Course Description

1 Credit Hour; Prerequisite: Completion of or concurrent enrollment in ASTR 131.

Emphasizes experimental work with the scientific concepts important in astronomy, including planetarium observation and computer simulations of astronomical events. This course combined with ASTR 131 provides the student with a four-hour laboratory science credit. Two hours of laboratory per week.

 Course Objectives

To provide a laboratory experience in astronomy by the discovery of astronomical concepts through the collection and analysis of simulated astronomical data.

 1-Your first step is to make sure you have the necessary course materials, They are;

access to the ASTRONOMY PLACE

and the lab manual-ASTRONOMY MEDIA WORKBOOK FOR COSMIC PERSPECTIVE-3RD EDITION (by Michael C. LoPresto)

If you do not have the materials , the book is available at the college store (link) and access to the astronomy place can be purchased-here!

2-Once you have your materials; access ASTRONOMY PLACE to begin.

The class is based on the TUTORIALS, access the tutorials and work through them, the worksheets for each TUTORIAL are included in your lab manual; THESE ARE WHAT YOU HAND IN!

3-The following TUTORIALS must be handed in to me on the following THURSDAYS

NOTE-If the TUTORIAL #'s in the MANUAL are different than those you find on ASTRONOM PLACE, this is because ASTRONOMY PLACE isbeing revised- use the TITLES of the TUTORIALS GIVEN IN THE LIST BELOW as the guide for which ones to do.

 

TUTORIALS may be handed in one of THREE WAYS;

1-Put in my mailbox in room S-108 (SCIENCE BUILDING)

2-Placed in the box hung on the wall next to my office door S-16 (SCIENCE BUILDING)

3-If you can not come on campus, you may US MAIL them to me at;

Michael C. LoPresto, Science

Henry Ford Community College

5101 Evergreen RD

Dearborn, MI 48128-1495

AS LONG AS I FIND THE TUTORIALS WHEN I COME IN FRIDAY MORNING THEY ARE ON TIME; IF YOU ARE MAILING THEM, I WILL NEED TO FIND THEM IN FRIDAY AFTERNOON'S MAIL

(Graded labs can be picked up from the box hanging outside my office door, room S-16)

Each TUTORIAL is worth 15 points, 10 for the lesson questions and 5 for the lab activity

your grade will be based on 200 points, 180-A, 160-B, 140-C, 120-D, <120 E

HINTS FOR THE LAB ACTIVITIES ARE POSTED BELOW:

TUTORIAL #1-Lab Activity; speed=distance/time, so time=distance/speed

USE THE TOOL -it relates speed distance and time, if you enter two of them the tool will give you the third! (Tutorials #2-#4 ARE NOT ASSIGNED!)

TUTORIAL#5-Lab Activity; p^2=p x p, a^3=a x a x a

TUTORIAL#6-LabActivity; vary the speed of the helecopter and observe the wavelengths, the range of the different colors are given on the table.

TUTORIAL#7-LabActivity; Adjust the temperature to vary the spectrum...HINTS 1-think about what a mixture of all visible colors gives you 2-if you want a maximum tempertaure that is NOT visible, do you need to look at wavelength longer or shorter than those of visible light?, 3-looking at the shape of the curve, is the peak of something that looks blue at a longer or shorter wavelength than blue light?

TUTORIAL#8-LabActivity;-Thinks about what the Kelvin Temperature of the frost line should be and which types of planets this would affect, the same for the rock/metal line.

 TUTORIAL#9-LabActivity;-Use the tool to vary mass or radius while keeping the other contstant and see how it affects the period and amplitude of the graph. Think about how period and amplitude of the graph would be affected by changes in the period and mass of the planet.

TUTORIAL#10-LabActivity-THISONE IS REALLY COOL! The key is to pick the right Temperature and Size for each object. Earth is LARGE, so think about what each other object would be compared to that, small medium or large. Earth has a MEDIUM temperature, so think about who is closer or farther from the Sun. If you make good picks your results should be reasonable.

TUTORIAL#11-LabActivity;-THIS ONE IS COOL TOO!-The tool can do all the work for you, if you set it right, your answers should be reasonable. Think about what you know about surface conditions of each of the planets, if it doesn't come out accurate, try again!

