Mon Dec 1 12:49:41 2008
| Effective Term: |
New:
1109 - Fall 2010 Old: 1089 - Fall 2008 |
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| College: |
New:
TIOT - Institute of Technology Old: TIOT - Technology, Institute of |
| Department: |
New:
11092 - Astronomy Old: 11092 - IT Astronomy |
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Faculty Sponsor Name: |
New:
Roberta M. Humphreys Old: |
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Faculty Sponsor E-mail Address: |
New:
roberta@umn.edu Old: |
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Requirement this course fulfills: |
New:
PHYS
- PHYS Physical Sciences
Old: ENVT - ENVT Environment Theme |
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Other requirement this course fulfills: |
New:
ENV
- ENV The Environment
Old: PHYS SCI/L - PHYS SCI/L Physical Science with Laboratory Core |
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Criteria for Core Courses: |
Describe how the course meets the specific bullet points for the proposed core
requirement. Give concrete and detailed examples for the course syllabus, detailed
outline, laboratory material, student projects, or other instructional materials or method.
Core courses must meet the following requirements:
New: AST1011H is the honors version of AST1001. It is taught at a more advanced level with more mathematics. Enrollment is limited to 24. There is only one lab section for this course, taught by the professor. Otherwise, the course content and format is the same as AST1001. Physical Science Astronomy is the oldest physical science. It therefore provides an excellent framework for learning what science is about, and how modern science investigates, interprets and explains our physical universe. Beginning with early concepts of an Earth-centered universe, the students learn how our modern view of the universe developed through observation, experiment, and theory. A major portion of the course is specifically about Astronomy; the Earth as a planet, the Sun and Solar System, the birth and death cycles of the stars, galaxies, and the origin and fate of our universe. We concentrate on the physical phenomena and processes that take place in the universe more than rote memorization of facts. The course includes a semester long observational project that requires students to work outside making observations of the position of the Moon in the sky. Using these observations and a mathematical model of the Earth-Moon-Sun system, they then compute the position and predict the phase of the Moon at a later date. At the conclusion of this course the students will not only have a better appreciation of our place in the universe but the role of human discovery, creativity, and even serendipity in science. Laboratory Twelve formal lab sessions involve measurement and computation using both hands-on equipment as well as computer based simulations. For example, the students learn about the chemical analysis of stars by using spectrographs to identify elements from the radiation they emit when heated. Another lab allows the students to develop an understanding of orbits and gravity using a computer simulation of the orbit of the Moon around the Earth. The lab portion of the course includes 24 in-lab contact hours. An important component of the course, the Moon observational project, involves considerable outdoor work that is similar to a field or lab experience. Old: Physical Science. Astronomy, the oldest physical science, is an excellent subject for satisfying the physical science requirement of the Diversified Core. This course concentrates on physical phenomena and processes that take place in the universe more than rote memorization of facts. The course includes a semester long observational project that requires students to work outside making observations of the position of the Moon in the sky. Using these observations and a mathematical model of the Earth-Moon-Sun system, they will predict the position of the Moon at a later date. A comparison can then be made between their prediction and the actual position of the Moon on that date. Laboratory. The formal lab sessions will involve measurement and computation using both hands-on equipment as well as computer based simulations. For example, the students learn about the chemical analysis of stars by using spectrographs to identify elements by the radiation they give off. Another lab allows the students to develop an understanding of orbits and gravity using a computer simulation of the orbit of the Moon around the Earth. The lab portion of the course will involve 18 in-lab contact hours. The observational project involves considerable outside work that is essentially equivalent to field or lab experience. The Environmental Theme. In this course we concentrate on the relationship between the human being and the universe. Historically, cultures have demonstrated through their astronomical models and concepts their mode of perception of the environment. Changes in this perception of the relationship between the individual and the natural world are reflected in, and sometimes driven by, changes in the astronomical paradigm of the society. For example, the "Copernican Revolution" of renaissance Europe became an intellectual turning point for the civilization, leading from the classical, anthropocentric world view in which the earth was central and fixed, to one in which the earth was but one among many planets circling the sun. The view that the heavens were perfect and unchanging had to be abandoned when astronomers determined comets are not phenomena in the Earth's atmosphere. In our own time a similar paradigm-shift has taken place, symbolized by the Apollo photographs of the Earth rising in the distance above the limb of the Moon. Driven again by astronomical research into conditions on the other planets, we have become aware of our planet as an isolated, fragile system in which every element cycles through various forms, but nothing is gained or lost. A central theme of Astronomy 1001 is showing how our present view of the universe has developed from observational and theoretical developments over the centuries, and to give students a feeling for the kind of thinking and questioning that brings changes in our model for the universe. |
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Criteria for Theme Courses: |
Describe how the course meets the specific bullet points for the proposed theme
requirement. Give concrete and detailed examples for the course syllabus, detailed outline,
laboratory material, student projects, or other instructional materials or methods. Theme courses have the common goal of cultivating in students a number of habits of mind:
