Instructor: Alexie Leauthaud
Spring Quarter 2019
Course Overview:
This is a one-term introductory course on astronomy and astrophysics. We will cover the basic history, content, and fate of the universe. Some of the topics we will touch on include: the origin & evolution of the Universe and the Big Bang model; galaxies & the milky way galaxy; normal and active galaxies; the life cycles & deaths of stars, including supernovae, white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes; cosmology, the origin and fate of the universe; dark matter and dark energy.
We will emphasize scientific methods and the process of discovery, reasoning, and understanding. The goal is not memorizing facts about the Universe. Students are expected to develop a quantitative grasp of key astrophysical concepts.
The course material is self-contained. No previous college-level math, physics, or astronomy is required. However, it is assumed that students have mastered elementary arithmetic, algebra, and powers, and has some familiarity with scientific concepts and reasoning. A background in math or physics will help, but is not necessary to succeed in the class. Some of the best students in our previous AY2 classes have been non-science majors who took a strong interest in the course material.
To get the most out of class (and a good grade), it is critical that you attend lectures. In order to get the most out of lectures, you will have reading assignments so that you are familiar with the material before the lecture. It is also important to attend discussion sections. Students who do not attend both discussion sections and lecture are at a huge disadvantage for exams, homework, and the overall grade.
The class syllabus is on CANVAS. There may be some deviations from this syllabus, depending on our rate of progress and any special topics that come up in current research.
Questions and classroom discussion are encouraged, both for your benefit and to help me properly pace the course.
VERY IMPORTANT
There are two important things you need to do to get ready for this class.
1) We will be using the Mc Graw Hill Connect online homework system; you will need to purchase an access code. Read and follow the instructions on the homework page.
Please have this set up by the time you attend the first day of class.
The first homework assignment will be due on April 5th
2) You wil also want to have a small, inexpensive calculator. Be sure it can do powers and roots, and it must not be able to access information on the internet. That means smartphone and tablet calculator applications are not allowed.
Section
Attending discussion sections is mandatory. In discussion sections, you will work through similar problems to the ones that will be given as homework.
Homework
Please see the homework page
The first of the reading-based HW assignments (LearnSmart modules) is due on April 7th.
Textbook
Explorations: An Introduction to Astronomy
Authors: Arny & Schneider
McGraw Hill
ISBN: 978-1-30-874997-6 (custom UCSC edition)
Midterms and Final
There will be one midterm exam and a final exam. You must take both exams in order to pass the course. The midterm will cover all material up to that point in the course. The final will cover material from the whole term.
Important information about midterm and exam
For both the midterm and the final exam will use scantrons. You must purchase a pink 1712 form at the bookstore. Other scantron forms will not work. You must also use a Number 2 pencil. Please also read through the UCSC scantron page.
Tutoring
In addition to the regular lecture, discussion sections, and TA office hours, there is additional tutoring available for the course through UCSC. In general, the university provides students with up to one-hour of tutoring per week per course. You can check out the resources at the UCSC Learning Center. You can register here to sign up for tutoring. If you are registered, you can sign up for tutoring for a specific class here