Astronomy 162: Introduction to Astronomy

Dr. Yost's Lecture-Based Course, Spring 2003

Instructor: Dr. Yost
Office: 217A Nielsen Physics Building
Hours: Monday, Wednesday and Friday,
          11 AM to Noon or by appointment
 Phone: 974-7852
E-Mail: syost@utk.edu
Web Site: http://homework.phys.utk.edu/astr162
Textbook: Pasachoff, Astronomy: From the Earth to the Universe, 6th ed.

SYLLABUS
This is the schedule for the spring 2003 term of Astronomy 162. The details are subject to change. You should read the chapters being discussed in the lectures before coming to class. Please refer to this page often, as it will be updated throughout the course, as needed.

Note that the "OJTA" links refer to the Online Journey Through Astronomy. These links will work only if you have previously registered for access to this web site, and your browser supports Macromedia Shockwave, which can be obtained from the Macromedia download page.

The QA links are to the self-quizzes. They are for testing your knowledge. You don't have to wait to finish the chapter to start these. You can skip the questions we didn't get to yet, and come back later. You must be registered for OJTA to use the self-quizzes. The play links are to the slides from the online text which are relevant to the day's lecture. You can cycle through them by following the arrows to the left of each slide.

You can find additional material, including more self-quizzes, in the Pasachoff text's online resources.

Date Pasachoff Chapter OJTA Chapter
Jan. 13 Orientation
Jan. 15, 17 Chapter 22: The Sun The Sun, Sections 1 - 2, 5
Jan. 20No Class
Jan. 22, 24 Chapter 23: Solar Activity and The Earth The Sun, Sections 3 - 5
Jan. 27, 29 Chapter 24: Stars and Their Spectra Interaction of Light and Matter
Jan. 31, Feb. 3 Chapter 25: Stellar Distances and Motions Properties of Stars: Sections 5 - 8
Feb. 5, 7, 14 Chapter 26: Doubles, Variables and Clusters Multiple Stars and Star Clusters
Feb. 10 Review Session [Review Questions][Equation Review]
Feb. 12 Exam 1: Chapters 22 - 26 Answers: white, blue.
Feb. 17, 19, 21 Chapter 27: The Birth, Youth and Middle Age of Stars Properties of Stars, Sections 1 - 4
Star Birth & The Main Sequence
Feb. 24, 26 Chapter 28: The Aging and Death of Stars Like the Sun Star Death, Sections 1 - 4
Feb. 28, March 3 Chapter 29: Supernovae Star Death, Sections 5 - 7
March 5, 7 Chapter 30: Pulsars and Neutron Stars Neutron Stars & Black Holes, Sections 1 - 2
March 10 Review Session [Review Questions]
March 12 Exam 2: Chapters 27 - 31 Answers: white, blue.
March 14 Chapter 31: Black Holes Neutron Stars & Black Holes, Section 3
March 17 - 21Spring Break
March 24 Chapter 31: Black Holes Neutron Stars & Black Holes, Section 3
March 24, 26 Chapter 32: The Structure of the Milky Way Galaxy The Milky Way, Sections 1 - 3
March 26, 28 Chapter 33: The Interstellar Medium The Milky Way, Section 4
March 30, April 2 Chapter 34: Types of Galaxies Galaxies, Sections 1 - 2, 5
April 4, 7 Chapter 35: Galaxies and the Expanding Universe Galaxies, Sections 3 - 4
The Early Universe, Section 4
April 9, 11 Chapter 36: Quasars Active Galaxies and Quasars
April 14 Review Session [Review Questions]
April 16 Exam 3: Chapters 31 - 35 Answers: white, green.
April 18No Class
April 21, 23 Chapter 37: Cosmology Cosmology
April 25, 28 Chapter 38: The Past and Future of the Universe The Early Universe
April 30 Review Session [Review Questions]
May 7 Final Exam: Comprehensive Answers: white, yellow, pink

The Comprehensive Exam will be worth 25% of the final grade, and each of the other three exams will be worth 10% of the grade. The lab counts 25%. The remaining 20% will be based on the online quizzes. There will be no makeup exams. You will have opportunities to earn extra credit, however. You should especially be sure to take advantage of the sky viewing sessions.

A Minimum of 50% credit is required to pass the course, with at least 65% of the lab credit, and no lab absence which has not been made up.

Astronomy 162 Department of Physics University of Tennessee