Course Syllabus

PHYS 1060 Astronomy: Stars and Galaxies

Course Description

This is an introductory course designed to acquaint students with the night sky and the laws of science that govern heavenly bodies. The question "How do we know?" will lead students to learn more about stars, galaxies, and the universe itself. Application of physical laws and mathematical solutions to a variety of problems will lead to an understanding of how we know. Regularly scheduled night observations or planetarium presentations will be held each week. Naked-eye observations and binocular observations will be emphasized with some use of telescopes. (Lab fee required)

Justification

PHYS 1060 is a fundamental astronomy course traditionally taught in a Physics curriculum. This course is an option to satisfy the physical science component of the general education requirements. This course is meant to help students relate what they see to the physical laws that govern what they see. Similar courses are offered throughout the USHE system. For the natural sciences, science is the systematic inquiry into natural phenomena, organizing and condensing those observations into testable models and hypotheses, theories or laws. The success and credibility of science is anchored in the willingness of scientists to: 1) expose their ideas and results to independent testing and replication by other scientists which requires the complete and open exchange of data, procedures, and materials; 2) abandon or modify accepted conclusions when confronted with more complete or reliable experimental evidence. Adherence to these principles provides a mechanism for self-correction that is the foundation of the credibility of science (Adapted from a statement by the Panel on Public Affairs of the American Physical Society which was endorsed by the Executive Board of the American Association of Physics Teachers in 1999.).

General Education Outcomes

1. A student who completes the GE curriculum has a fundamental knowledge of human cultures and the natural world. A primary purpose of this course is to give students a strong conceptual understanding of astronomy and physics, and to show how astronomers apply scientific methods to increase their knowledge about the natural world. Students will be able to display concept mastery through homework, quizzes, exams, writing assignments, or participation in class.
2. A student who completes the GE curriculum can read and research effectively within disciplines. Students must be able to carefully examine a given problem then determine and execute a plan for solving the problem. Often the information given is presented in words, symbols and variables, or in a diagram. The student must be able to read and interpret the given problem then translate that problem into a mathematical statement which they can then solve. In addition to learning new concepts, Physics students are taught ways to express their new understanding using various mathematical symbols. This ability to read, retrieve, evaluate, interpret, and deliver information will be evaluated using homework, projects, quizzes, or exams.
3. A student who completes the GE curriculum can draw from multiple disciplines to address complex problems. Students are required to predict the outcomes of hypotheses, and compare experimental results with theoretical results as part of the course. In order to propose outcomes, conduct experiments, calculate experimental results, and report their findings, students must draw from multiple disciplines including math, a variety of disciplines within the study of astronomy (including physics, geology, and biology), history, and writing. Student ability to draw from multiple disciplines to address complex problems will be evaluated on homework, at-home experiments and corresponding write-ups related to their findings, a project, quizzes, exams or final exam.
4. A student who completes the GE curriculum can reason analytically, critically, and creatively. To be able to solve a physics problem a student must first examine what information is given, determine what information is needed, decide what process will best fit the problem to arrive at a conclusion, and then finally decide if the answer reached is reasonable. Through this course students are taught to reason analytically, critically and creatively about various physical phenomena and how they can be used to reach the desired solution. This ability is assessed through homework, quizzes, exams, writing assignments, or participation in class.

General Education Knowledge Area Outcomes

1. Students will learn about the various laws physical scientists use to analyze and form judgments about the physical world. After learning about these laws students will be able to think like scientists by approaching problem-solving in a scientific manner. For example, after learning about Kepler's laws of planetary motion students will be able to analyze a problem scientifically to determine the characteristics of the orbit of an object. Students will demonstrate their ability to think scientifically on homework, quizzes, exams, and through participation in class. Students will learn about the various laws physical scientists use to analyze and form judgments about the physical world. After learning about these laws students will be able to think like scientists by approaching problem-solving in a scientific manner. For example, after learning about Kepler's laws of planetary motion students will be able to analyze a problem scientifically to determine the characteristics of the orbit of an object. Students will demonstrate their ability to think scientifically on homework, quizzes, exams, and through participation in class.
2. Demonstrate understanding of forces in the physical world.  Homework, quizzes, and exam questions will assess student comprehension of forces and relationships between forces in the different types of physical systems studied in the content area of this course and how forces that were initially learned in one content area are applied in other content areas (For example, the inverse square law).
3. Discuss the flow of matter and energy through systems (in large and small scales). Topics learned, such Newton's laws of motion, gravity and planetary motion, energy and the conversation laws, etc., are the laws that govern the universe around us. Students will be able to apply these topics to explain the flow of energy through a system (for example, following the energy from the sun to a plant on Earth, and then to an animal). A student's ability to use these concepts to solve daily problems will be assessed using homework, quizzes, and exams.
4. Develop evidence-based arguments regarding the effect of human activity on the Earth. Using recent publications whenever possible, instructors will model this outcome by showing and explaining scientifically valid evidence of the consequences of human activities on the natural world. Students will be given opportunities to discuss and examine these examples and to generate appropriate conclusions from evidence provided to them in homework, projects or exam questions. For example, using knowledge of light to demonstrate how the greenhouse effect or light pollution happen, and how they are impacted by human activity on the Earth.
5. Describe how the Physical Sciences have shaped and been shaped by historical, ethical, and social contexts. Homework questions, projects, and exam questions will be used to prompt student exploration of and probe student understanding of the historical development of significant theories/models related to astronomy and how the scientific method was applied to gradually advance the scientific understanding of the physical world around us. Individuals contributing to the advancement of our understanding of the theories and laws of physics are presented as well as the social contexts of the scientific community at the time, and how their contributions may have been marginalized based on social pressures at the time of their discoveries.

Course Content

Using the planetarium, lectures, nighttime observations, and class discussions this class will include:• familiarity with the nighttime sky • modern astronomy, including its techniques and historical development including contributions by various cultures and scientists• understanding the birth, life, and death of stars • stellar remnants • galaxies• the past and future of the universe • life in the universe