Astronomy 107, Autumn 2008, U.
Louisville
Check this website frequently for
course
announcements and information.
Instructor:
Dr.
Gerard Williger, Natural Science Bldg (NS) 206
Contact:
tel 852-0821, e-mail gmwill06* where *=@louisville.edu
My homepage is here
Office
hours: After class,
Tuesdays and Thursdays 3:45-4:30pm and by
appointment.
As a general policy, I don't answer
questions about an assignment or
test on the day it's due/given.
It's not a good way to study, and it
can swamp me. I'll happily be available before due dates, though.
NOTE: MY OFFICE HOUR ON THU. NOV. 20 IS CANCELLED.
I AM AVAILABLE NOV. 19-21 BY APPOINTMENT.
Meets: Tue-Thu
2:30-3:45pm in Life Sciences 101 (LF101, first lecture 26 Aug,
tests/exam plus other lectures), and the
planetarium
as
announced (see below)
Class number: 2808
3 credits
In addition to
the instructor and your classmates, these people can help you.
It is your responsibility to get
help when you need it.
Grader/Tutor:
Mr.
Buddika Abeyweera, Natural Sciences Bldg 125,
tel
852-3506, e-mail bkabey01*
He is available by appointment.
Learning
Assistant.: Mr.
John Ruhl (A-Star) e-mail
jaruhl01*
He will regularly come to the lectures and will have walk-in office
(help)
hours Mon
10-11am and Tue 4-5pm in
the Physics
Learning
Center (NS 134,136).
He will also run study sessions
on Wednesdays 4-5pm in NS30 (basement level).
I (Dr. W) will run a question and
answer
session (come with specific questions!) for the final exam
on Wed 10 Dec, at 1:00-2:00pm, in the Natural Science Bldg, room 313
(3rd
floor)
Directions: from 3rd floor elevator lobby go to north wing (toward
campus).
It's the 3rd door on your left in the hall which has a sign with an
arrow: "Labs
309-321". There
should be a Bullitt Lecture poster outside the door to that
classroom.
Do NOT
take the zig-zag which takes you deeper into the north wing and into the
Math Dept. section of the building!
John will run two review sessions
for the final:
Thu 11 Dec, 3:00-4:15pm, DA (Davidson) 209, math session
Fri 12 Dec, 11:00am-12:15pm, Strickler 101, concepts session
He
is also available by appointment and has this advice
for students.
The Learning Assistant program is sponsored by the REACH Center,
which offers many tutoring services, including for math.
Tutors:
Ms. Connie Tutwiler
(A-Star), tel. 502/608-3787,
e-mail catutw01*
Ms. Katie Clark
(A-Star), tel. 502/299-5117,
e-mail kjclar05*
They are available by appointment.
Tutoring:
REACH Center,
including math tutoring in Strickler 226, tel 852-8114
This course uses high school math (algebra and trigonometry).
If you need help, come to the REACH
center, the tutors or Dr. Williger.
Many students in this course have found that they can handle the math
once they get a little help.
Please note that the lab is a different course (Physics & Astronomy
108),
which, if taken,
need not be during the same semester.
You
need to bring these items to class every day:
calculator,
pencil, clicker
(click
for details and test/class ETIQUETTE)
YOU WILL NEED TO BUY A CLICKER AND
(FOR EXTRA CREDIT) A PLANISPHERE - DETAILS HERE
OBJECTIVES and TEXTBOOK: click
here for details
As usual
with college courses, you are expected to spend 2-3 hours
reading, doing homework, studying,
doing
pre-tests, working with AceAstronomy etc. for each credit hour of
the
class. It's a 3 hour course,
so that
means 6-9 hours outside work per week
ON AVERAGE.
Some people need more, some less. If you
need
help, please come to the instructor,
grader, tutors, your fellow classmates, the Physics Learning Center
and/or
the Reach Center.
We're all
here to help. But, you need to take responsibility for yourself to seek
help if
you need it.
AceAstronomy: tutorial website which helps
with pre-tests and studying (click here for details)
ASTRO-NEWS titles and links to news in astronomy -
fair game for quizzes and tests!
LINKS Equations used in
class, including a few
REQUIRED EQUATIONS to learn,
constellation
sites
to extra material (fair game for extra credit) and
in-depth
explanations and student questions.
