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PHYS114 – Survey of Astronomy

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PHYS114 – Survey of Astronomy OUTCOMES BASED LEARNING MATRIX Course: Survey of Astronomy Department: _Physical Science This is a one semester, introductory astronomy course which is designed to acquaint students with a basic understanding and appreciation our universe, but with emphasis on the Solar System and the nature of the celestial bodies inhabiting it and the mechanics of their orbits. Emphasis is placed upon understanding scientific concepts as opposed to rote memorization. Topics included in the course are the nature and scale of the universe, observing the night sky from Earth, seasonal changes in the night sky and the Sun’s place on the celestial sphere, the celestial coordinate system, highlights from the historical development of astronomy, the force of gravity and the motion of planets and other celestial bodies, origin of the Solar System, the Earth and the Moon, the planets of the Solar System, and the Sun. Students are expected to do some observing on their own and to become familiar with the night sky with the help of star charts which the instructor will provide to them. Prerequisite: Intermediate Algebra and Trigonometry (38112) or permission of instructor. *COURSE OUTCOMES OUTCOMES ACTIVITIES ASSESSMENT TOOLS Upon completion of this course, each student should be able to 1. Describe the relationship of Earth to - study the Cosmic Landscape in the - exercise on sci. notation and metric the Cosmos. text system (W,R,QS,OC) - complete the exercise on sci. - quiz on lecture material and text notation and metric system (W,QS,CT,R) 2. Describe the celestial sphere, - study celestial maps and handouts - quiz on celestial map identifications identifying the horizon, zenith, NCP, provided by the instructor (CT,QS,) equator, ecliptic, vernal equinox - complete solar system scale exercise 3. Describe the change in appearance - study the celestial maps and - quiz on celestial map (CT,QS) of the celestial sphere over time and handouts provided by the instructor explain - use models in class and planetarium 4. Use the celestial coordinate system - study the celestial maps and - quiz on celestial map (CT,QS) to locate objects on the celestial handouts provided by the instructor sphere 5. Explain the causes of Earth’s - read text and study handouts - solve problems provided by instructor seasons provided by instructor - quiz on text and lecture material (CT,QS,W,R) 6. Describe the lunar phases and - study the text and lecture material - quiz on text and lecture (W,R,QS,CT) explain their monthly cycle 7. Describe the influence of - study the text and lecture material - quiz on text and lecture (W,R,QS,CT) Pythagoras, Aristotle, Eratosthenes, and Aristarchus on our understanding of Earth, Moon and Sun 8. Contrast the geocentric and - study the text and lecture material - discuss the influence of the heliocentric models of the universe geocentric model on western theology (OC) 9. Use Kepler’s laws to describe the - study the text and lecture material - quiz on text, lectures, and assigned planetary orbits - solve problems provided by instructor problems (W,R,QS,CT) - complete exercise on Mar’s Orbit 10. Apply Newton’s laws of motion and - study the text and lecture material - quiz on text, lecture material, and gravity to the orbits of planets - solve assigned problems assignments (W,R,QS,CT) - complete exercise on Earth-Moon relationship 11. Describe the electromagnetic - study the text and lecture material - quiz on text and lecture material spectrum and the differences between - demonstration of e spectrum of white (W,R,CT) its components light 12. Explain the relationship between - study the text and lecture material - quiz on the properties of light the wavelength and frequency of light (W,R,CT,QS) 13. Explain the relationship between - study the text and lecture material - quiz on text and lecture material the frequency of a photon and the (W,R,CT,QS) energy it possesses 14. Explain how the Stefan-Boltzmann - study the text and lecture material - quiz on text and lecture material law and Wien’s law influence the (W,R,CT,QS) appearance of stars 15. Explain how the energy of a - study the text and lecture material - quiz on text and lecture material photon is related to wavelength and - demonstrate emission spectrums (R,W,CT,QS) frequency. 