Professor
Daniel Jaffe
Office: RLM 17.218
Hours: M 2-3, Tu 11-12,
and by appointment
Phone: (512) 471-3425
dtj@astro.as.utexas.edu
Course Website
Lectures and Announcements
TA
P.J. Smith
Hours: M 1-2 in
RLM 2.408
Phone: (512) 471-3447
peej@physics.as.
utexas.edu
Homework Help Session:
W 3-4 in RLM 4.102
|
 |
Course Contents
We will present an overview of the contents of the Universe, with a physical explanation of what is there. The emphasis will be
on how astronomers study the Universe and explanations for what they find, rather than on descriptions. College-level physics
and calculus are not required, but we will use high school math (some trigonometry) and science (Newton's laws).
Text
Astronomy Today, by Chaisson and McMillan Note: this book is aimed at non-science majors, and so uses less math than we will use.
Lectures will give more quantitative explanations. Notes will be available to members of the class.
Homework
Homework will be assigned each Thursday, due at the beginning of class the next Thursday. Late homework will receive 1/2 credit. You may
get help on homework (or anything else) from the professor or TA during office hours or by appointment. You are welcome to work on
homework with other students, but verbatim copies of homeworks will not be accepted.
Quizzes
There will be 7 30-minute long quizzes, one roughly every two weeks. The topics to be covered will be announced in class the week
before each quiz.
Grading
Homework will count 1/4 of your grade, weekly quizzes will count 1/3, participation (class and extras) 1/12, and the final exam will count 1/3.
Your lowest homework and lowest quiz scores will be dropped. We will not have make-up quizzes, but let us know if you have a legitimate
excuse for missing one. Although this is not a writing class, test answers will usually consist of short written explanations, and we will count off
for confusing or ungrammatical answers.
|
1
