KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM AND MINERALS
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS
PHYS 215 – Introduction to Astronomy – Fall 2016 (161)
Course Description: An elementary introduction to astronomy. Topics covered include: Celestial mechanics; the solar system; stellar measurement; stellar magnitudes and spectra; galaxies; cosmology.
Prerequisite: PHYS 102.
Textbook: “The Cosmos: Astronomy in the New Millennium” 4th Ed, Jay M. Pasachoff & Alex Filippenko, Cambridge University Press, Thomson-Brooke Cole (2013).
Supplementary Textbooks and References:
1. “Explorations: An Introduction to Astronomy” 7th Ed, Thomas Arny & Stephen Schneider, McGraw-Hill (2013).
“Astronomy Today” 8th Ed, Eric Chaisson &, Steve McMillan Addison-Wesley
3. “The Cosmic Perspective” 7th Ed, Jeffrey O. Bennett et el. Addison-Wesley (2013).
4. “Foundations of Astronomy” 12th Ed, Michael A. Seeds & Dana Backman. Cengage Learning (2012).
5. “Introduction to Astronomy and Cosmology”, Ian Morison, John Wiley & Sons (2008).
6. “Astronomy: From The Earth To The Universe” 6th Ed, Jay M. Pasachoff, Saunders College Publishing (2002).
7. Sky and Telescope Magazine (Monthly).
8. Astronomy Magazine (Monthly).
Attendance: Attending all classes is compulsory. A DN grade will be assigned once a student accumulates 10 unexcused absences. A student will lose a quarter of a point every time he does not show up by the class start. To be considered present, a student must come to the class before 1:15.
Grading Policy:
Students’ assessment will be based on:
· Classwork and Homework (20%)
· Major Exam I (20%)
· Major Exam II (20%)
· Final Exam (Comprehensive) (40%)
Lecture Schedule (Dynamic)
|
Week |
Class |
Chapter |
Topic |
Reading |
Homework |
|
1 |
18 Sep 20
22 |
Ch. 1
Ch. 2 --- |
Course Description, Peering Through the Universe The Nature of Light and the Spectrum No class |
To be assigned in class |
To be assigned in class |
|
2 |
25 27 29 |
Ch. 2 Ch. 3 Ch. 3 |
The Nature of Light and the Spectrum Light and Telescopes: Extending Our Senses Light and Telescopes: Extending Our Senses |
|
|
|
Thursday 29 Sept 2016- Last day for dropping courses without permanent record |
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3 |
2 Oct 4 6 |
Ch. 4 Ch. 4 Ch. 5 |
Observing the Stars and Planets Observing the Stars and Planets Gravitation & Motion: Astronomy History |
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|
|
4 |
9 11 13 |
Ch. 5 Ch. 6 Ch. 6 |
Gravitation & Motion: Astronomy History The Terrestrial Planets: Earth The Terrestrial Planets: Moon |
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|
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5 |
16 18 20 |
Ch. 6 Ch. 6 Ch. 7 |
The Terrestrial Planets: Mercury & Venus The Terrestrial Planets: Mars The Jovian Planets: Jupiter |
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|
6 |
23 25 27 |
Ch. 7 Ch. 7 Ch. 7 |
The Jovian Planets: Jupiter’s Moons The Jovian Planets: Saturn The Jovian Planets: Uranus & Neptune |
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|
|
(Tuesday 25 October, 8:00-10:00 p.m.) – First Major Exam (Chapters 1 – 6) Thursday 27 Oct 2016- Last day for dropping a course with grade of “W” thru Internet (Reg. Web) |
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7 |
30 1 Nov 3 |
Ch. 8 Ch. 8 Ch. 9 |
Pluto, Comets, and Space Debris Pluto, Comets, and Space Debris Our Solar System and Others |
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8 |
6 8 10 |
Ch. 9 Ch. 9 Ch. 10 |
Our Solar System and Others Our Solar System and Others Our Star: The Sun |
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|
|
Midterm Break |
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|
9 |
20 22 24 |
Ch. 10 Ch. 11 Ch. 11 |
Our Star: The Sun Stars: Distant Suns Stars: Distant Suns |
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|
Thursday 01 Dec. 2015 - Last day for withdrawal from all courses with grade of “W” thru the Registrar Office |
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10 |
27 29 1 Dec |
Ch. 11 Ch. 12 Ch. 12 |
Stars: Distant Suns How Stars Shine: Cosmic Furnaces How Stars Shine: Cosmic Furnaces |
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|
11 |
4 6 8 |
Ch. 13 Ch. 13 Ch. 13 |
The Death of Stars The Death of Stars The Death of Stars |
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(Tuesday 6 December, 8:00-10:00 p.m.) – Second Major Exam (Chapters 7 – 12) |
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12 |
11 13 15 |
Ch. 15 Ch. 15 Ch. 16 |
The Milky Way: Our Home In The Universe The Milky Way: Our Home In The Universe A Universe of Galaxies |
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13 |
18 20 22 |
Ch. 16 Ch. 18 Ch. 18 |
A Universe of Galaxies Cosmology I Cosmology I |
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14 |
25 27 29 |
Ch. 18 Ch. 19 Ch. 19 |
Cosmology I Cosmology II Cosmology II |
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15 |
1 Dec 3 5 |
Ch. 19 --- --- |
Cosmology II Black Holes* Extraterrestrial Life* |
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16 |
8 |
--- |
Review |
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