SUPPLEMENTAL
MATERIAL in-depth explanations, chapter by chapter, plus
simulators and other fun stuff
PROTECTED
SITE (username and password to be given in class and on
BlackBoard)
which has answers to
homework/quizzes/tests,
PowerPoints, in-class assignments etc.
HOMEWORK
POLICY: staples, no frizzy paper and other rules
PRE-TESTS
usually 1-2 per week,
due before material is covered in class -- use AceAstronomy for help
with answers
TESTS AND QUIZZES several pop quizzes,
mini-quizzes, midterms on 25 Sep and 30 Oct,
final on Wed 17 Dec at 11:30am
GRADING
POLICY in a
nutshell, clickers 5%, homework 8%, quizzes 14%, 2 midterms 14% each,
comprehesive final 45% - click on link for details
EXTRA
CREDIT There are several assignments
offered each semester.
The Bullitt Lecture on 29 Oct at 7:00pm in the planetarium is an
additional extra credit assignment.
Here is the PowerPoint file for it
There are alternative on-line talks which you can view. See below.
Cheating is grounds
for automatic failure of the course.
FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS
Announcements:
If you are interested in more looking through telescopes and
learning about astronomy, check out the
Louisville Astronomical Society
at www.louisville-astro.org.
There are students in the organization, including Kyle Kenner,
who was
in a previous
Astronomy 107 class.
ASTRO-POETRY: Class member Morghan Tyler wrote some inspired
poetry:
In Stars Tonight
Astronomy Lab Sestina
MNEMONIC FORUM: First round voting was on the BlackBoard forum until
the end of
Mon 17 Nov for the best
OBAFGKM and OBAFGKMLT mnemonics. Those submitting nominations got one
bonus
submission point
(for either a submission to either or both categories).
Online voting got you one bonus participation point.
The five highest vote-getters in each category
were in an in-class runoff via clicker on Tue 18 Nov.
COMPLETE RESULTS
are on the protected site. Congratulations to the
winners:
(OBAFGKM,
OBAFGKMLT)
1st (+5 participation pts) Rebecca Carney, Andrew Sauer
2nd (+3 participation pts) Collin Ferry, Jamie Smith
3rd (+1 participation pt) Brian Boles, Molly Robertson
Syllabus (subject to revision):
the Earth-Moon system
nature of light
telescopes
planets
moons, comets & asteroids
the Sun
stars (their births, lives, deaths and planetary systems)
the Milky Way galaxy
other galaxies
the Big Bang and early history of the Universe
LOCATION: We will use both LF101 (LF, Life Sciences 101) and the
planetarium (PL).
Here is the schedule, subject to revision:
Tue 26 Aug LF, Thu 28 Aug PL
Tue 02 Sep PL, Thu 04 Sep LF
Tue 09 Sep LF, Thu 11 Sep LF
Tue 16 Sep LF, Thu 18 Sep LF
Tue 23 Sep PL, Thu 25 Sep LF MIDTERM 1 (Chapter 1 up through section
6.2)
Tue 30 Sep PL, Thu 02 Oct LF
Tue 07 Oct PL, Thu 09 Oct LF
Tue 14 Oct OFF - midterm break,
Thu 16 Oct LF
Tue 21 Oct LF, Thu 23 Oct LF
Tue 28 Oct PL, Thu 30 Oct LF MIDTERM
2 (Section 6.3 through Chapter 11)
Tue
04 Nov OFF - Election Day, Thu 06 Nov LF
Tue 11 Nov PL, Thu 13 Nov LF
Tue 18 Nov LF,
Thu 20 Nov LF
Tue 25 Nov PL, Thu 27 Nov OFF - Thanksgiving
Tue 02 Dec LF,
Thu 04 Dec LF
Tue 09 Dec PL
Wed 17 Dec
11:30am-2:00pm LF COMPREHENSIVE
FINAL EXAM
WEEKLY
ASSIGNMENTS: Reading, Homework, Pre-tests:
You are expected to
read 1-2 chapters per week BEFORE the material is covered in class.
The pretests are meant for you to be familiar with that material for
better understanding
in lectures.
You are also expected to
read Astro-news every week to be up on current discoveries in
astronomy. See the ASTRO-NEWS
site for this semester's articles. There will be questions
about them on the quizzes and tests.
