ASTR 101 (Hamilton)
HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS

Homework #1 (10 Points) Due Tuesday Sep. 22, by 11:00am

Last Question. Go to the class web page and explore the link Astronomy Classroom located immediately below "The Astronomy Workshop". Run the "Scientific Notation" program until you are sure that you can do the "Convert" problems in your sleep (or on a midterm, so don't use a calculator!). Now take the conversion quiz (you may retake it as many times as you'd like), Take a screenshot of your results and hand it in with the rest of your homework.

Extra Credit (2 Points): Find the "Astronomical Distances" program in the same area of the Astronomy Workshop. How fast can you make the spaceship travel? How quickly can you get to the nearest star?

Extra Credit (2 Points): Now check out the "Working with Equations" program. What are all of the variables in the two equations that contain "GM"? Check those two boxes and try the program. If you have trouble doing either of these problems, be sure to talk to your TA about it. This and Scientific Notation are the ONLY type of math problems that I will ask you to do on a test.

Type your homework up in Microsoft Word, Mac's Pages or another text editing program. Be sure to show all work for math problems. When done, convert to PDF and submit a single homework file to http://janus.astro.umd.edu/datadir/ed/15f/homework/ by the 11:00am deadline. You may submit your homework multiple times; the last of your submissions before the deadline is the one that will count. All homeworks should be prepared and submitted in this way. Converting to PDF is easy:

• Word: Select "Save As" from the "File" menu. Choose "PDF" from the "Format" bar.
  
• Pages: Select "Export To" and "PDF" from the "File" menu.

Homework #2 (10 Points) Due Tuesday Oct. 6, by 11:00am

Extra Credit (2 Points): Go to the Astronomy Classroom link from the main class web page (under "The Astronomy Workshop"). Run the "Scientific Notation" program with the "Practice Multiply/Divide" until you are sure that you can do this type of problem in your sleep (or on a midterm!). Now take the Multiply/Divide quiz, take a screenshot and hand it in with the rest of your homework. Please submit your entire homework assignment online as a single PDF file.

A Good Idea: Test Yourself! Do some of the Quick Quizzes for the five chapters that will be on the midterm and see how you do! This is an excellent way to start studying for a midterm! You might also check out the Supplementary Information link from the main class web page (under "GENERAL"). Pick a few sections, look through the material, and try at least one quiz. If you answered any questions wrong, be sure to read the corrected quiz carefully!

Homework #3 (10 Points) Due Tuesday Oct. 27, by 11:00am

Extra Credit (2 Points): Follow one of the SOLAR SYSTEM links from the main class web page (under "Useful Links"). Explore some of the sublinks, and write a paragraph summarizing what you find, and a paragraph describing what you learned (Use your own words!)

Homework #4 (10 Points) Due Tuesday Nov. 17, by 11:00am

Extra Credit (2 Points): Feeling stressed? Slam some asteroids and comets into the Earth and see what happens on the "Solar System Collisions" webpage (Follow the Explore the Possibilities link). Describe what happens -- and how often -- for asteroids of several different sizes (small, medium, large, HUGE!). Imagine a rocky asteroid moving at 20 km/s, how big does it have to be to create a magnitude 9.5 earthquake?

Homework #5 (10 Points) Due Tuesday Dec. 1, by 11:00am

Extra Credit (2 Points): Follow one of the STARS & STELLAR REMNANTS links from the main class web page (under "Useful Links"). Explore some of the sublinks, and write a paragraph summarizing what you find, and a paragraph describing what you learned (Use your own words!)

Homework #6 (10 Points) Due Thursday Dec. 10, by 11:00am

Extra Credit (2 Points): Follow one of the GALAXIES links from the main class web page (under "Useful Links"). Explore some of the sublinks, and write a paragraph summarizing what you find, and a paragraph describing what you learned (Use your own words!)

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