AST 302: Our Violent Universe       Class Log


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:

Course Goals: Grading Policy: Grades will basically follow the traditional divisions at 90% (A or A-), 80% (B+, B, B-), 70% (C+, C, C-), and 60% (D), with minimal adjustments based on how the class proceeds.
Labwork 15%
Project (details) 15%
Quizzes & Homework 15%
Classroom Participation 10%
Test 1 15%  
Test 2 15%
Final Exam 15%
Extra Credit: There will be no extra credit or extra credit papers, Do the homework, labs, and take the quizzes and tests. As the semester progresses, there is less and less to be done to increase your grade.

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 Feb. 17 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 March 10 NO CLASS   Spring Break 
March 12 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  
April 9 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  

Last updated January 11, 2009.
Steve Liebling (home)