Instructor: Dr. Douglas R. Ingram
Lectures: M-R 10:05-noon in STTC 246
Text: "Cosmic Perspective, 5th ed." by Bennett et al
Office: SWR 368
Hours: MTWR 930-1000 & by appointment
Phone: 257-7313 (less reliable)
Email:
d.ingram@tcu.edu (more reliable)
WWW:
http://www.phys.tcu.edu/~dingram/phys20073
Overview: We'll start with some basic concepts in Astronomy, including sky observations, coordinate systems, gravity, size scales and the properties of light and matter. We'll then talk about the planet Earth, connecting planetary science to some of the more recent political debates like global warming and ozone depletion. Once these concepts are covered, we'll discuss the origin and history of the solar system, starting with the smallest constituents (meteors and comets) and working our way through the inner planets before finishing with a discussion of the giant planets and their moons and ring systems. Along the way, I'll talk about the most recent results of missions such as the Mars Rovers and explorers, the Galileo mission to Jupiter and the Cassini mission to Saturn.
Global Awareness: In addition to satisfying the Physical Science requirement in the new core, this course also satisfies the Global Awareness category in the HMVV portion of the new core. That's because we will not only be studying the solar system as a whole but also studying the Earth as a planet in comparison to the other planets. Why did the Earth form and evolve differently from the other terrestrial planets? What sorts of phenomena have affected our climate in the past, and how have they changed? What causes global warming, and how is that related to our global energy usage? We'll study how nuclear physics affects us, too, from radioactive dating to nuclear power. We'll look at information on these issues from a variety of perspectives and talk about how scientists judge the credibility of different sources of information so we can make rational decisions about the future.
Grading: If you are taking 20013 (lecture without the lab component), then each of the four exams will count for 25% of your total grade. If you are taking 20073 (lecture with the lab component), each of the four exams counts for 20% of your grade, and the lab grade counts for 20%. If you fail to complete the minimum required 9 labs for this course, your final average will suffer significantly. Be sure you read the lab syllabus carefully for the details of this policy. Course grades are assigned on a scale as follows:
Attendance: I don't take attendance, but I am aware of attendance. If you're going to miss two or more classes during the semster, you should seriously consider taking a different class. Your grade will simply suffer too much if you miss class.
Exams: The exams in this course will be based exclusively on material from lectures, handouts and in-class discussions. The book is intended to be supplemental and helpful to your understanding of the course material, and you should find that keeping up with the reading will help you to understand the material much better (but it is not a substitute for attending class). Each of the four exams during the term will cover only the material from that week (plus thought questions added to the study guide in advance of the week). These exams are not cumulative. Study questions will be distributed throughout the course so that it will be clear exactly what information you will be held responsible for.
No exam grades will be dropped. The course will not be graded on a curve. In the event of an unavoidable and documented medical or legal reason for missing an exam, I will consider the issue on an individual basis. Usually, make-up exams will be oral, given by me as close to the exam date as possible (either before or after). A tentative exam schedule is given below. Regular exams will be shot answer and consist of six questions . Exams will last for 45 minutes.
Exam Dates:
Cheating: Regardless of your own personal outlook on how cheating hurts yourself and others, you'll find in this class that the effort it takes to successfully cheat is far greater than the effort it takes to actually learn the covered material. So, for those of you who don't ever cheat and those of you who cheat frequently: You can rest assured that your grade in this course will be based upon your knowledge of the material, period. Anyone caught cheating during one of the exams will receive a zero on that exam, and the dean will be notified in full detail about the circumstances of the incident. Notifying other students or soliciting information about the contents of an upcoming exam from another student is also considered cheating, and will be dealt with as above.
Teamwork: I expect many of you to work together when studying for exams, and that's great! Ask each other questions, and help each other out! I strongly encourage you to form groups of 3 or more to study for exams and answer thought questions in handouts. You're not competing with one another since there is no curve.
But, please, note this word of caution! Don't rely on your group as a crutch. Failure to fully analyze and discover the solutions to questions I pose in handouts on your own may lead to disaster on exams. Your group's best role is as a backup. Use others to verify your own original answers to questions, not to tell you what the answers are. This course is not about memorization; it is about figuring things out on your own. The discussions you have with your group about the answers to various questions are important, but they are no substitute for your own analysis. After all, during the exam, your group won't be there to provide support.
Advice: I will always give optional reading assignments from the text well in advance of the appropriate lecture. This does not mean that the lectures will be derived from the text! In other words, I really mean it when I say that the reading is intended to be supplemental and helpful, but it is not a substitute for attendance.
I realize that reading 15 chapters in 4 weeks is not going to be a high priority for some of you. I encourage you to read as much as you can, taking care to familiarize yourself before lecture with the particularly interesting and/or confusing points in the relevant chapters. I'm always happy to answer questions sparked by your reading during lecture.
In general, the more time you invest in preparation for the lecture by reading the assigned chapters, the more you'll get out of the course. As usual, then, I'm torn between the necessity to encourage you to read the text and the unfairness of asking you to read everything I assign. In the end, it's your call. I will trust you to strike a balance that will enable you to get the most out of this course without putting unreasonable demands on your time.
Budget your time wisely in this course. Realistically expect to spend one hour outside of class for every hour in class (even more if you are having trouble). Don't just wait to study until the night before the exam. Do the thought questions well in advance and think about the study questions so that you can ask me to cover your weak spots during the reviews.
Academic Misconduct: I would like to remind you about policies and procedures regarding your rights as well as responsibilities that are published in the TCU Student Handbook. You may have a paper copy but it is also available on line at http://www.studentaffairs.tcu.edu/handbook/handbook.htm. Specifically I would like you to review Section 3.4 regarding Academic misconduct, i.e. cheating, plagiarism etc.
Disabilities Statement: Texas Christian University complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 regarding students with disabilities. If you require accommodations for a disability, please contact the Coordinator for Students with Disabilities in the Center for Academic Services, located in Sadler Hall 11. Further information can be obtained from the Center for Academic Services, TCU Box 297710, Fort Worth, TX 76129, or at 817-257-7486.
Adequate time must be allowed to arrange accommodations and accommodations are not retroactive; therefore, students should contact the Coordinator as soon as possible in the academic term for which they are seeking accommodations. Each eligible student is responsible for presenting relevant, verifiable, professional documentation and/or assessment reports to the Coordinator. Guidelines for documentation may be found at http://www.acs.tcu.edu/DISABILITY.HTM.
Students with emergency medical information or needing special arrangements in case a building must be evacuated should discuss this information with their instructor/professor as soon as possible.