New: The Environmental Theme In this course we emphasize our relationship to our physical universe. Our immediate environment is the Earth, a planet. We study the Earth as a planet to compare its surface, atmosphere, and evolution with the other planets, especially the Terrestrial planets Venus and Mars. For example, the “Greenhouse Effect”, an important process in planetary atmospheres, was first proposed to explain the high temperature of the Venusian atmosphere. In this course we investigate this important physical/chemical process and its role on several planets and demonstrate how human activity has altered the balance of CO2 and other gases in the Earth's atmosphere leading to global warming. But our environment extends beyond our planet. Cosmic impacts by large asteroids and comets have altered the surfaces of the planets. This record can be observed on many solar system objects and on our planet impacts have had a major affect on the Earth's environment and biological evolution. The most famous example is the K-T event and the resulting mass extinction including the dinosaurs. We discuss the similarities with the possible environmental impact of a world-wide nuclear war. The environmental theme runs throughout the course and in the labs as illustrated in the attachment to the syllabus. Some other examples are energy sources (solar, nuclear, wind) and energy balance, the impact of solar activity on our weather and climate, the origin of the elements, the necessary conditions for life as we know it, and life in our Solar System and beyond. Old: <no text provided> |
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Provisional Syllabus: |
Please
provide a provisional syllabus for new courses and courses in which
changes in content and/or description and/or credits are proposed that
include the following information: course goals and description;
format/structure of the course (proposed number of instructor contact
hours per week, student workload effort per week, etc.); topics to be
covered; scope and nature of assigned readings (texts, authors,
frequency, amount per week); required course assignments; nature of any
student projects; and how students will be evaluated. The University policy on credits is found under Section 4A of "Standards for Semester Conversion" at http://www.fpd.finop.umn.edu/groups/senate/documents/policy/semestercon.html . Provisional course syllabus information will be retained in this system until new syllabus information is entered with the next major course modification, This provisional course syllabus information may not correspond to the course as offered in a particular semester. New: EXAMPLE Astronomy 1011H SYLLABUS EXPLORING THE UNIVERSE Honors Fall Semester 2008 Instructor: Professor Paul R. Woodward, 428 Walter, 625-8049 Office Hours: 3:30 - 4:30 pm or by appointment Lecture - 2:30 PM - 3:20 PM, Mon, Tues, Wed, in Walter 125 Lab: 2:30 PM - 4:25 PM, Thurs, in Physics 450 Please read the entire syllabus carefully; you are responsible for all of the requirements and procedures described here. You are also responsible for all announcements, assignments, changes, etc., whether or not you are in class. A copy of this syllabus as well as PDF versions of the slides presented in the lectures will be made available on-line at http://www.lcse.umn.edu/astronomy1011H Remember that this Web site name is case sensitive, so be sure to use a lower case "a" and an upper case "H". Study guides for the exams will also be made available at this same Web site. Be sure not to confuse this Web site with the one for the standard version of this course. Therefore be sure to append the "H" at the end of the Web site name. Due Dates - Mid-Quarter 1: October 15 Mid-Quarter 2: November 19 Final: December 16th, 8:00AM-10:00 PM Observational Project Part I: At least 3 observations Sept.18 Observational Project Part II: At leas 9 total observations Oct. 23. Final Report: A total of 15 observations online and Final Report, Nov. 25. Required Texts - Text: The Essential Cosmic Perspective Lab Manual: Astronomy 1001/1011 Laboratory Manual 2008-2009 ENVIRONMENTAL THEME: Ast1001 and Ast1011H satisfy the Environmental Theme. The course introduces the students to a wide range of topics, from the Solar System and the cosmos, to the physical principles that underlie the workings of the Universe. The integrated study of the physical principles and the systems they apply to allows the students to see Earth in a broader context, and provides them with a unique perspective on our home planet and its environment. A key component of the course is an understanding of how science approaches the physical word around us. Environmental theme topics are addressed in several parts of the course, in both lectures and labs http://webusers.astro.umn.edu/~llrw/ET.html. (SEE BELOW FOR LINK DETAILS) COURSE POLICIES AND PROCEEDURES: Special Needs - Any students with special learning needs must contact their professor during the first two weeks of class. Academic Standards - The CLA and IT scholastic conduct and classroom procedures will be followed. You are responsible for being familiar with these. Students are welcome to work together, exchange ideas, etc. However, EACH STUDENT MUST MAKE HIS/HER OWN MEASUREMENTS AND OWN CALCULATIONS. Copying of someone else's measurements or calculations is equivalent to cheating and will be handled accordingly. Examinations - Room assignments for the exams will be announced in class and posted on the course website. Bring two pencils and a photo-ID to all exams! Exams will consist of 1/3 multiple choice, 1/3 short answer, and 1/3 long answer questions. If you cannot make it to an exam, see the professor well in advance. If you miss an exam, see the professor immediately about scheduling a makeup exam. Makeup exams can be scheduled for anytime, but ALL MAKEUP EXAMS ARE ESSAY. Your midterm exams will be returned to you in your lab. If you feel there is a mistake on the multiple choice portion of your exam, please see the secretary in Physics 356. You are allowed to bring in one 8 1/2 x 11" page of notes covered on both sides to each exam. You will not need a calculator for the exams, so calculators are prohibited. Observational Project Information - START MAKING OBSERVATIONS RIGHT AWAY! and don't miss a clear night/day! Every term there are a few students who put this off. DO NOT BE ONE!! You will need your three preliminary observations by the end of the third week. Always save the original copy of your observation log, and turn in a photocopy. COURSE SCHEDULE: Week Topic Chapter Labs and Due Dates Sep. 2-5 A Perspective on Astronomy 1, 2 No Labs Sep. 8 - 12 History of Astronomy, 3, 4 D The Human’s View of the Environment, Matter and Energy, Universal Motion Sep. 15-19 Light and Telescopes 5 A, Obs. Project Part I due by Friday, September 19, 5pm in Rm.256A Sep. 22-26 Terrestrial Planets, 7 B Comparative Planetology Sep. 29-Oct. 3 Jovian Planets 8 L Oct. 6 MID-TERM EXAM 1 See Study Guide Oct. 6-10 Asteroids, Comets, 9 E Earth's Environment Oct. 13-17 The Sun 10 M/N Old: <no text provided> |