 22, 24                  23                    The Beginning of Time

T         April 29                                              Term Paper Due

W         April 30                                               Optional Review

R         May 1                                                 Final Exam (12-3 PM)