Course Schedule of Lectures, Readings, and Exams
|
Date |
Main Topic(s) |
Readings - to be |
Comments |
|
|
Introduction |
Get textbook |
Read syllabus |
|
8/26 F |
Scale of universe, distance, angles |
(App.1), 1.1, 1.3, 1.6 |
Read MP, p.11 |
|
8/29 M |
Geocentric, heliocentric, Kepler |
2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5 |
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8/31 W |
Orbits: Kepler’s, Newton’s laws |
2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8 |
MP p.44, MP p.52 |
|
9/2 F |
Waves, spectrum of light |
3.1, 3.2, 3.3 |
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9/5 M |
Labor Day |
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9/7 W |
Thermal radiation: Wien’s, Stefan’s laws; review |
3.4 |
3.4 long and important |
|
9/9 F |
EXAM 1 |
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9/12 M |
Doppler effect, spectral lines |
Ch. 3.5, 4 |
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9/14 W |
Info from spectral lines |
Ch. 4 |
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9/16 F |
Telescopes |
Ch. 5 |
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9/19 M |
Telescopes; review |
Ch. 5 |
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EXAM 2 |
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9/23 F |
Survey of solar system |
Ch. 6 |
Read online. |
|
9/26 M |
Formation of planetary systems |
Ch. 6, Ch. 15 |
Read online. |
|
9/28 W |
Formation of planetary systems |
Ch. 15 |
Read online. |
|
9/30 F |
Extrasolar planets |
Ch. 15, outside reading |
Read online. |
|
10/3 |
Updates on extrasolar planets; review |
Ch. 15, outside reading |
Read online + |
|
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EXAM 3 |
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10/7 F |
Sun |
Ch. 16 |
Skip 16.4, 16.5 |
|
10/10 M |
Properties of stars |
Ch. 17 |
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Properties of stars |
Ch. 17 |
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10/14 F |
Finish stars; interstellar medium |
Ch. 17, 18 |
Skip 18.2, 18.3 |
|
10/17 M |
Interstellar medium; review |
Ch 18 |
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EXAM 4 |
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10/21 F |
Formation of stars |
Ch. 19 |
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10/24 M |
HR diagram; main sequence evolution |
Ch. 19, 20 |
Skip 20.6 |
|
10/26 W |
Red giant evolution; white dwarfs |
Ch. 20 |
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10/28 F |
Supernova explosions |
Ch. 21 |
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10/31 M |
Nucleosynthesis |
Ch. 21 |
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EXAM 5 |
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11/4 F |
Neutron stars, gamma-ray bursts |
Ch. 22 |
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11/7 M |
Black holes |
22 |
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11/9 W |
Milky Way galaxy |
23 |
Skip 23.7 |
|
11/11 F |
Other galaxies |
24 |
Skip 24.4, 24.5 |
|
11/14 M |
Other galaxies |
24 |
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EXAM 6 |
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