1. A C B Physics 109 - Astronomy Introduction Am I in the right place?
Everyone Pick Up:
Syllabus
Set of voting cards
Eric Carlson
“Eric”
“Professor Carlson”
Olin 306
Flexible Hours A C B
8/31

2. Dr. Carlson’s Approximate Schedule
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
9:00
research
research
10:00
PHY 712
office hour
PHY 712
office hour
PHY 712
11:00
office hour
office hour
12:00
PHY 109
office hour
PHY 109
office hour
PHY 109
1:00
PHY 215
office hour
PHY 215
office hour
PHY 215
2:00
research
research
Lab Meeting
research
3:00
Collins Hall
4:00
Free food
Collins Hall
colloquium
5:00
I will try to be in my office Tues. Thurs. 12-1
When in doubt, call/ first

3. Materials The Essential Cosmic Perspective, 7th edition Calculator
Laptop
Starry Night access code
Mastering Astronomy access code associated with text

4. B A C Concept Questions I present a multiple choice question
Round 1 – You must figure out or guess the answer, then vote with your cards
You discuss the questions with your classmates
Round 2 – You get a second chance to get the answer right B A C
Do you understand how concept questions work?
A) Yes, I’ve done it before
B) Yes, though it’s new to me
C) Sort of, I’ll figure it out
D) Huh?

5. Mastering Astronomy Everyone needs to sign up for Mastering Astronomy
Log onto website using your access code
Sign up for this class: PHY109F2016
Input your 8-digit student ID (Not the digit after the space)
Homework should be visible a week in advance
This Week Only: there is an extra assignments “due”
“Introduction to Mastering Astronomy” is not graded, but I recommend doing it anyway
Homeworks A, B, C … are graded

6. Reading and Homework Assignments
Date Assignment
Today Secs
Friday Secs
Sunday Intro to … and Homework A
Wednesday Sec. 2.4, Secs. 3.1 – 3.3
Reading Assignments almost every class day
Posted on the web
Reading quizzes will review readings, approximately

7. Homework Homework is due at 11:50 PM every Sunday
You can complete the homework late, but you cannot get credit for it
If you think you have a good excuse, let me know and I can grant extensions
To get full credit, get it right the first time
On 4-way multiple choice, you lose 33% on each failure
On most problems, you lose 5% on each failure
Hints are also available
Tiny bonus if you don’t use hints
You may discuss homework with others, but do it yourself
Getting homework done for you is honors code violation

8. Astronomy Labs Olin 105 Once a week, 8-10 PM
Date depends on your lab section
Cannot go to a different section
Labs start Sunday
Taylor Ordines
Sun, Mon
Calculator
Laptop
Starry Night Software
Lab Manual – from website
Or bring cash
Ritchie Dudley
Tue-Thu

9. Astronomy Labs What if I miss a lab? TA’s cannot excuse absences
Call me/ me immediately ( )
If it is scheduled in advance, let me know
If you are too sick to call or , doctor’s note
To make up a lab:
Get a make-up sticker from me
Check online for when you can make it up
Attend the lab, and put the sticker on your lab
Inform your regular TA you have made it up
One lab grade is dropped

10. Your final is Friday Dec. 16
Exams
Exam Date Length
Test 1 Sep Q
Test 2 Oct Q
Test 3 Nov Q
Final Dec Q
Multiple Choice
Hard
Emphasize Concepts
All formulas provided
Note Error on Syllabus
Formulas in red boxes are on the test
Your final is Friday Dec. 16
Plan Accordingly
The normal penalty for cheating is an irreplaceable F in the course and one term suspension from WFU.

11. Absences - from Exams Call me/e-mail me immediately (758-4994)
If you are too sick to call, doctor note
Schedule make-up time with me

12. Pandemic Plans If there is an emergency shutdown of the school:
Check the website for instructions:
Check your
Call me at home:
Call my cell:

13. If you fail Lab, you fail the course!
Grading Scheme
Grading Scale:
A 94% C 73%
A- 90% C- 70%
B+ 87% D+ 67%
B 83% D 63%
B- 80% D- 60%
C+ 77% F <60%
Grading Breakdown
Exam %
Exam %
Exam %
Final 28%
Labs 15%
Homework 15%
If you fail Lab, you fail the course!

14. Units in Astronomy Time s min = 60 s hr = 60 min day = 24 hr
yr = day
kyr = 103 yr
Myr = 106 yr
Gyr = 109 yr
Distance m
m = 10-6 m
km = 103 m
AU = 1.5108 km
ly = 0.9461013 km
kly = 103 ly
Mly = 106 ly
Gly = 109 ly
(pc = 3.26 ly)
Angles
degrees 1o
arc-minute 1' = o
arc-second 1" = '
The Sun has an angular size of 32', which is about the same as
A) 2 o D) 2"
B) 1 o E) 1"
C) ½ o F) ½ "

15. The Calendar is Based on the Sky
The day
The Sun rises and sets every day
The year
The Sun’s altitude in the sky changes over the year
The month
Moon cycles through its phases roughly every 29.5 days
The week
Days of the week are named after celestial objects
Sunday Sun
Monday Moon
Tuesday Mars Mardi
Wednesday Mercury Mercredi
Thursday Jupiter Jeudi
Friday Venus Vendredi
Saturday Saturn