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Physics 103Physics 103General AstronomyGeneral Astronomy

Dr. Tyler E. Nordgren

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Organization• Lecture three days a week (MWF):

– 1 hour and 20 minutes– Lectures available on website

• Lab one day a week (Tues. am or pm):– 2 hours and 50 minutes (meet Duke 113)

• Off campus observing (2 times): lab nights– Check the syllabus and website for exact dates

and times!

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Structure

• 9:30 am homework due• 30 minute lecture• Concept questions• In-class discussion• 15 minute quiz• New homework assigned.

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Homework & Quizzes

• Assigned every class.• Due 9:30 morning of every class.• Two or three questions.• Must include a topic of confusion.• I will tailor class lecture to homework.• At end of class, a short quiz.

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Observing Labs

• Two off campus meetings in the evenings (~7:30 pm).– Oct 5 (back-up is Oct 19)– Dec 7 (back-up none)

• Attendance is mandatory at one.• In event of clouds, back-up date.

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Observing Project

• Science is a process, not a body of knowledge!

• You will do a scientific project.• Observe the sky:

– Make observations– Predictions

• Presentation at end of semester.

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Grading

• Homework: 10%• Quizzes: 20%• Labs: 10%• Observing project: 15%• Class citizenship: 5%• Exams: 20%

– 3 exams, lowest grade dropped

– Each exam 10%

• Final: 20%

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Class Rules

• See hand-out and website.• You are adults and responsible for ALL

rules.• A few in particular:

– No late homework is accepted.– No admittance to lab once started.– No make-up exams.

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Grades

Final Grades:“C Acceptable. The quality of work was acceptable meeting minimal course standards but was not exceptional.” University of Redlands Catalog 2002-2004

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Semester GoalsSemester Goals

• What is science? How does it work? – Why is science different from philosophy or

religion?– Why is a scientific “theory” different from a

conspiracy “theory?”

• Learn about the Scientific Method through study of Astronomy:1. Are there planets around other stars?2. How are stars and planets born, live, and die?3. What are black holes?4. Where did the Universe come from and where is it

going?5. Are we alone in the Universe?

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Why should I believe?

• How do we decide what to believe is true?– Astrology.– Astronomy.– UFOs.– Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI).– Creationism.– The Big Bang.

• Why should you believe one over any other?

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Homework #1Homework #1• Due Wed 8-Sept: Read Tyson Ch. 2.

(denoted “Ty2” on Physics 103 lecture web page)1. What are the steps of the scientific method?

2. Give an example of a time when you used the scientific method in your daily life. What was the successful theory that resulted?

3. Which of the following DO NOT satisfy the requirements of a scientific theory?a. In the absence of an outside energy source, the amount of disorder

in a system increases with time.b. In the case of a very high mass in very small volume, there is a

distance from the center inside of which no information reaches us on the outside.

c. The better a species is adapted to its environment the more likely it is to pass on the ability to survive to its descendents.

d. The conditions necessary for life to have arisen on Earth are too complex to have occurred by chance.

e. The making of leavened bread requires yeast.