Instructor: Dr. Doug R. Ingram
Lectures: MW 12:00-12:50 in SWR LH2
Text: "OpenStax Astronomy" available for free online
Office: SWR 315
Hours: MWF 900-950, TR mornings by appointment
Phone: 257-7313 (less reliable)
Email:
d.ingram@tcu.edu (more reliable)
WWW:
http://personal.tcu.edu/dingram/phys10273
Overview: We'll start with some basic concepts in Astronomy, including 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 Science Laboratory (the Curiosity Rover), the Messenger mission to Mercury, 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. In addition, a common theme in our exploration of the planets will be the search for life and its origins.
Grading: Each of the three in-class exams counts for 20% of your grade, the final exam counts for 20%, and the lab grade counts for 20%. If you fail to complete the minimum required 10 labs for this course, your final average will suffer significantly. Be sure you read the lab announcement 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, "homework" questions (many of which require reading material from your textbook) and in-class discussions. The book is intended to be supplemental and helpful to your understanding of the course material. 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 three exams during the term will cover only the material from the previous 3-5 weeks. These exams are not cumulative, but there will be a comprehensive final (12 questions, short answer). 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 given during study days at the end of the semester. A tentative exam schedule is given below. Regular exams will be short answer and consist of eight questions. Exams will last for 45 minutes.
Final - Fri Dec 20, 11:00
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 the study guide 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 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 several chapters in 15 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 homework 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. Eligible students seeking accommodations should contact the Coordinator of Student Disabilities Services in the Center for Academic Services located in Sadler Hall, 1010. Accommodations are not retroactive, therefore, students should contact the Coordinator as soon as possible in the term for which they are seeking accommodations. Further information can be obtained from the Center for Academic Services, TCU Box 297710, Fort Worth, TX 76129, or at (817) 257-6567.