Reading due dates:
26-28 Aug: Chapters 1-2
2-4 Sep: Chapter 3
9-11 Sep: Chapter 4, also
libration site (required:
libration website on
supplemental material page:
go to the supplementary
material
site, and see libration
entry for
Chapter 4)
16-18 Sep: Chapters 5-6
23-25 Sep: Chapter 7
30 Sep - 2 Oct: Chapter 8 and
Mike Brown's Eris and Dysnomia
site
(required,
or see supplementary
material
site, see Chapter 8 section)
7-9 Oct: Chapters 9-10
16 Oct: Chapter 11
21-23 Oct: Chapter 12
28-30 Oct: Chapter 13
6 Nov: Chapters 14-15
11-13 Nov: Chapter 16
18-20 Nov: Chapter 17
25 Nov: Chapter 18
2-4 Dec: Chapter 19
9 Dec: Chapter 20
Homework
- generally due on Tuesdays at the
beginning of class, 8 problems/week:
Homework format:
1) no frizzy
paper -- must have clean edge, not ragged from tearing out of a spiral
notebook (this makes a mess as pieces come off, and makes papers stick
together)
2) must be on
standard size 8.5x11 inch paper
3) multiple
pages must be stapled
4) name, due
date, homework set (for example HW4) on upper right
5) use the problem numbering convention 1.7 for Chapter 1, problem 7
(so the grader and I
can easily tell which problem it is)
See Homework
policy
for more details.
HW01: Chap 1,
problems 1.3*,1.4,1.6,1.7,1.8; Chap 2, problems 2.9,2.11,2.27,
due Tue 2
Sep, 2008
STATS: 103/142 done, mean=7.36/10,
std dev=2.16,
range=1.0-10.0
HW02: Chap 2, problems
2.23,2.28,2.29; Chap 3, problems
3.3,3.8,3.12*,3.13,3.17, due Tue 9 Sep, 2008
STATS: 107/142 done, mean=6.84/10,
std dev=1.82, range=1-10
HW03: Chap 3, problems
3.15,3.20; Chap 4, problems
4.2,4.3,4.8*,4.10,4.12; Chap 5, problem 5.1, due Tue 16 Sep, 2008
STATS: 84/138 done (those not
turning in got excused
for Hurricane Ike),
mean=7.93/10, std dev=1.79, range=3-11
Those
who did not turn it in are assumed to have missed it due to Hurricane
Ike and are excused.
In that case, HW03 will neither help nor hurt your homework grade, and
it will not count as your dropped
homework assignment.
HW04: Star Problem (below),
Density-gravity problem
(below),
Chap 5, problems,5.14,5.15,5.16;
Chapter 6, problems 6.4*,6.9,6.11, due Tue 23 Sep, 2008
STATS: 78/132 done,
mean=6.69/10, std dev=2.22, range=3-12
Star Problem: You are in Louisville
(latitude 38.25 degrees north). What are the smallest
zenith distance and the highest
possible altitudes visible
from Louisville for the
following stars?
(Note: zenith distance = 90 degrees - altitude.)
Make a drawing to illustrate your
answer.
a) declination 90 degrees N
b) declination 76.5 degrees N
c) declination 38.25 degrees N
d) declination 0 (on celestial
equator)
e) declination 60 degrees S
Density-gravity problem:
a) Planet Vulcan has twice the
mass of Earth and the same radius. What
are its
volume, density
and surface gravity compared to Earth?
(Hint: use the formulas for
density, volume of a sphere and the inverse
square law.)
b) Planet Romulus has the same
mass as Earth but twice the radius. What
are
its volume, density
and surface gravity compared to Earth?
c) Planet Klingon has the same
mass as Earth but half the radius. What
are
its volume, density
and surface gravity compared to Earth?
