Physics 311: Solar System Astronomy (Fall 2007)



Instructor: Jiong Qiu (email: qiu@physics.montana.edu); office: EPS 221, phone: 994-7253

Lab: Gary Lowe

Classes: TR: 12:45-2:00, in EPS 108

Office hours: MW 11:00-12:00 or by appointment (See Jiong Qiu's schedule)

Text: Universe, 8th edition by Freedman & Kaufmann (FK8), or Universe, 7th edition by Freedman & Kaufmann (FK7)

Course syllabus

Exams: Course Schedule:

Week of
Topics
Reading Assign.
Homework
Due Date
Sept 2, 4
Introduction, Astronomical Distances 1-1, 2, 5, 6, 7 Chap 1 (FK8): 3, 16, 24, 38 Sept 4
HW Solution
Sept 9, 11
Nature of Light Chap 5 FK8: 5-18, 5-24, 5-30, 5-40, 5-41, 5-45
FK7: 5-16, 5-22, 5-28, 5-38, 5-39, 5-43
Sept 11
HW Solution
Sept 16, 18
Optics and Telescopes
Overview of Solar System
Review I
Chap6
Chap 7
FK 8: 6-24, 6-26, 6-32, 6-36, 7-8, 7-24
FK 7: 6-23, 6-25, 6-31, 6-34, 7-9, 7-23
Sept 18
HW solution
Sept 23, 25
Earth Chap9 HW4 Sept 25
HW Solution
Sept 30, Oct 2
Earth
Review II
Chap 9 Exam I on Sept 27
Oct 7, 9
Moon, Eclipses Chap 10, Chap 3 FK8: 10-8, 10-17, 10-29; 3-8, 3-28, 3-44
FK7: 10-6, 10-14, 10-24, 3-5, 3-23, 3-39
Oct 09
Solution
Oct 14, 16
Terrestrial Planets
Review III
FK8: Chap 11, OR FK7: Chap 11-13 HW 6 Oct 18 (Thursday)
Solution
Oct 21, 23
Earthshine and Global Change Review notes on terrestrial planets and the moon, sources of your interest HW 7 Oct 23
no standard solution
Oct 28, 30
Jovian Planets, Rings
Review IV
FK8: Chap 12 & Chap 14.1-6
OR FK7 Chap 14 & Chap 16.1-6
FK8: Chap 12-12, 31, 41, 47, Chap 14-9, 23
FK7: Chap 14-11, 33, 43, 49, Chap 16-9, 22
Oct 30
Solution
Nov 6, 13
Satellites FK8: Chap13, Chap14.7-8
FK7, Chap15, Chap16.7-8
Exam II on Nov 1
Nov 18, 20
Small bodies
motions, Kepler's and Newton's laws
FK8: Chap 15, Chap 14.9-10, Chap 4
FK7: Chap 17, Chap 16.9-10, Chap 4
FK8: Chap 13-9, 51; Chap 15-8, 24; Chap 4-18, 45
FK7: Chap 15-7, 49; Chap 17-6, 20; Chap 4-16, 43
Nov 13
Solution
Nov 25
Origin of the solar system, Life in the solar system and beyond
Review V
Chap 8 HW 10
Group Project
Nov 20
Solution
Dec 2, 4
Binary systems
The Sun: Interior
FK8: Chap 16.1-4
FK7: Chap 18.1-4
FK8: Chap 16-6, 13, 18, 44, AND Chap 12-51
FK7: Chap 18-4, 11, 16, 42, AND Chap 14-52
Nov 29 (Thursday)
Solution
Dec 9, 11
The Sun's dynamic atmosphere, Magnetism and activities FK 8: Chap 16.5-7
FK7: Chap 18.6-7
HW 12 Dec 06 (Thursday)
Solution
Dec 16: 12-1:50pm Final Exam
@ EPS 108
QA: Dec 12, 15 9am-5pm, @ EPS 221 -