16. Distinguish between emission, - study the text and lecture material - quiz on text and lecture material absorption, and continuous spectrums (CT,R,W,QS) 17. Describe the doppler effect and - study the text and lecture material - quiz on text and lecture material relate it to the motion of the light - demonstration of doppler effect with (CT,R,W) source sound waves 18. Relate electron energy levels to - study the text and lecture materials - quiz on text and lecture material light absorbed and emitted by atoms - demonstration of emission spectrums (R,W,CT,) - view Sun’s absorption spectrum 19. Describe the size, shape and inner - study the text and lecture materials - quiz on text and lecture material structure of earth (R,W,) 20. Explain the plate tectonic theory - study the text and lecture material - quiz on text and lecture material and the source of energy behind it (R,W) 21. Describe the formation of the solar - study the text and lecture material - quiz on text, lecture material and film nebula and the formation of the - view the film “Formation of Earth” (R,W,CT) planets within. Discuss the evidence 22. Describe the Moon’s surface - study the text and lecture material - quiz on text, lecture material and features and contrast the lunar maria - study the lunar geologic map lunar map (R,W,CT) with the highlands in terms of rock type and crater density 23. Describe the Moon’s origin and - study the text and lecture material - quiz on text and lecture material supporting evidence - Complete exercise on Earth-Moon (R,W,CT,QS) relationship 24. Explain the nature of lunar and - study the text and lecture material - quiz on text and lecture materials solar eclipses and their frequency - demonstrate the phenomena using (R,W,CT,QS) models 25. Explain the relationship between - study the text and lecture material - quiz on text and lecture material lunar phases and tides on Earth - study Boston Harbor tide chart 26. Describe the characteristics of the - study the text and lecture material - quiz on text and lecture material two classes of planets in the solar (R,W,CT,) system and the influence of distance from the Sun in the development of these characteristics 27. Describe the formation of the solar - study the text and lecture material - quiz on text and lecture material system from a solar nebula and cite (R,W,CT) evidence to support your thesis 28. Describe the processes involved in - study the text and lecture material - quiz on text and lecture material the formation of the planets and cite (R,W,CT) evidence to support your thesis 29. Describe the locations of Mercury, - study the text and lecture material - quiz on text and lecture material Venus, Earth, and Mars in the solar (R,W,CT) system and the conditions under which they can be seen 30. Contrast Mercury, Venus, Earth - study the text and lecture material -quiz on text and lecture material and Mars in terms of size, mass, - view telescopic images of the planets (R,W,CT,QS) density, temp., and geologic activity obtained on the Internet 31. Discuss the likelihood of finding life - study the text and lecture material -quiz on text and lecture material (past or present) on the terrestrial (R,W,CT) planets and support your conclusions with evidence 32. Contrast the gas giant planets with - study the text and lecture material -quiz on the text and lecture material the terrestrial planets in terms of - view telescopic images of the planets (R,W) composition, size, mass, temperatures, obtained on the Internet and number of moons 33. Explain the significance of the color - study the text and lecture material - quiz on the text and lecture material variations seen in Jupiter’s atmosphere - view images of Jupiter obtained on (R,W,CT) and what that reveals about Jupiter’s the Internet atmospheric circulation and winds 34. Discuss the makeup and nature of - study the text and lecture material - quiz on the text and lecture material the rings of Saturn - view images of Saturn obtained on (R,W) the Internet 35. Contrast the properties of Neptune - study the text and lecture material - quiz on the text and lecture material and Uranus with those of Jupiter and - view images of Uranus and Neptune (R,W) Saturn obtained on the Internet 36. Describe the location of the -study the text and lecture material -quiz on the text and lecture material asteroid belt and conpare them with (R,W,CT) the terrestrial planets 37. Discuss how an asteroid impact - study the text and lecture material - quiz on the text and lecture material with Earth 65 million years ago may (R,W,CT) have influenced life on our planet 38. Describe the makeup and origin of - study on the text and lecture material - quiz on the text and lecture material comets and their location in the solar - view images of comets on the (R,W) system Internet 39. Explain how and why the - study on the text and lecture material - quiz on the text and lecture material appearance of a comet changes as it (R,W,CT) orbits the Sun 40. Explain the relationship between - study the text and lecture material - quiz on the text and lecture material the paths that comets have taken and (R,W) meteor showers on Earth 41. Diagram and describe the internal - study the text and lecture material - quiz on the text and lecture material structure of the Sun (R,W) 42.
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