HW05:
Chap 6, problems 6.20,6.23,6.32; Chap 7, problems
7.6*,7.7,7.12,7.16,7.19, due Tue 30 Sep, 2008
STATS: 89/130 done,
mean=7.66/10, std dev=1.62, range=4-11
HW06:
Chap 7,
problems 7.11, 7.14; Chap 8, problems 8.1,8.5 (do for Eris,
too),8.6,8.13,8.20,8.22*, due Tue 7 Oct, 2008
STATS:
95/128 done,
mean=8.49/10, std dev=1.72, range=4-11
HW07: Chap 9, problems 9.5,9.7,9.9,9.13,9.19*; Chap 10, problems
10.2,10.11,10.14, due Tue 21 Oct, 2008
STATS:
88/124 done,
mean=6.61/10, std dev=1.82, range=2-10
HW08: Chap 10, problem 10.9; Chap 11, problems
11.5,11.8,11.10,11.13,11.20,11.24,11.36* due Tue 28 Oct, 2008
STATS:
89/124 done,
mean=7.15/10, std dev=2.36, range=1-10
HW09:
Chap 12, problems 12.1, 12.6*, 12.7, 12.13, 12.17; Chap 13,
problems
13.1,13.3,13.7 due THURSDAY 6 Nov, 2008
STATS:
82/124 done, mean=8.44/10, std dev=1.40, range=5-11
HW10: Chap 13, problems 13.12, 13.16*, 13.17, 13.29; Chap 14, problems
14.6, 14.10, 14.12, 14.19 due THURSDAY 13 Nov, 2008
STATS:
85/124 done, mean=8.42, std dev=1.52, range=2-11
HW11: Chap 15, problems 15.4,15.6,15.7,15.11,15.19; Chap 16, problems
16.2*,16.4,16.22 due THURSDAY 20 Nov, 2008
STATS:
87/124 done, mean=6.67, std dev=1.82, range=2-10
HW12: Chap 16, problems 16.8,16.11,16.12,16.24; Chap 17, problems
17.3,17.8,17.13*,17.16 due TUESDAY 2 Dec, 2008
STATS:
79/124 done, mean=8.05, std dev=1.70, range=3-10
HW13: Chap 18, problems 18.6*,18.10,18.17,18.22; Chap 19, problems
19.4,19.7,19.11,19.17 due TUESDAY 9 Dec, 2008
STATS:
63/124 done, mean=8.87, std dev=1.50, range=2-11
HW14: 4 problems on BlackBoard online test (multiple attempts allowed):
Chap 20, problems 20.14,20.17,20.30 (variation), A (1 point each);
STATS: 64/124 done, mean=2.73/4,
std dev=1.37, range=0-4
2 final
questions on BlackBoard discussion forum (3 points each) due.
Both the Chap 20 problems and the questions for the final are due at
the end of WEDNESDAY 10 Dec, 2008
STATS: 52/124 done, mean=6/6, std
dev=0, range=6-6 (everyone who submitted a question got full credit)
* = problem counts
for up to 2 more points if correct
Pre-tests
- generally due at midnight the day before class:
Pre-tests are worth a up to 5%
additional points
each (scaled by the percentage right)
on the first quiz either the day they're due or
following the day after they're due, to a maximum of up to two
pre-tests per quiz
(see description/instructions for each pre-test). Alternatively,
they're worth
+1% if the next test is a midterm, or +0.33% if the next test is the
final.
Some people have technical problems with pre-tests due to slow
modems. Try it
with at least a day to spare to get help if you need it. They are
a required part of the course.
More information on PRE-TESTS
BlackBoard online DIAGNOSTIC TEST FOR 2
BONUS PARTICIPATION POINTS:
Take the online diagnostic test before midnight on the night of Monday, 1
Sep.
Your answers will not affect your grade. If you answer all the
questions, you'll
get 2 bonus participation points (like clicker points). The
purpose is to improve the
teaching of this course. 89/160 responses.
BlackBoard online MIDTERM SURVEY FOR 2
BONUS PARTICIPATION POINTS:
Take the online midterm survey before midnight on the night of
Monday, 20 Oct.
Your answers will not affect your grade. If you answer all the
questions, you'll
get 2 bonus participation points (like clicker points). The
purpose is to improve the
teaching of this course. 99/124 responses.
Click here for results.
Click here for my comments on the
results.
BlackBoard online
POST-COURSE DIAGNOSTIC TEST FOR 2
BONUS PARTICIPATION POINTS:
Take the online diagnostic test before midnight on the night of
Wednesday, 10 Dec.
Your answers will not affect your grade. If you answer all the
questions, you'll
get 2 bonus participation points (like clicker points). The
purpose is to improve the
teaching of this course. [ ]/124 responses.
PRE-TEST
ASSIGNMENTS -- see BlackBoard! Results are out of 17 questions.
