Class Schedule: T Th 2pm-4:50pm | Professor: Steve Liebling |
Classroom: Pell Hall ??? | Office: Pell Hall 210 |
Text: Arny & Schneider Explorations: An Introduction to Astronomy (5th Ed.) w/ web component ARIS Student Section Code: 6A4-E7-3CD | Office Hours: Tue Th 12:30-1:30pm (and by appointment for other times) |
Web: http://relativity.liu.edu/steve | Phone: 299-3439 |
Email: |
Labwork | 15% |
Project (details) | 15% |
Quizzes & Homework | 15% |
Classroom Participation | 10% |
Test 1 | 15% |
Test 2 | 15% |
Final Exam | 15% |
Class Participation: Everyone starts with 90%. Subtractions are made for being disruptive (excessive talking, ringing phones, texting, being late, etc) as well as excessive absences. Additions are made for contributing (questions or answers) to class discussions.
Homework: Homework will be assigned in class, usually every week or two. Often the homework will consist of assignments from the publisher's class web page (ARIS)
Quizzes: The online, "basic" quizzes for each chapter that we cover (ARIS) is due by the date of the test which covers that chapter. You will be responsible for taking these quizzes online (and outside of class) before the deadline.
Labs: This class has an integral lab component which counts toward your grade for the course. We will have various types of labs: computer labs, DIY labs at home, observations, and in class labs.
Tests: The class will have two tests on the dates indicated on the syllabus. The tests will be given during classtime.
Final: The final will be held at the time dictated by the Registrar during Exam Week.
Academic Honesty: You are encouraged to work on homework problems with others. However, you must work alone on quizzes and tests. On quizzes and exams you may use only a calculator and writing utensils (no cell phones, PDAs, etc). All the work you turn in must be your own.
Other Resources: Tutors, library books, office hours, supplemental texts, and study groups.
Syllabus:
Below is the anticipated schedule of what we'll cover. The dates of
the tests are fixed; on principle I do not change them so that students
can plan for them. Near the end of the semester, I generally have
flexibility in what we cover.
If you have a preference for what we might cover, please feel free
to provide feedback.
Week 1 | Jan. 15 | Course Overview | |
Week 2 | Jan. 20 | Measuring the Properties of Stars | Ch. 12 & Review of 301 Stuff |
Jan. 22 | Ch. 12 | ||
Week 3 | Jan. 27 | Stellar Evolution | Ch. 13 |
Jan. 29 | Neutrinos & Ch. 13 | ||
Week 4 | Feb. 3 | General Relativity (not in text) | General Relativity & Elegant Universe |
Feb. 5 | GR & Elegant Universe | ||
Week 5 | Feb. 10 | Stellar Remnants: Whie Dwarfs, Neutron Stars, and Black Holes | Ch. 14 |
Feb. 12 | Ch. 14 & Review | ||
Week 6 | NO CLASS | Monday Classes Meet Instead (President's Day) | |
Feb. 19 | TEST 1 & Project Part 1 Due | ||
Week 7 | Feb. 24 | The Milky Way Galaxy | Ch. 15 |
Feb. 26 | Ch. 15 & Supermassive Black Holes at Galactic Centers | ||
Week 8 | March 3 | Galaxies | Ch. 16 |
March 5 | Ch. 16 | ||
Week 9 | NO CLASS | Spring Break | |
NO CLASS | Spring Break | ||
Week 10 | March 17 | Cosmology | Ch. 17 |
March 19 | Ch. 17 | ||
Week 11 | March 24 | Test 2 | |
March 26 | More Cosmology (not in text) | Dark Energy and Dark Matter | |
Week 12 | March 31 | String Cosmology, LQG Cosmology Project Part 2 Due | |
April 2 | (Last Day to W 4/3) | ||
Week 13 | April 7 | Life in the Universe | Essay 3 |
NO CLASS | Passover/Easter | ||
Week 14 | April 14 | Essay 3 | |
April 16 | Gravitational Wave Astronomy (not in text) | Gravitational Wave Astronomy | |
Weak 15 | April 21 | Project Presentations | |
April 23 | Project Presentations | ||
Weak 16 | April 28 | Review | |
Week 17 | April 30--May 6 | Final Exam Period |