PHYSICS 320, ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS I
COURSE OUTLINE (Fall 2018)
 Text for the course
Time/Location:
10:00–11:25 am T, R; 111 Cullimore
Instructor:
Prof. Dale E. Gary
Office:
101 Tiernan; Office hours: 
                 2:30 pm - 4 pm, Mon
Phone:
(973) 642-7878
E-Mail:
dgary@njit.edu
Web Page:
http://web.njit.edu/~gary/320

Introduction to Modern Astrophysics
(2nd Edition) 
by 
Carroll & Ostlie

  • Readings: The reading assignments are listed below. For this course, we will be covering Chapters 1, 2, 3, 6, 11, 12, 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23. Complete the readings before the corresponding lectures.
  • Homework: The homework assignments will be collected on each Thursday.
  • Exams: There will be two in-class exams during the semester, and the final exam.
  • Grades: Your grade will be based on your homework (20%), in-class exams (30%), attendance and class participation (20%), and final exam (30%).
  • Observing Sessions: Two optional observing sessions in the observatory on the roof of Faculty Hall will be held during the semester. If possible, we will plan a trip to the Dreyfuss Planetarium at the Newark Museum.
    •

    Here are the approximate weights to be used for calculating the final grade and the final grade scale:

    30% for the two common exams (15% each) 85% and more A
    30% for the final exam 80% - 84% B+
    20% for the total homework grade 70% - 79% B
    20% for total attendance/class participation 65% - 69% C+
      55% - 64% C
      50% - 54% D
      49% and less F
    Grades are not negotiable. A score of 84.99999% is a B+, not an A
    Lecture Number and Title
    Reading Assignment
    Homework Assignment
    Lecture 1 (T 09/04). Introduction to the Solar System Earth as a Peppercorn (web page)  Due 09/13: Homework given in lecture
    Lecture 2 (R 09/06).  Solar System From Earth: Positions in the Sky Chapt 1, Download and install the free program Stellarium (Stellarium web page ) Due 09/13: 
    Ch 1, Probs. 1.3, 1.4, 1.5 (but do this for Newark's latitude), 1.8
    Lecture 3 (T 09/11). Kepler's Laws Chapt 2, Section 2.1 (Article from Physics Today)
    		Due 09/20: 
    Ch 2, Prob. 2.2, Mercury Problem
    Lecture 4 (R 09/13). Newtonian Mechanics Ch 2, Section 2.2 Due 09/20:
    ISS and Jupiter Problems
    Lecture 5 (T 09/18). Telescopes and Detectors Chapter 6, Section 6.1, 6.2 Due 09/27.
    Ch 6, Probs. 6.2, 6.9 (PDF Pages) Solar Eclipse Problem
    Lecture 6 (R 09/20). Star Distances and Magnitudes Chapter 3, Section 3.1, 3.2, 3.4, 3.6 Due 09/27.
    Ch 3, Lecture6_HW
    Lecture 7 (T 09/25). Orbital Mechanics Ch. 2, Sections 2.2, 2.3. Sky Live 3D Solar System Due 10/04:
    Ch 2, Prob. 2.13, 2.14 (but for prob. 2.14, instead of Comet Halley, answer using the object 2002 VE68, whose period is 224.82 days and eccentricity is 0.41), Lecture07_HW,
    Lecture 8 (R 09/27). Interstellar Medium Chapter 12, Sections 12.1 Due 10/04:
    Ch. 12, Probs. 12.4, Lecture 8 problems
    Lecture 9 (T 10/02, T 10/09). Protostar Formation Chapter 12, Section 12.2 Due 10/18:
    Ch. 12, Probs. 12.17, Lecture 9 problems
    (R 10/04). Test on Mechanics and Orbits (Study Guide) Rm: 210 Kupfrian Chapters 1,2,3,6 Equation Sheet
    Lecture 10 (R 10/11). Search for Extrasolar Planets Chapter 7, Section 7.4, Chapter 23, Section 23.1 Due 10/18:
    Probs. Lecture 10 problems
    Lecture 11 (T 10/16). Formation of Planetary Systems Chapter 23, Section 23.2 Due 10/25: 
    Ch. 23, Probs. 23.5, 23.9, Lecture 11 problem
    Lecture 12 (R 10/18). Physical Processes of the Solar System: Tidal Effects Chapter 19, Sections 19.1-19.2 Due 10/25: 
    Ch. 19, Probs. Lecture 12 problems
    Lecture 13 (T 10/23). Physical Processes of the Solar System: Atmospheres  Chapter 19, Sections 19.3 Due 11/01: 
    Ch. 19, Probs. Lecture 13 problems

    Lecture Number and Title  Reading Assignment  Homework Assignment 
    Lecture 14 (R 10/25) Mercury Chapter 20, Sections 20.1, 20.4 (see also 19.3) Due 11/01: 20.2, 20.5, Lecture 14 problem
    Lecture 15 (T 10/30).  Venus, Earth, Moon Chapter 20, Sections 20.2-20.4 Due 11/08: Ch. 20, Probs. 20.8, 20.9
    (R 11/01) Test on Formation of Planetary Systems (Study Guide) Rm: 210 Kupfrian Chapters 12, 19, 23  
    Lecture 16 (T 11/06). Mars (check out this image of the day) Chapter 20, Section 20.5 Due 11/15: None
    Lecture 17 (R 11/08). Giant Planets Chapter 21, Sections 21.1, 21.3 Due 11/20: Lecture 17 problems
    Lecture 18 (T 11/13). Saturn, Moons and Rings Chapter 21 , Sections 21.2, 21.3 Due 11/20: None
    Lecture 19 (T 11/20). Moons and Rings of the Other Giant Planets Chapter 21, Section 21.2 Due 11/29: Lecture 19 problems
    Lecture 20 (T 11/27). Pluto, Kuiper Belt Chapter 22, Sections 22.1-22.2 Due 12/06: None
    Lecture 21 (R 11/29). Asteroids, Comets and Meteors ppt file Lecture pptx Chapter 22, Sections 22.3-22.4  Podcast (mp3 file) Due 12/06: 22.8, 22.10 Lecture 21 problem
    Lecture 22 (T 12/04). The Sun Chapter 11, Sections 11.1-11.2 Due 12/11: Lecture 22 problems
    Lecture 23 (R 12/06). Solar Activity Chapter 11, Section 11.3  Due 12/11: Lecture 23 problems
    Lecture 24 (T 12/11). Interplanetary Space and the Heliosphere Chapter 11, Section 11.2   
    Lecture 25 (skip). Life in the Solar System None
    Lecture 26 (skip). Review (Study Guide) None

     

    12/21 Final Exam (Study Guide) Chapters 1, 2, 3, 6, 11, 12, 19-23 (Rm 100 ECEC)