APPROVED
COURSE OUTLINE
AST 1003 THE SOLAR
SYSTEM
___3__
Prefix Number Course
Title Cr.Hrs.
A. Course Description:
Prerequisites:
ENC 0020 and REA 0002 or EAP 1695 and MAT 0024. This course is a study of earth
as a planet, the moon, and the sun, measurement of time, eclipses, planets and
their satellites, comets, meteors, and various theories of the origin of the
solar system. Consideration will be
given to the historical development of the science and the basic principles of
mechanics as applied to astronomy. (This course may not be taken for credit subsequent to receiving a grade of "C" or better
in AST 1002.) 47 contact hours.
B. Major Learning Outcomes:
1. The
student will acquire understanding of the history of astronomy and its
relationship to other sciences.
2. The
student will acquire understanding of the areas of research on the solar system
of primary importance today.
3. The
student will acquire understanding of the features of the various members of
the solar system and the mechanical relationships between them.
4. The
student will be able to use various simple astronomical instruments and
understand their application to the field.
C. Course Objectives Stated in Performance
Terms:
1. The
student will acquire understanding of the history of astronomy and its
relationship to other sciences by:
a. listing at least 8
astronomical concepts contributed by the ancient Greeks.
b. defining:
(1) Celestial sphere (9) retrograde motion
(2) Zenith (10) north and south celestial poles
(3) nadir (11) conjunction
(4) celestial horizon (12) quadrature
(5) ecliptic (13) elongation
(6) planet (14) sidereal period
(7) zodiac (15) synodic period
(8) constellation (16) conic section
(17) major and semi-major
axis (38) equation of time
(18) eccentricity (39) standard time
(19) inertia (40) coriolis effect
(20) mass (41) great circle
(21) force (42) hour circle
(22) vector (43) meridian
(23) acceleration (44) equator latitude
(24) density (45) longitude
(25) weight (46) horizon
(26) equilibrium (47) celestial equator
(27) volume (48) celestial horizon
(28) reaction force (49) celestial meridian
(29) differential force (50) altitude
(30) neap tide (51) azimuth
(31) spring tide (52) right ascension
(32) hour angle (53) declination
(33) sidereal time (54) vernal equinox
(34) sidereal day (55) autumnal equinox
(35) solar day (56) winter solstice
(36) apparent solar time (57) summer solstice
(37) mean solar time
c. describing the
contributions of Aristotle, Hipparchus, Ptolemy, Eratosthenes.
d. describing the
phenomenon of retrograde motion and explaining it on the basis of current
theory.
e. describing the
contributions of Copernicus to the hellocentric hypothesis.
f. describing the
concept of relative motion.
g. solving problems
dealing with synodic and sidereal periods.
h. describing Brahe's
contributions to astronomy and how they led to Kepler's theory.
i. describing
Kepler's contributions to astronomy and stating and using Kepler's laws in
appropriate situations.
j. describing
Galileo's contributions to physics and astronomy.
k. stating the three
laws of
l. solving simple
vector addition problems.
m. stating the
distinction between mass and weight and calculating the weight of an object
given its mass and the local gravitational acceleration.
n. demonstrating how
the mass of the earth can be obtained by the application of
o. finding the center
of mass of a two body system.
p. stating
q. calculating the
masses of other planets by application of the corrected third law of Kepler.
r. describing the
orbits of satellites in terms of their initial burnout speed with respect to
apogee and perigee.
s. stating the n-body
problem.
t. describing the
shape of the earth and stating the effect of rotation on the shape.
u. describing the
effects of the moon on earth tides.
v. describing the
precessional motion of the earth.
w. stating the
importance of the Foucault pendulum.
x. contrasting the
horizontal system of coordinates to the equator system.
y. describing how
observations of stars depends upon location of the observer and what is
necessary for a star to be circumpolar.
z. describing the
methods for demonstrating that the earth revolves.
aa. relating the seasons to the location of the sun on the
celestial sphere.
bb. calculating distance to earth's horizon from various
elevations above sea level.
cc. relating the hour
angle of the real sun (apparent solar time) to the hour angle of the mean sun
(mean solar time).
dd. converting from
angular measure to time measure (360° = 24 hr., etc.).
ee. describing how time depends upon longitude and calculating
time differences given longitude differences.
ff. describing the
need for standard time zones and explaining how to obtain this from mean time
and solar time.
2. The
student will demonstrate understanding of the area of research on the solar
system of primary importance today by:
a. defining frequency
and wave length and relating these terms to the speed of light.
b. explaining qualitatively,
the inverse square laws.
c. relating the
wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation to the various regions of
classification.
d. finding the energy
of a photon given its wavelength or frequency.
e. explaining the
laws of reflection, refraction, and dispersion.
f. defining
continuous spectrum, absorption spectrum, emission spectrum.
g. explaining the
value of spectral analysis.
h. explaining the Doppler effect and its
implications.
i. defining the term blackbody radiator and
applying the Wien Law and the Stefan-Boltzmann law to simple problems.
j. defining proton, neutron, electron, and atom.
k. explaining, on the basis of the Bohr atomic
theory, emission and absorption spectra.
l. defining ionization energy.
m. Additional objectives to be covered if time
permits:
(1) stating the principle of relativity.
