In this course, I strive to provide an inclusive climate in which each student feels welcome and free to question, contributes to the discussion, thrives, and learns, independent of gender identification, race, sexual orientation, ethnicity, disability, economic background, national origin, or religious affiliation. I expect students to contribute actively to this learning environment through open and respectful verbal and written communication. Discrimination or harassment of any form will not be tolerated. I also welcome any suggestions for improving the learning environment.
Regular in-person attendance is strongly encouraged; while lecture slides and notes will be made available online, no recordings or simultaneous Zoom streams will be conducted. Please do not come to class if you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and remember to maintain social distancing at all times. If you need to quarantine due to a positive COVID-19 test, let me know immediately and I will work with you so that you do not fall behind on the material.
Knowledge and navigation of Canvas and Zoom (for office hours) is critical to access all features and resources of this course. Material will be made available on Canvas or this course website, including reminders and announcements. Please set up Canvas to notify you when material is added; it is assumed that students will see any Announcements made by the instructor within 24 hours of them being posted.
For technical assistance, review the Canvas Getting Started Guide for Students and/or contact TLT, Knowledge Commons, etc.
Students must self-report if they test positive for COVID-19 via coronavirus.utah.edu.
Please do not come to class if you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. Remember to maintain social distancing when possible. Face coverings are highly recommended for students and faculty. As a reminder, when I wear a face covering, I am protecting you. When you wear a face covering, you are protecting me and all of your classmates. If you forget your face covering, you may obtain a disposable mask from me at the start of class. Group discussions and problem solving in class, as well as seating availability, will make social distancing difficult, but a face covering can help reduce the probability of virus transmission.
This Foundations course provides an introduction to the breadth of Astronomy through the use of astronomical examples to reinforce physical concepts such as distance scales, magnitudes, mass, velocity, temperature, pressure and angular momentum. Topics include the celestial sphere, coordinate systems, Kepler’s Laws, orbits, eclipses, tides, emission and absorption spectra, astronomical detection of light, telescopes, the Sun, properties of stars, our Galaxy, and galaxies. Recommended Prerequisites: MATH 1220 AND PHYS 2210.
Required Prerequisites: Prerequisites: “C-” or better in (((MATH 1220 OR MATH 1250 OR MATH 1320 OR MATH 1321 OR MATH 2210) OR AP Calculus BC score of 4+) AND ((PHYS 2210 OR PHYS 3210) OR AP Physics C Mech score of 4+)).
This course is designed as the entry point for students pursuing the astronomy emphasis physics major, providing the background needed for more advanced astrophysics courses. In addition, the material should be accessible to anyone interested in understanding astronomical phenomena at a more fundamental level, who have the appropriate math and physics background. After taking the course, students are expected to have completed the following course objectives:
The following sections detail the structure, requirements, and expectations of the course.
The instructor reserves the right to modify any of the policies currently described here, but will endeavor to hew closely to the syllabus as outlined on the first day of class, and any subsequent changes will be communicated clearly to the class.
HWs due the day after the italicized date, exams held in class on the bolded dates
Chapters from the textbook should be read prior to the week the topic is discussed. Real learning requires going over material multiple times; the textbook reading is designed to serve as a foundation upon which true understanding is built during lectures, discussions, and solving homework problems. Part of your grade includes in-class participation via answering questions and active involvement in discussions. Therefore, regular class attendance is expected, but 100% attendance is not necessary to receive full participation credit.
Problem sets covering material from the textbook and in class will be due every Thursday by the start of class (no later than 10:50am), submitted electronically through Canvas, except for the weeks of midterm exams, Thanksgiving, and first/last weeks of class. Each assignment will be posted online no later than the previous Thursday. There will be ~11 total homework assignments; only ~10 will count toward the final grade (with the lowest score dropped). Graded homeworks will be returned after about a week (on a best-effort basis), online through Canvas. One late assignment will be accepted if submitted by the start of the following Thursday class, before on-time assignments have been returned; let me know if you plan to turn in an assignment late.
All exams will be open book/open note and cover all material up to that point in the course or as indicated by the instructor. The exams will take place online during regular class or final exam times, requiring electronic submission, through Canvas, equivalent to homework submission. The Final Exam will be comprehensive. For dates, see the Course Schedule above.
Students will work singly or in small groups to incorporate what they have learned in this course into a product or activity to teach the class something new. More details will be given later in the semester and will be found on the Projects tab of the course webpage (outside Canvas).
Grades are determined from homework, class participation, exams, and student presentations according to the following weights:
Ultimately, grades may be assigned on a curve, but only in a favorable direction from a baseline distribution. You may calculate your final grade based on past and extrapolated grades to estimate your minimum actual final grade. The magnitude/formula of the curve is determined at the discretion of the instructor. The baseline grade distribution will assume:
Cheating (including copying homework from any sources) will not be tolerated, and zero credit will be given on the assignment or exam for all parties involved.
Title IX makes it clear that violence and harassment based on sex and gender (which Includes sexual orientation and gender identity/expression) is a civil rights offense subject to the same kinds of accountability and the same kinds of support applied to offenses against other protected categories such as race, national origin, color, religion, age, status as a person with a disability, veteran’s status, or genetic information. If you or someone you know has been harassed or assaulted, you are encouraged to report it to the Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action, 135 Park Building, 801-581-8365, or the Office of the Dean of Students, 270 Union Building, 801-581-7066. For support and confidential consultation, contact the Center for Student Wellness, 426 SSB, 801-581-7776. To report to the police, contact the Department of Public Safety, 801-585-2677 (5-COPS).
The University of Utah seeks to provide equal access to its programs, services, and activities for people with disabilities. If you will need accommodations in this class, reasonable prior notice needs to be given to the Center for Disability and Access https://disability.utah.edu/, 162 Olpin Union Building, (801) 581-5020. CDS will work with you and the instructor to make arrangements for accommodations. All written information in this course can be made available in an alternative format with prior notification to the Center for Disability and Access.
The University of Utah values the safety of all campus community members. To report suspicious activity or to request a courtesy escort, call campus police at 801-585-COPS (801-585-2677). You will receive important emergency alerts and safety messages regarding campus safety via text message. For more information regarding safety and to view available training resources, including helpful videos, visit safeu.utah.edu
Personal concerns such as stress, anxiety, relationship difficulties, depression, cross-cultural difficulties, etc., can interfere with a student’s ability to succeed and thrive at the University of Utah. For helpful resources, contact the Center for Student Wellness at www.wellness.utah.edu, 426 SSB, or 801-581-7776.