Note that #12 is NOT assigned!

TUTORIAL#13-LabActivity;-Just put the cursor on a star and the tool will give you a Luminosity and Temperature. Star Types are in terms of color and size,ie. red-giant, white-dwarf etc.

TUTORIAL#14-LabActivity;-Use the tool to set mass and click begin. Then record the elapsed time (lifetime) and Luminosity given. Plot the exponents from your data on the graphs on the next page to determine relationships between mass and the lifetime of a star and mass and Luminosity. You may find one of the graphs surprising!

 TUTORIAL#15-LabActivity;-R/M should be fairly constant.

TUTORIAL#16-LabActivity;-A merry go-round is a solid, the solar system obeys Kepler's Laws, the Galaxy has much unseen matter.

TUTORIAL#17-LabActivity;-When given a distance, follow a straight line from that value on the Distance from Earth axis to the graphed line, and then another straight line from that line to the Recessional Velocity axis to determine the velocity of the galaxy. Do the opposite to determine a distance when give a velocity. Divide your Hubble Constant into 1000 to estimate the age of the universe in Billions of Years!

TUTORIAL#18-LabActivity;-The tool can do it all for you here. Set the Mass Density and Strength of Dark Energy to desired values. The Age of Universe will come from how much time has passed on the graph before "Now" and the Fate depends on the slope of the line. If the slope increases the universe is Open, if it becomes constant (a straight line) the universe is Flat. The universe is Closed if the slope decreases.

 

Make-ups- If a deadline is missed a student may seek the permission of the instructor to submit a tutorial . If permission is granted, the tutorial will be accepted without penalty.

Drop-policy-Any student may drop a course for any reason on or before the college drop deadline. Generally, the instructor will follow the college drop deadline. After the deadline the instructor may, at his discretion, record a DR grade on a student's grade report. A student who wishes to explore this option must discuss their situation with the instructor.

Academic Dishonesty- This will absolutely not be tolerated under any circumstances. The definitions of and penalties for academic dishonesty taken from the College Organization Handbook (see below).

POLICY ON ACADEMIC DISHONESTY (CHEATING)

Henry Ford Community College considers academic dishonesty to be a serious offense.

It shall be the policy of the College that determination of the fact of academic dishonesty and appropriate action with respect to academic dishonesty by a student shall be a matter of individual judgement by the instructor. The instructor may administer a penaltyup to and including failure in the particular course. It is the professional obligation of thefaculty to enforce academic integrity in their courses.

Academic dishonesty is any activity intended to improve a student's grade fraudently.* Itincludes, but is not limited to, the following:

A. Unauthorized acquisition of tests or alteration of grades;

B. Unauthorized use of notes, books, or other prohibited materials during anexamination;

C. Open cheating during an examination;

D. Permitting another person to take a test in the student's place or receivingunauthorized assistance with any work for which academic credit isreceived;

E. Providing unauthorized assistance with any work for which academic credit is received;

F. Revision of graded work in an attempt to receive additional credit fraudulently;

G. Plagiarism or using another person's work without acknowledgment;

H. Any other conduct intended to obtain academic credit fraudulently or

dishonestly.

If an instructor fails a student in a course for academic dishonesty, the instructor will immediately notify, in writing, the division/department head, the student, and theRegistrar of the infraction, retaining copies of all notifications. The Registrar will maintain a record of all such violations. If a student fails two classes as a result of academic dishonesty, he or she will be dismissed from the College for two academic years. In addition, a notation of the reason for academic dismissal will be placed on the student's transcript. The notation may be expunged at the discretion of the appropriate Vice President/Dean if a student petitions for its removal after at least a two-year period has elapsed since the disciplinary action.

If a student believes that the accusation of academic dishonesty is false, he or she may appeal through the Student Complaint Policies and Procedures. If the appeal reaches the Student Complaint Board, the Board will only consider whether the charge of academic dishonesty is justified and will not set aside or change the penalty given by the instructor unless the charge of academic dishonesty is set aside.

* Any action that violates the Student Conduct Policy: Due Process Procedure will also be subject to review under that

policy.