Physics of Astronomy, Winter-Spring 2006
updated 30.Aug.2006


http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov
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This intermediate program will be offered Winter and Spring of 2005-06. Upper division credit is possible for students who earn 16 credits both quarters. Program descriptions: Catalog, Winter, Spring.

The first Science Seminar meeting is at 3:00 on Monday 3.April 2006 in 1037 LAB 1.

Everyone (both Monday and Thursday seminar students) please attend BOTH SEMINARS week 1 only (even if you are registered for only 4 credits). You will form teams and learn how to post your assignments online.

The first Physics of Astronomy meeting is Tuesday.4.April 2006 at 12:30 in the Physics homeroom, Lab II Rm 2242. Physics of Astronomy is not required for Science Seminar students, but you are always welcome to visit if you like.

Physics of Astronomy is a dual-level program, designed to be accessible to beginning calculus-level physics students (as in Matter and Motion), and to provide some of the challenges of Physical Systems, for students who have already had one year of calculus-based physics. We will use our unifying theme of Astrophysics to motivate deeper studies in related areas of physics, choosing appropriate supporting chapters from the physics and math texts below. (Overview of Evergreen's physics and math programs).

For more information, contact Dr. Zita by email <zita@evergreen.edu>, during office hours, or at the Academic Fair. Please include "Physics Of Astronomy" or "Science Seminar" in your subject header (so the spam filter doesn't delete your email).  Please see these Answers to frequently asked questions.

 

MATH levels: Prerequisite is solid precalculus, at a minimum. Students will take a math pre-test the first day of class to determine if you are in the Math-A group (ready for calculus) or the Math-B group (ready to move beyond calculus). Students are advised to take calculus fall quarter, to prepare for the start of Physics of Astronomy in winter quarter, unless you are already proficient in both integral and differential calculus. Even if you got an A in AP calculus in HS, you should consider taking Beginning Calculus in fall, and Calculus I in winter and spring, offered in the Evening and Weekend Studies (EWS) program. Math-B students, with prior proficiency in calculus, will use the Boas math text in Physics of Astronomy.

Please see Science Seminar details below.
SCHEDULE Monday classes Tuesday classes Wed. Thursday classes
Weekend:
read
meet teams
post assignments
12:30-2:45 Astrophysics homework + research session, 2242 Lab II (physics homeroom) 12:30-4:30 Physics, homeroom

read
meet teams
post assignments

 

12:00-2:45 Astro, homeroom
3:00-4:30 (to 4:30 for Math-B group) Science Seminar on Quintessence and Cosmology, 1037 LAB 1 3:00-4:30 Science Seminar on journals: Physics Today, Sky & Telescope, Science News, 1037 LAB 1
     

TEXTS: get the most recent edition, if there is a newer one than listed below. Please order these from the publisher or another online source such as Powell's in advance so you have them the first day of class. There may be some copies of texts available in the college bookstore, but don't count on it. ALSO SEE REQUIRED SEMINAR TEXTS BELOW

Required texts

 
which quarter?
for which students?
NEW !
Workshop Physics Activity Guide, Module 4: Electricity and Magnetism, 2nd Edition, Priscilla W. Laws, Pub: Wiley, ISBN: 0-471-64116-2 (Click on Wiley or call 800-225-5945 to order your text, or make a copy from the one on closed reserve in the Library)
spring only
Math A + Math B
An Introduction to Modern Astrophysics, by Bradley W. Carroll, Dale A. Ostlie, Julie Berisford (Editor), Addison-Wesley Pub Co; ISBN: 0201547309; 1st edition (1996). Astrophysics online
winter + spring
Math A + Math B
Physics for Scientists and Engineers, with Modern Physics, by Douglas C. Giancoli, 3d Ed., 2000, Prentice Hall, ISBN 0130215171. Be sure to get the version with MODERN PHYSICS chapters at the end. You can get this text in two smaller books, Vol.I and Vol II (extended), if you like. Giancoli online
winter + spring
Math A + Math B

Universe, Edition 7, by William Kaufmann III and Roger Freedman, (pub: W.H. Freeman, NY), pbk. Universe online
winter + spring
Math A + Math B
Calculus - Math-A students should get whatever calculus text is required by Beginning Calculus and Calculus I in EWS
FWS
Math-A (and Math-B, unless you still have your own calculus text)
Mathematical Methods in the Physical Sciences, by Mary L. Boas, 2d Ed., 1983, Wiley, ISBN 0471044091.
winter + spring
Math-B
Principles of Physical Chemistry, by Lionel M. Raff (pub: Prentice Hall)
winter + spring (you might get by with copying Ch.11)
Math-B

Introduction to Electrodynamics by David J. Griffiths, (pub: Prentice Hall). 

NOT to be used (until Physical Systems next year)
Math-B
Recommended supporting texts. (Please share other suggestions on WebX)
National Audubon Society Field Guide to the Night Sky 2000, Alfred A. Knopf, NY, ISBN 0-679-40852-5 pbk). This excellent reference text helps you find and understand objects in the sky, and includes classic stories about them.
winter + spring
Math A + Math B
Mathematical Handbook, by Murray Spiegel, Schaum's outline series, McGraw-Hill Trade; 2nd edition (1998), 0070382034. This is a nice, concise calculus review.
Foundations of Modern Cosmology, by Katherine A. Holcomb & John Frederick Hawley, Oxford University Press; ISBN: 0195104978; (1998)
 
SCIENCE SEMINAR

Science Seminar is an integrated component of the full-time program, Physics of Astronomy. Science Seminar is also open to additional students as a part-time module. The Monday and Thursday Science Seminar modules are available for 4 credits each, or 8 credits total. See the Science Seminar Syllabus for details. While there may be copies of some texts on closed reserve in the Library, you must BRING YOUR OWN COPY to class each day.  Take notes in the margins as you read, and the text becomes a record of your developing thoughts. "An unmarked text is an unread text." Seminar Syllabus

SCIENCE SEMINAR - You can take Monday or Thursday or both.

SPRING 2006

Monday book seminars (4 credits)
3:00-4:30 in 1037 LAB 1

Learn about Dark matter, Dark energy, and the structure and evolution of the Universe

Tues + Wed. (no class)

Thursday journal seminars (4 credits)
3:00-4:30 in 1037 LAB 1

Learn about the latest developments in Physics and Astronomy

Weekend:
read
meet teams
post assignments
Quintessence by Lawrence Krauss and
Cosmology (A Very Short Introduction) by Peter Coles
read
meet teams
post assignments

Physics Today, Sky & Telescope, Science News. We will read selections from journals each week. Subscribe online BEFORE class starts, or copy the whole journal from classmates or the library at least one week in advance.

 

WINTER SEMINAR
Monday book seminars (4 credits) Lab II Rm 2211
Tues + Wed. (no class)
Thursday journal seminars (4 credits) Lab II Rm 2211
Weekend:
read
meet teams
post assignments
2:30-3:45 Science Seminar on Physics of Star Trek by Lawrence Krauss read
meet teams
post assignments

2:15-3:30 Science Seminar on journals: Physics Today, Sky & Telescope, Science News, in SEM II. We will read selections from journals each week. Subscribe online BEFORE class starts, or copy the whole journal from classmates or the library in advance.


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