CLASS GRADE

50% - Two Exams
25% - Homework
25% - Team Project

Your overall letter grade in this class is based on your performance on two one-hour exams, home-work, and a term project.

EXAM TIMES

Exam #1 Friday April 26
Exam #2 Friday May 31
 

TEAM PROJECT

Web based investigation of some topic related to life in the universe such as Interstellar Comminication - SETI, UFO visitations/abductions, Life on Mars, GAIA, possibility of life on Europa, Interstellar Space Travel, etc.

You will be a member of a five student team who will produce a web page(s) on the claims or details of your chosen topic.

Students will evaluate the performance of the other teams projects.

All project are to be implemented by the start of dead-week, Monday June 2.

TEXTBOOK

The Search for Life in the Universe

Donald Goldsmith & Tobias Owens
Benjam/Cummings Co., 1992, 2nd ed.

INSTRUCTOR

Dr. Richard Vawter

170 Bond Hall, 650 - 3823 (W), 734 - 6623 (H)
Office Hours: 10-11 am MTW, 1-2 pm daily

ASTRONOMY 333 OUTLINE

The following is a list of topics which will be discussed in class and over which you will be tested during the quarter. You will only be tested on those topics which appear in the outline and are discussed in class. You will not be tested on those topics which appear in the textbook but are not in outline. However, there are topics which are not covered very completely in the textbook that will be discussed in class over and over which you will be tested. The outline is your study guide of those relevant topics over which you will be tested on each exam.

I. MODELS in SCIENCE [Class Notes]

1. Model approach to understanding
(A) Models, Data, Observations, and Facts
(B) Inductive and Deductive Reasoning
2. Scientific Methodology
(A) The Enlightenment Cycle
(B) The Game of Physics
3. The Role of Measurement
(A) Operational and Derived Quantities
(B) Uncertainty and Significant Figures
4. Laws of Nature
(A) Laws, Theories, and Hypotheses in Science.
 

II. STRUCTURE and EVOLUTION of STELLAR SYSTEMS

1. Origin the Universe
A. Cosmological Models
a. Big Bang Model, Expanding Universe, & Hubbles Law
b. Steady-State Model
B. Matter and Antimatter
a. Early moments of the Universe
b. Cosmic Nuclear Synthesis
2. Galaxies
A. Formation and Evolution
a. Spherical, Elliptical, Spiral, & Irregulars
B. Constituents
a. Star Clusters
b. Population I & II Stars
c. Nucleus, Spiral Arms, & Disk
C. Galactic Motions of Stars
a. Circular and Elliptic Orbits of Pop I & II Stars
b. Differential Galactic Rotation
3. Stars Systems
A. Stellar Evolution
a. Protostars
b. Main-sequence Stars
c. Red Giants, & White Dwarfs
d. Supernova, & Black Holes
B. Mainsequence Stars
a. Stellar Lifetimes & Stability
b. Habitable Life Zones & Solar Radiation
c. Stellar Nuclear Synthesis & Thermonuclear Reactions
d. H-R Diagram
4. Planetary Systems
A. Formation of Planets
a. Interstellar Clouds
b. Orbits in Single and Multiply Star System
c. Detection of Planets in Stellar Systems
d. Tidal Effects on Planets
B. Seasons
a. Local Solar Time & Calendars
b. Equinoxes & Solstices
C. Surface Gravity
a. Retention of Atmosphere
b. Effects on Structure of Biological Organisms

III. LIFE

1. Definition of Life
A. Biological Life
a. Molecular Alphabet
b. Electromagnetic Force
B. Abiological Life
a. Artificial Intelligence
b. Nuclear Force and Life on a Neutron Star
C. Entropy
a. Second Law of Thermodynamics
b. Reproduction and Energy Consumption
D. The Earth as a Living Organism
a. GAIA
b. Interconnectedness of Life
2. Evolution of Life
A. Atomic Evolution
a. Stellar Evolution
B. Chemical Evolution
a. Molecular Alphabet
C. Biological Evolution
a. Multicellular Evolution
b. Evolution of Intelligence
c. Evolution of Man
D. Social, Cultural, & Technological Evolution
3. Search for Life in the Solar System
A. Amino Acids
a. Moon & Meteorites
B. Mars
a. Viking Lander Experiments
b. Presence of Water
c. Atmosphere and Climate
C. Jupiter and its Moon Europa
a. Tidal Locking and Pumping
 

IV. INTERSTELLAR COMMUNICATION

1. Space travel
A. UFO's
a. Von Daniken
B. Limits of Space Travel
a. Relativity
C. Colonization of Space
2. Search for Intelligent Signals
A. Electromagnetic Waves
a. 21 cm Radiation
B. Neutrinos
C. Search Strategies
a. Distribution of Technological Civilizations
D. Message Contents
a. Decoding
3. Impact on Our Civilization
A. Religion
B. Science