Reading & Exam Schedule
Printable schedule (pdf)
Here is a list of the reading assignments and dates for each of the seven exams (given during the normal class period and classroom--bring a #2 pencil.). I suggest you copy this to a separate sheet and keep it handy. However because we only have about five lectures per exam, and there may be unforeseen circumstances, you should consider this list somewhat tentative; if the reading schedule is changed slightly, it will be announced prominently in class and by class email. Note: The exams are all on Wednesdays except for the last exam (Friday). Suggested end-of-chapter questions and on-line interactive questions will be supplied via email before each exam
Exam 1. Chapters 1 (basics), 2 (gravity, orbits,...), 3 (radiation, except we will postpone sec. 3.5 on the Doppler effect until exam 2). Also see Appendices 1 and 2 at the end of the textbook. Chapter 3 is especially important for later chapters.
In Ch. 1 you will only be tested on sections 1.1, 1.3, and 1.6; these are on our place in the universe, angular measure, and distances. In Ch. 2 you should read sec. 2.2, 2.3, but really we will be concentrating only on sections 2.5 through 2.8, especially Kepler's and Newton's laws and how we can learn about astronomical objects using them. We will cover all of Ch. 3 except 3.5.
Date: Wednesday, Feb 2
Exam 2. Sec. 3.5 (Doppler effect); Chapters 4 (spectroscopy) and 5 (telescopes). Chapter 4 is especially important for later chapters, and usually difficult for students.
Date: Wednesday, Feb 16
Exam 3. Chapters 6 (survey of the solar system-omit 6.6), 15 (formation of planetary systems, observation of exoplanets), [This material is available only online at the textbook website, not in your textbook. Note that we are skipping chaps.7-14 covering details of the solar system.]
Date: Wednesday, March 2
[Spring Break occupies March 14-18]
Exam 4. Chapters 16 (Sun), 17 (properties of stars), 18 (the interstellar gas and dust). [We need to cover 16, 17, and beginning of 18 before Spring Break, leaving one lecture after break to complete and review. At this point it is uncertain whether ch.19 will be on exam 4 or exam 5--see below.]
Date: Wednesday, March 23
Exam 5. Chapters 19, 20 (not 20.6), 21, 22 (stellar formation, evolution and death). Ch. 19 may have to be covered on exam 4, depending on our rate of progress.
Date of exam: Wednesday, April 6
Exam 6. Chapters 23 (Milky Way galaxy, not 23.7), 24 (other galaxies, not 24.4, 24.5), 25 (galaxies and dark matter)
Date: Wednesday, April 20
Exam 7. Chapters 26 (cosmology) and 27 (the early universe).
Date: Friday, May 6 (last class day)
I will explain in class and/or in emails/handouts if there is material for which you will not be responsible. This occurs mainly for chapters 1 and 2 (see above); we will read nearly all of the remaining chapters listed above.
Ask me questions about anything that is unclear, or not covered, in this syllabus.