(2) listing the two postulates of special
relativity.
(3) distinguishing between special and general
relativity.
(4) contrasting the Galilean viewpoint with
Einstein's as far as transformations of length, time and mass.
(5) calculating length, mass, and time in
appropriate situations by using the Lorentz transformation.
(6) explaining the Einstein relation between mass
and energy.
(7) stating and explaining the principle of
equivalence.
(8) defining or describing the terms: geodesic, space time, curvature,
gravitational waves.
3. The
student will demonstrate understanding of the features of the various members
of the solar system and the mechanical relationships between them by:
a. indicating the gross features of the earth
and moon.
b. indicating the various atmospheric zones of
the earth and the composition of these zones.
c. describing the magnetic field of the earth
and defining bowshock.
d. defining Van Allen layer, metamorphic rock,
igneous rock, sedimentary rock, plate tectonics.
e. indicating what has been learned about the
internal structure of the earth.
f. indicating the temperature variations of the
moon.
g. defining maria and indicating the various
types of lunar features (mountain ranges, craters, etc.).
h. defining sidereal and synodic month.
i. explaining the delay in moon rise.
j. indicating approximate time by noting
position and phase of the moon.
k. giving the distance, mass, and size of the
moon.
l. explaining the geometry of lunar and solar
eclipses and indicating the time periods involved.
m. defining total, annular, penumbral and
partial eclipses and occultation and transit.
n. classifying the planets as to density and
location, i.e., as terrestrial or Jovian; inner or outer.
o. giving the distance, rates of revolution and
rotation, mass, atmospheric conditions, and other properties of each planet in
the solar system.
p. noting any features which are characteristic
of only one planet: i.e., polar caps of
Mars, red spot of Jupiter, etc., and compare as to direction of revolution and
rotation.
q. comparing the number of satellites of the
planets and their relative effect on the planet.
r. giving brief descriptions of comets, minor
planets and meteoroids.
s. defining zodiacal light, solar wind,
effective temperature.
t. listing several methods by which masses,
rotation rates and distances are determined.
u. indicating the premises of the kinetic theory
of gases, noting the dependence of speed on temperature.
v. explaining qualitatively the relationships
between temperature and gravitational attraction as far as atmosphere retention
is concerned.
w. indicating the major features known about
minor planets: location, masses, size,
etc..
x. suggesting a possible explanation of the
existence of the minor planets.
y. defining:
Kirkwood's gaps, Trojan asteroids.
z. indicating the various parts of a comet and
also the composition of these parts.
aa. stating the elements of the orbit of
"Halley's" and other well known comets.
bb. defining:
meteoroid, meteorite, meteor, fireball, bolide, meteor shower, radiant,
zodiacal light, gegenschein, tektite, ablation.
cc. explaining the observation of more meteors
after midnight.
dd. explaining the apparent association of some
meteor showers with comets.
ee. distinguishing the types of meteorites and
the relative abundance of each type.
ff. indicating the size of micrometeorites and
zodiacal dust.
gg. suggesting the possible origins of comets and
of meteors.
4. The
student will be able to use various simple astronomical instruments and
understand their application to the field by:
a. defining:
lens aperture, focal length, optic axis, focal plane, scale, brightness,
resolution, aberration, eyepiece, objective.
b. relating the properties of the image to focal
length and lens aperture.
c. calculating magnification and resolving power
of telescopes.
d. distinguishing between reflecting and
refracting telescopes noting the advantages and disadvantages of each.
e. describing each of the following types of
telescope: Newtonian, Schmidt, prime
focus, Cassegrain, Coude.
f. explaining the advantage of an equatorial
mount for an astronomical telescope.
g. listing several methods by which images are
observed.
h. defining:
spectroscopy, spectroscope, spectrograph.
i. describing a radio telescope relating its
resolution and light gathering power to that of optical telescopes.
D. Criteria Performance Standard:
Upon successful
completion of the course the student will, with a minimum of 70% accuracy,
demonstrate mastery of each of the above stated objectives through classroom
measures developed by individual course instructors.
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Revised 8/9/83 |
Online
2000-1. |
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DBT 6/24/85 |
Effective Session
I, 2001 (20011). |
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SCN change 3/10/86 |
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Effective Session
I, 1987-88 |
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Reviewed C&I
2/5/91 |
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3 YR C&I Review
8/94 |
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C&I 12/6/94,
eff II, 1994-95 |
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DBT 4/18/95 |
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Effective Session
I, 1995-96 |
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3 Yr Review
1999-2000. |
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