Elementary
Astronomy
ASTR 122, Winter 2008
The
Birth and Death of Stars
Prof
Robert L. Zimmerman, Office Wil 448, bob@zim.uoregon.edu
Office
Hours: 11:30-12:30 AM--Monday, Wednesday, & Friday or by appointment
Web
page for the class http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~phys600
Graders:
To
be announced
Text: Astronomy Today by Eric Chaisson
& Steve McMillan
Date Topic
Chapters
Assig/Tests
1
(1/7) Introduction (Parts of Chp 3
& 4)
2
(1/14)The Sun
16
Assig #1 (6pts
Due 1/23)
3
(1/21) (Monday, Holiday) The Sun 16
Assig #2 (6pts)
TEST
#1 (1/28, Monday)
4
(1/28) Giants and Dwarfs
17
Assig #3 (6pts)
5
(2/4)
17
Assig #4 (6pts)
6
(2/11) Interstellar Medium
18
Assig #5 (6pts)
TEST
#2 (2/18, Monday)
7
(2/18) Star Formation
19
Assig #6 (6pts)
8(2/25) Stellar Evolution
20
Assig #7
(6pts)
9
(3/3) Stellar Explosions
21
TEST
#3 (3/5, Wed)
10
(3/10) Neutron Stars and Blackholes 22
Final
March 20 15:15 Thursday
Midterm
Exams: There will be three weekly
exams and one final. Each weekly exam is worth 40 points and covers only the
material to the previous exam. The test questions come from the lectures and
book. There will not be any makeup exams because your grade is based on your
two best midterm scores.
Final:
The final is worth 80 and
covers the complete term. The questions on the final are comprehensive but are
closely related to the questions covered in the weekly tests. You must take the final!
Web
Assignments: There will be a
"Web Assignment" about once each week. The Web assignments are
designed to expand your exposure to astronomy. There are two parts to the
assignment. In part one you are asked to explain some basic concepts and in
part two you are asked to return various images with brief explanations of the
images. All images must be placed in a word processor and under the pictures
you must include a brief description of the image and the URL where you located
the image. You only get full credit if the assignment is handed in on
time and it is complete. You must do your own work and you must personally hand
in your own paper. You cannot Xerox or copy another personŐs report and
replace their name with yours, even if you do the assignment together! A deduction of points will occur if it is not turned
in on time or it is Xeroxed from another paper. Each web assignment is worth approximately
6 or so points.
Returned
Work: All work will be returned in
the basement of Willamette Hall. At
the bottom of the stairs there are shelves where your work will be returned.
Attendance: Attendance is REQUIRED. To encourage attendance short
questions worth about four points may be asked during the term.
Extra
Credit: You may write a report. The
report will consist of no less than 4 double spaced pages (not including
pictures) on any topic covered during the term (The Stars). The material can come
from the Web. Add pictures from the Web to your paper. You must cite the
web URLs used in your report and images. The report is due the last class
lecture of dead week. The extra credit does not give you any additional points
but if you are on the borderline it may increase your final grade. The extra credit may increase your grade by
changing an F+ to a D-, a D+ to a C-, B+ to A and etc.
Grades: Your class score will be determined by throwing away your lowest weekly test and then adding all of your points (All Web Assignments +two weekly tests +Attendance Questions+ Final). Your grade will be based on a class curve made from the total points.
