Syllabus
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Horizons: Exploring the Universe by Michael A. Seeds, 10th Edition
Prerequisites
This is a course for non-science majors. We will use elementary algebra in class and on homework.
For anyone needing help with the math, the TA and I will always be willing to provide it. The quiz
and exam questions will be conceptual, not mathematical. If you are a math or science major, this
is not an appropriate course for you.
Grading
Grades will be based on homework (25% of the grade), the exams (10% each), and quizzes (20%),
the final (25%), and attendance (5%). Quizzes will happen roughly once a week during class.
Help
The TA's and I will do everything we can to help you do well in the course. Help will be available outside
of class several times every week. Help sessions and office hours are listed in Table 1. These times and
locations are subject to change. Please check the on-line version of this syllabus next week and periodically
thereafter. Since we will be going over the problems in the homework assignments, we ask you not to be late
to the help session if you want to hear a discussion of the first problem in the assignment. Endless repeating
of the first problem discussion for the benefit of latecomers bores the students who were on time and drives
the instructor crazy.
Extra help sessions will be held before exams. Check the Notices section of the course web page for
locations and times.
Observing
If you wish, there is a 9-inch telescope available for observing planets and stars, operated by an astronomy
graduate student. It is available to you each clear Friday night 8:00-9:00 p.m. and each clear Saturday
night 8:00-10:00 p.m.
Contents and Approach
The emphasis in this course will be seeking an explanation for the phenomena and objects that occur
in the Universe. We will discuss physical laws and how astronomers use them to understand their
observations. Much of the time during class will be spent discussing explanations and concepts
rather than descriptions of astronomical objects. You will have to learn some of the descriptive
material from the reading assignments. This will be a small class where you will get personal
attention and be able to interact directly with the prof. To succeed in this class you will have
to keep up with the reading and come to class and be willing to participate in discussions and
activities.
Homework
A homework assignment will be handed out most Wednesdays beginning 9/12 and be due the next
Wednesday. Some assignments may involve observations of the sky. You must hand in homework to the
prof in class. If you are unable to deliver your homework in person, you are responsible for seeing that
it gets delivered. Late homework or homework not handed directly to the prof. will be worth 50% of its
grade up to one week past due.
Students are encouraged to work and learn together. The homework you hand in, however, must be
your own. Copied or paraphrased homework will receive no credit and may result in academic penalties.
Tests
There will be three 50 minute exams (September 28, October 26, and November 28). There will also be
a short quiz almost every week about the reading and about what we have done in class.
Most questions will require short written (grammatically correct) answers. We will take points off for
poorly written or illegible answers. Cheating will absolutely not be tolerated. We prosecute!
If you are unable to attend a quiz or exam due to illness, you must notify me IN ADVANCE. You can
do this by e-mail or by phone (leave a message). If you fail to do this, you cannot be excused unless you
were demonstrably unconscious at the time of the exam.
Class Participation/Attendance
Active participation in class discussions and activities is required. This means do the reading ahead of
time and come to class and get involved. You are not expected to know the "right" answer to every question.
Attendance in class is a requirement for this course.
Help Sessions/Office Hours
There will be several help sessions and office hours each week (see Table 1). We urge you to take advantage
of these sessions to get help with homework or to ask questions about the material. You are welcome to arrange
another time if you can't make one of the fixed times. If you have personal issues to discuss, please see Prof. Jaffe
during his office hours or make an appointment to see him at another time.
Reading Assignments
It is essential for the success of this class and for your success in it that you do the reading BEFORE we discuss it in
class. We will be going through the book in order. I will give you the reading assignments about 10 days ahead of time.
Table 1: Help Sessions and Office Hours
Day
|
What
|
Time
|
Room
|
Instructor
|
Monday
|
Office
|
2PM-3PM
|
TBD
|
Falcon
|
Monday
|
HWK Help
|
6PM-7PM
|
RLM 15.216A
|
Falcon
|
Wednesday
|
Office
|
10AM-11AM
|
RLM 17.218
|
Jaffe
|
Thursday
|
Office
|
2PM-3PM
|
RLM 17.218
|
Jaffe
|
|
