Catalog Description: An introductory course, will concentrate on the origin, life and fate of the stars and the universe, the various objects in the universe, the exploration of the universe by astronomers, and the understanding of the principles that lie behind the functioni
Semester Credit Hours: 4 Lecture Hours per Week: Lab Hours per Week: Contact Hours per Semester: 96 State Approval Code: 4002015100
Course Subject/Catalog Number:
PHYS 1412
Course Title: Introductory Astronomy II
Core Curriculum: State Criteria
Basic Intellectual Competencies (Those marked with a √ reflect the state-mandated
competencies taught in this course.)
Perspectives (Those marked with a √ reflect the state-mandated perspectives
taught in this course.)
Establish broad and multiple perspectives
on the individual in relationship to the larger society and world in which
he/she lives, and to understand the responsibilities of living in a culturally
and ethnically diversified world.
Stimulate a capacity to discuss and
reflect upon individual, political, economic, and social aspects of life in
order to understand ways in which to be a responsible member of society.
Recognize the importance
of maintaining health and wellness.
Develop a capacity to use knowledge
of how technology and science affect their lives.
Develop personal values for ethical
behavior.
Develop the ability to make
aesthetic judgments.
Use logical reasoning in problem solving.
Integrate knowledge and understand
the interrelationships of the scholarly disciplines.
Exemplary Objectives (Those marked with a √ reflect state-mandated exemplary
objectives taught in this course.)
Natural Sciences: The objective of the study of
a natural sciences component of a core curriculum is to enable the student
to understand, construct, and evaluate relationships in the natural sciences,
and to enable the student to understand the bases for building and testing
theories.
To understand and apply method and appropriate technology to the study
of natural sciences.
To recognize scientific and quantitative methods and the differences
between these approaches and other methods of inquiry and to communicate
findings, analyses, and interpretation both orally and in writing.
To identify and recognize the differences among competing scientific
theories.
To demonstrate knowledge of the major issues and problems facing modern
science, including issues that touch upon ethics, values and public
policies.
To demonstrate knowledge of the interdependence of science and technology
and their influence on, and contribution to, modern culture.
Instructional Goals and Purposes:
Lee College's instructional goals include 1) creating an academic atmosphere
in which students may develop their intellects and skills and 2) providing
courses so students may receive a certificate/an associate degree or transfer
to a senior institution that offers baccalaureate degrees.
General Course Objectives:
Successful completion of this course will promote the general student learning
outcomes listed below. The student will be able
To become acquainted with the basic fundamental physical laws and principles
which govern and give meaning to our universe.
To develop an understanding of scientific methods and the evolution
of scientific
thought.
To explain physical phenomena in proper, clear, technical terms.
To correctly identify basic physical principles and specify the procedural
knowledge to arrive at a solution for some desired unknown, when presented
with problem situations.
To demonstrate mathematical skills necessary to carry an argument from
the
"givens" to the "to finds" alluded in (4) above.
To develop laboratory techniques of experimenting, measuring, data
evaluation,
presentation of results, and drawing inferences from these results.
Specific Course Objectives:
Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able
To describe the basic properties of stars: distance, spectral class,
motion, magnitude,
composition, and parallax.
To discuss the classification scheme of stars as to spectral classes.
To explain the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram and how it relates to stellar
evolution.
To explain the stages of stellar evolution as the birth, life, and
death of any size star.
To explain the interstellar medium and how it relates to atoms, molecules,
dust, and nebulae.
To identify the classification scheme for binary stars, the importance
of binary stars to astronomy, and the origin and evolution of binary systems.
To describe the various types of natural star groupings in our galaxy
and how they evolved.
To describe the structure of our galaxy (both historical and modern)
and the galactic coordinate system.
To describe the two major stellar population types and their characteristics.
To identify the Hubble classification scheme of galaxies.
To describe the Doppler shift as it relates to astronomical objects.
To describe Hubble’s Law and its implication for an expanding universe.
To explain the cosmological principle.
To identify current astronomical beliefs about the nature and origin
of the universe.
Course Content:
Students will be required to do the following:
Unit One
Describe the size of the universe.
Explain the significance of the various forms of light and how they
are used in astronomy.
Describe the kinds of telescopes.
Discuss the various objects seen in the sky and explain their characteristics
and significance.
Identify the major constellations and explain how the celestial coordinate
system is used.
Describe the stellar spectra and its significance in classifying
stars.
Unit Two
Describe the general and specific characteristics of the sun.
Determine luminosity and diameter of a star.
Explain the significance of the H-R diagram.
List and discuss the basic properties of stars and star clusters.
Explain the process of star formation.
Confirm the existence of the interstellar medium from which the new
stars are born.
Unit Three
Discuss the stages of stellar evolution.
Describe the deaths of stars.
Discuss neutron stars and black holes.
Analyze the Milky Way Galaxy.
Unit Four
Summarize the process of determining the structure and important physical
phenomena that shape the structure and control the dynamics of the
components of our galaxy.
Construct and test theories to describe the evolution of galaxies.
Describe the key concept of all the active galaxy classes.
Discuss the large scale structure of the universe and the theories
that modern science has developed to explain the structure and evolution
of the universe.
Methods of Instruction/Course Format/Delivery:
Faculty may choose from but are not limited to the following methods of instruction: lecture,
discussion, Internet, video, television, demonstrations, field trips, collaboration,
readings.
Assessment:
Faculty may assign both in- and out-of-class activities to evaluate students'
knowledge and abilities. Faculty may choose from the following methods:
Attendance
Book reviews
Class preparedness and participation
Collaborative learning projects
Compositions
Exams/tests/quizzes
Homework
Internet
Journals
Library assignments
Readings
Research papers
Scientific observations
Student-teacher conferences
Written assignments
Course Grade:
Students' final grades are determined by:
Exams
30% to 50%
Homework/Quizzes
10% to 20%
Laboratory Work
20% to 30%
Other
0% to 10%
Final Exam
15% to 30%
Students' final grades are determined by the following grading scheme:
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