Chap 01: due end of Mon 1 Sep, up to 5% bonus on Quiz 1
STATS: 98/145 taken, mean=13.29, std dev=2.93, range=3-17
Chap 02: due end of Mon 1
Sep, up to 5% bonus on Quiz 1
STATS: 96/145 taken, mean=11.57, std dev=4.00, range=3-17
Chap 03: due end of Wed 3 Sep, up
to 5% bonus on Quiz 2
STATS: 91/145 taken, mean=12.27, std dev=3.78, range=2-17
Chap 04: due end of Wed 10 Sep, up
to 5% bonus on Quiz 2
STATS: 105/142 taken, mean=11.47, std dev=4.36, range=1-17
Chap 05: due end of Mon 22 Sep
(extended due to Hurricane Ike), up
to 1% on Midterm 1
STATS: 96/135 taken, mean=11.97, std
dev=4.44, range=2-17
Chap 06: due end of Mon 22 Sep
(extended due to Hurricane Ike), up
to 1% on Midterm 1
STATS: 76/135 taken, mean=13.72, std
dev=3.68, range=4-17
Chap 07: due end of Mon 29 Sep, up
to 1% on Midterm 1
STATS:
78/131 taken, mean=14.18, std
dev=3.25, range=3-17
Chap 08: due end of Mon 29 Sep, up
to 5% bonus on Quiz 3
STATS: 76/131 taken, mean=14.22, std
dev=3.74, range=4-17
Chap
09: due end of Mon 06 Oct, up
to 5% bonus on Quiz 3
STATS: 74/130 taken, mean=13.00, std
dev=4.06, range=2-17
Chap 10: due end of Wed 08 Oct, up to 1% on
Midterm 2
STATS: 70/130 taken, mean=13.61, std
dev=4.03, range=3-17
Chap 11: due end of Wed 15 Oct, up to 1% on
Midterm 2
STATS: 57/128
taken, mean=12.72, std dev=4.80, range=3-17
Chap 12: due end of Wed 22 Oct, up to 1% on
Midterm 2STATS: 64/124 done,
mean=2.73/4, std dev=1.37, range=0-4
STATS:
76/124 taken, mean=12.42, std
dev=5.18, range=1-17
Chap 13: due end of Wed 5 Nov, up to 5% bonus on Quiz 4
STATS: 88/124 taken, mean=11.93/16, std
dev=4.85, range= (graded out of 16, maximum set at 16)
Chap 14: due end of Mon 10 Nov
(same as for Chap 15), up to 5% bonus on Quiz 4
STATS:
83/124
taken, mean=12.77, std dev=4.65, range=1-17
Chap 15: due end of Mon 10 Nov, up
to 5% bonus on Quiz 5
STATS:
71/124 taken, mean=12.92, std
dev=4.44, range=1-17
Chap 16: due end of Wed 12 Nov, up
to 5% bonus on Quiz 5
STATS:
68/124 taken, mean=13.53, std dev=3.87, range=4-17
Chap 17: due end of Wed 19 Nov, up
to 5% bonus on Quiz 6 (sum of mini-quizzes)
STATS:
84/124 taken, mean=12.45, std dev=4.54, range=3-17
Chap 18: due end of Mon 24 Nov, up
to 5% bonus on Quiz 6 (sum of mini-quizzes)
STATS:
60/124 taken, mean=12.95, std dev=4.72, range=3-17
Chap 19: due end of Mon 1 Dec, up
to 0.33% on
final
STATS:
75/124 taken, mean=13.39, std dev=4.76, range=2-17STATS:
64/124 done, mean=2.73/4, std dev=1.37, range=0-4
Chap 20: due end of Mon 8 Dec, up
to 0.33% on final
STATS:
76/124 taken, mean=13.88, std dev=3.60, range=3-17
Quiz/homework solutions will
be posted on the protected
site, along with the PowerPoint lectures
supplied by the publisher
and my own lectures, which use many figures from the book, but have
a LOT of additional and updated material.
IN-CLASS ASSIGNMENT RESULTS
Results of the astrology assignment
on 26 Aug. 2008, worth up to 2 participation points (118/150 done).
Results of the telescope
assignment on 9 Sep. 2008, worth up to 4 participation points
(115/145 done, mean=5.4, std dev=0.7, range=4-7).
Results of the star
classification assignment on 23 Oct. 2008, worth up to 8
participation points (67/124 done, mean=4.1/8, std dev=0.6, range=2-5).
Results of the galaxy
classification assignment on 18 Nov. 2008, worth up to 10
participation points (74/124 done, mean=6.5/10, std dev=1.7, range=2-9).
