ASTR120

Introductory Astrophysics - Solar System

Fall 2002

For basic course information, surf here.

This course is continued in ASTR121.

What's New?

Stacy McGaugh will likely be teaching this course next year (2003/2004).

Syllabus

The complete syllabus is available in HTML, PDF, or Postscript format. Some useful excerpts:

Lectures: Tuesday, Thursday 11h00-12h15, CSS 2428

Discussion: Friday 13h00-13h50, CSS 2428

Required Text: Freedman & Kaufmann, Universe, 6th Edition (2002)

Recommended Text: Palen, Schaum's Outline of Astronomy (2002)

Professor: Dr. Derek C. Richardson

Office: CSS 1249

Phone: 301-405-8786

E-mail: astr120@astro.umd.edu

Office Hours: After class most days, by appointment, or drop by

Teaching Assistants: John Vernaleo Huaning Li

Office: CSS 0202 CSS 0252

Phone: 301-405-8523 301-405-1545

E-mail: astr120@astro.umd.edu astr120@astro.umd.edu

Office Hours: M 13-14 Tu 15-16 W 11-12 Th 15h30-16h30

Note: The syllabus documents are unchanged from the start of classes.
Check this page for any syllabus updates.

Course Outline

No.

#1 Sep. #2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9 Oct. #10
--
#11
#12
#13
#14
#15
#16
#17
#18 Nov. #19
--
#20
#21
#22
#23
--
#24 Dec. #25
#26
#27

align=center colspan=2>DateLectureChapter align=right> 3Introduction, the Scale of Things 1 5Geocentric to Heliocentric 1-4 10Planetary Motion 2,4 12Mechanics and the Laws of Motion 4 17Gravity and Orbits 4 19Orbits and Tides 4 24Earth Motions 2 26Seasons 2 align=right> 1Motion of the Moon, Eclipses 3 3The Electromagnetic Spectrum 5 8Midterm Exam --- 10Light and the Structure of the Atom5 15Introduction to Special Relativity 24 17Telescopes 6 22Flyby of the Solar System 7 24Earth 8 29Moon 9 31The Other Terrestrials 10-12 align=right> 5Terrestrial Atmospheres 8-12 7The Gas Giants 13,15-16 12Midterm Exam --- 14Pluto and Satellites 16,14 19Satellites and Rings 14-16 21Asteroids 17 26Comets and Dust 17 28Thanksgiving! --- align=right> 3The Solar Atmosphere 18 5The Solar Interior 18 10Powering the Sun 18 12Formation of the Solar System 7

Final Exam: Monday, December 16, 2002, 08h00-10h00, CSS 2428
(check here for the official version; the backup day is Sun Dec 22)

Homework

All problems are taken from the course text.

HW# Date Problems

Assigned Due

1 Sep 10 Sep 19 Ch. 1: #7, 24; Ch. 3: #23; Ch. 4: #21, 23, 29, 33, 36

2 Sep 17 Sep 24 a) Show that when expressed in units of AU and years, Newton's form of Kepler's third law reduces to P² = a³. You may assume the Sun is much more massive than the orbiting body. Show all your steps.
b) Ch. 4: #35, 39, 44

3 Sep 24 Oct 1 Ch. 2: #23, 25, 32, 37, 41

4 Oct 1 Oct 8 Ch. 3: #25, 27, 30

5 Oct 10 Oct 17 Ch. 5: #21, 23, 25, 33, 35

6 Oct 15 Oct 22 Ch. 24: #21; Ch. 6: #22, 23, 25, 27

7 Oct 22 Oct 29 Ch. 7: #19, 20, 22, 26, 28

8 Oct 29 Nov 5 Ch. 8: #22; Ch. 9: #28; Ch. 10: #23; Ch. 11: #25;
Ch. 12: #45

9 Nov 5 Nov 19 Ch. 13: #29; Ch. 14: #30; Ch. 15: #34 (just one
paragraph please); Ch. 16: #23, 28

10 Nov 19 Dec 3 Ch. 14: #32; Ch. 15: #22, 29; Ch. 16: #26, #33; Ch. 17: #28, 31, 34

11 Dec 3 Dec 12 Ch. 18: #26, 28, 34, 37, 41

Remember: Homework must be readable, stapled, and signed.
Show all your work! Late homework will be penalized.

Textbook Errata

In the Answers to Selected Questions section (pp. Q-1 to Q-3), there appear to be a number of errors!
Here's a list of what we've caught so far... (also see the ASTR121 errata)

Chapter Question Correct Answer

2 23 10:32 PM

2 41a 18h00

3 23b 6.6^o

Old Exams

Date Review Sheet Formula Sheet Exam

Midterm 2001 not available HTML PDF PS HTML PDF PS

Final 2001 HTML PDF PS HTML PDF PS HTML PDF PS

Midterm 2002a HTML PDF PS HTML PDF PS HTML PDF PS

Midterm 2002b HTML PDF PS HTML PDF PS HTML PDF PS

Final 2002 HTML PDF PS HTML PDF PS HTML PDF PS

(solutions available by request)

Miscellaneous

The Astronomy Department holds public colloquia every Wednesday afternoon at 4 pm in CSS 2400.
I encourage you to attend!

The Observatory Open House takes place in the evening on the 5th and 20th of every month.
Typically there is a popular lecture followed by viewing through the telescopes. Check it out!

Last modified: Feb 22, 2003