STATS:
64/124 done, mean=2.73/4, std dev=1.37, range=0-4
QUIZ AND TEST RESULTS
will be posted here
Quiz 1, 4 Sep 2008: 114/142 taken, mean=2.77/5, std dev=1.34, range=0-6
Quiz 2 (via clicker), 23 Sep 2008: 99/135 taken, mean=3.31/5, std
dev=1.28,
range=0-6
Quiz 3, 21 Oct 2008: 94/124 taken, mean=2.39/5, std dev=1.45, range=0-6
Quiz 4, 20 Nov 2008: 93/124 taken, mean=2.01/5, std dev=1.46, range=0-6
Quiz 5, 4 Dec 2008: 84/124 taken, mean=1.81/5, std dev=1.19, range=0-5
Midterm 1, 25 Sep 2008: 126/131 taken, mean=9.15/18, std dev=3.75,
range=2-19, MT1
grade
distribution
Midterm
2, 30 Oct 2008: 119/124 taken, mean=8.92/18, std dev=3.95,
range=1-18, MT2
grade
distribution
Final
Exam, 17 Dec 2008: 113/124 taken, mean=18.26/49 or 37.3% (question on H
spin-flip transition thrown out;
a score of 10 or 20% is random guessing), std dev=8.36,
range=5-49, final
exam
grade
distribution
Mini-quiz
1, 07 Oct 2008: 96/130 taken, 25 correct (26.0%).
Mini-quiz 2, 16 Oct 2008: 83/128 taken, 25 correct (30.1%).
Mini-quiz 3, 28 Oct 2008: 95/124 taken, 54 correct (56.8%).
Mini-quiz 4, 18 Nov 2008: 73/124 taken, 46 correct (63.0%).
Mini-quiz 5, 04 Dec 2008: 75/124 taken, 6 correct (8.0%). Click HERE for an explanation
of the answer.
Mini-quiz 6, 09 Dec 2008: 91/124 taken, 10 correct (11.0%).
Mini-quiz questions,
answers and statistics
Here
are grade summaries.
They include ALL students, including those who did not do homework,
quizzes or tests:
Homework average for HW1-14, graded out of 10, dropping the lowest:
mean=5.63, std
dev=2.83, high=10.31
Participation point scores through Dec. 10 (68 points possible,
cap is 58
allowing 15%
missed classes,
but counting bonus participation points as in
forum), scaled to 5%: mean=5.18, std dev=2.06, high=10.14
Quiz avg (Quizzes 1-5 plus sum of miniquizzes, dropping the lowest,
including pretest
bonuses):
mean=2.32, std dev=1.19,
high=6.01
Midterm 1 avg (including pretest bonuses, including no-shows):
mean=9.17, std dev=4.29
Midterm 2 avg (including pretest
bonuses, including no-shows): mean=8.81, std dev=4.33
grade percentage for whole course:
mean=45.6%, std dev=19.4%, max=106.1%
random guessing with full participation but no extra credit or
pretests: about 30%
Here is the grade
distribution as of 3 Oct
Here is the grade
distribution as of 1 Nov
Here
is the grade
final grade distribution
I
did relax the grading curve, as I said I might. The floor for
passing was lowered to 30% (random guessing
with full participation but no extra credit). Here is
the final grading scale:
original relaxed #
maximum
scale students
A+100
95 1
A 85
74 11
A- 80
67 5
B+ 75
61 8
B 70
55 7
B- 65
49 18
C+ 60
46 10
C 55
43 6
C- 50
40 5
D+ 45
37 10
D 40
34 7
D- 35
30 13
F
21 (9 skipped the final = automatic failure; 12 took it)
I
2
Class average for those taking the final: 2.10 (between C and C+)
Percentage taking the final and passing: 89.4%
Results are similar to my previous classes.
You can compare results to my previous classes on my grading
history page
I take teaching seriously, try to provide
students with many ways and chances to learn
(homework, pre-tests, clickers, in-class assignments etc.) and always
welcome constructive criticism.
If
you want to rate me on ratemyprofessors.com
or pickaprof.com, this is the
time to do it.
Two
big things you can do to improve your performance: DO HOMEWORK
and ATTEND CLASS
See the correlation between homework and
test performance to Nov. 1
See
the correlation between
participation and test performance to Nov. 1
See
the correlation between
pre-tests (1-18) and test performance (Quizzes 1-5 and Midterms 1-2)
without pre-test bonuses) to Dec. 5
Note that pre-tests and test performance do not have much correlation.
This class is CURVED. There is no straight scale nor any
relation to high school
style
grading systems!
If you want to talk
about your grade, please see me during office hours or make an
appointment.
UL regulations specifically forbid me from giving out grades or
specific grade information by e-mail.
Since only 25% of your grade is determined, EVERYONE has a chance at a
good grade (B or better).
Here is an
example from our class to explain grading.
Full participation with random guessing
but no pretests or extra credit
would result in an overall
average of about 30%.
Extra Credit:
The following assignments are offered every semester. Each is
worth +1% for your participation grade.
1) Attend one showing
at the planetarium of Skies
Over Louisville, The Planets
(or Evening Under the Stars,
if offered). You must show your
ID, register with a
planetarium
staff member (signing a paper if necessary), get that staff member's
name
and e-mail me
within one week of seeing the show to get credit.
Keep
your receipt until I confirm that you got credit. Contact me by
e-mail first
about the extra credit. I only want to see your receipt (and have
bits of paper which
can be lost) AFTER we determine by e-mail that confirmation is
necessary.
The planetarium schedule is on the planetarium website (click on
show schedule).
This
extra credit possibility is possible to do every weekend through the
last weekend before the final exam.
2) Buy a
planisphere
(around $2.00-2.50, available at the UL bookstore) and take an online
quiz.
The date to bring the planisphere to the planetarium is Tuesday,
30 Sep.
The online quiz is due by the end of Wednesday, 15 Oct.
(It will be loaded onto BlackBoard on 2 Oct.)
Click here for
answers.
STATS: 60/128 taken, mean=3.98/5, std
dev=1.15/5, range=0-5
3) Take a series of photos
of sunset from the same spot with the same field of
view over the
semester. The
deadline for the first picture is Tuesday, 23 Sep (extended from
Thursday,
18 Sep due to Hurricane Ike). This
is to ensure that you
take useful pictures during the semester. For important details,
see EXTRA
CREDIT DETAILS.
4) Take a photo of each of the
Moon's 4 main phases (within +-3 days of
each phase): New, First
Quarter, Full, Third
Quarter. The
recommended
deadline for the first picture is Tuesday, 23 Sep (extended from
Thursday, 18 Sep due to Hurricane Ike). This is to ensure that you take useful
pictures during the semester
and don't have your only chance for a phase ruined due to clouds. If
you want to start later, it's at your own risk.
For important details,
see EXTRA
CREDIT DETAILS.
For details of assignments 1-4,
see EXTRA
CREDIT DETAILS.
FOR AUTUMN 2008 SEMESTER ONLY:
5) Attend the Bullitt
Lecture (link) on the evening of Oct. 29 at 7:00pm in the
planetarium.
Write up a 250 word summary,
typed, on paper,
and turn it in.
THIS ASSIGNMENT (BULLITT LECTURE OR SUBSTITUTE LECTURES) IS POSSIBLE TO
DO RIGHT UP TO THE FINAL EXAM
(EXTENDED DUE TO TECHNICAL PROBLEMS WITH ONLINE VERSION)
Prof. Caty Pilachowski of IU gave the annual Bullitt Lecture in
astronomy.
Here is the PowerPoint file for it
It's worth +1% on
your participation grade.
The lecture was recorded so students who couldn't make it can watch
it afterward via the Internet. However, it is not yet available
as of 15 Nov 2008.
Whenever it appears, you can watch that and summarize it for extra
credit. An alternative online talk can be chosen from the list
below.
ALTERNATIVE
LECTURES:
As of 15 Nov
2008, the online version of the Bullitt Lecture was not
available. Therefore, you
can choose ONE from these online alternatives. As with the
Bullitt Lecture, a 250 summary as
described above is due BY THE FINAL EXAM.
Here are your alternatives, from
the UL
Astronomy talk archive.
Descriptions of each lecture are on the talk archive website.
7th Bullitt Lecture, 2007 Oct 25, C. Robert O'Dell,
Vanderbilt U,
Creating the Hubble Space Telescope
6th Bullitt Lecture, 2006 Apr 20, Alan Dressler,
Observatories of the Carnegie Institute of Washington,
Galaxies, Stars, Planets, and Life: The
Birth of the Modern Universe (caution: asx)
2007 Mar 26, Don Yeomans, NASA/Jet Propulsion Lab,
Killer
Asteroids: Finding Them Before They Find Us
2006 Dec 1, Volker Beckmann, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center,
The
Violent Universe: NASA's High Energy Missions
2006 Sep 14, Chuck Keeton, Rutgers U,
Black Holes and the
5th
Dimension (63 minutes; caution: asx)