| 12/26/2024 10:32:50 PM |
| Changed Course |
| CATALOG INFORMATION
|
| Discipline and Nbr:
ASTRON 3 | Title:
STELLAR ASTRONOMY |
|
| Full Title:
Stellar Astronomy |
| Last Reviewed:1/25/2021 |
| Units | Course Hours per Week | | Nbr of Weeks | Course Hours Total |
| Maximum | 3.00 | Lecture Scheduled | 3.00 | 17.5 max. | Lecture Scheduled | 52.50 |
| Minimum | 3.00 | Lab Scheduled | 0 | 6 min. | Lab Scheduled | 0 |
| | Contact DHR | 0 | | Contact DHR | 0 |
| | Contact Total | 3.00 | | Contact Total | 52.50 |
| |
| | Non-contact DHR | 0 | | Non-contact DHR Total | 0 |
| | Total Out of Class Hours: 105.00 | Total Student Learning Hours: 157.50 | |
Title 5 Category:
AA Degree Applicable
Grading:
Grade or P/NP
Repeatability:
00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As:
Formerly:
Catalog Description:
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A description of the universe, concentrating on celestial bodies and phenomena beyond the Solar System. Topics will include electromagnetic radiation, observed properties of stars, variable and binary stars, stellar evolution, black holes, relativity, the interstellar medium, star clusters, the Milky Way and other galaxies, cosmology, and the possibility of other life forms in the universe.
Prerequisites/Corequisites:
Recommended Preparation:
Completion or Concurrent Enrollment in Math 150A AND English 100 or ESL 100
Limits on Enrollment:
Schedule of Classes Information
Description:
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A description of the universe, concentrating on celestial bodies and phenomena beyond the Solar System. Topics will include electromagnetic radiation, observed properties of stars, variable and binary stars, stellar evolution, black holes, relativity, the interstellar medium, star clusters, the Milky Way and other galaxies, cosmology, and the possibility of other life forms in the universe.
(Grade or P/NP)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:Completion or Concurrent Enrollment in Math 150A AND English 100 or ESL 100
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;UC.
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION
| Associate Degree: | Effective: | Fall 1981
| Inactive: | |
| Area: | C
| Natural Sciences
|
| |
| CSU GE: | Transfer Area | | Effective: | Inactive: |
| | B1 | Physical Science | Fall 1981 | |
| |
| IGETC: | Transfer Area | | Effective: | Inactive: |
| | 5A | Physical Sciences | Fall 1981 | |
| |
| CSU Transfer: | Transferable | Effective: | Fall 1981 | Inactive: | |
| |
| UC Transfer: | Transferable | Effective: | Fall 1981 | Inactive: | |
| |
| C-ID: |
Certificate/Major Applicable:
Major Applicable Course
COURSE CONTENT
Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:
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1. Evaluate astronomical hypotheses using evidence-based reasoning and the scientific method.
2. Recognize and describe the various astronomical bodies, concentrating on the celestial bodies beyond the Solar System.
3. Summarize the processes which govern the evolution of a star and use this knowledge to predict when and how stars of varying color and mass will die.
Objectives:
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Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. Apply the scientific method to astronomy.
2. Identify the regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, discussing how each varies in terms of wavelength, frequency, and energy.
3. Define and cite examples of the properties of waves: reflection, refraction, and diffraction.
4. Describe how continuous, emission, and absorption spectra are created.
5. Discuss the methods of determining the distances to stars and calculate the distance to a star from its observed parallax.
6. Summarize how the mass of a star is derived and list the stellar properties which can be determined if its mass is calculated.
7. Construct a Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram and discuss what each region represents in the stellar evolutionary cycle.
8. Summarize the processes which occur as stars of various mass evolve from birth to death, including their possible core phases: white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes.
9. Discuss Einstein's theories of Special and General Relativity.
10. Identify and describe the components of the Interstellar Medium.
11. Describe the structure of the Milky Way Galaxy.
12. Identify and describe the characteristics of the Hubble classification of galaxies.
13. Discuss active galaxies, gravitational lensing, and the possible phenomena which create gamma ray bursts.
14. Discuss the evidence for the Big Bang Theory.
Topics and Scope
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I. Overview of the universe
A. Science and the scientific method
B. Celestial bodies in the universe
C. Distance units and scales
II. Electromagnetic radiation (EMR)
A. Electromagnetic spectrum
B. Wave model of EMR
1. Wavelength
2. Frequency
C. Quantum model of EMR
1. Photons
2. Energy
D. Spectroscopy
1. Types of Spectra
a) Continuous spectra
b) Emission spectra
c) Absorption spectra
2. Radiation Laws
3. The Doppler Effect
III. Stellar distances
A. Parallax
B. Apparent brightness of stars and star clusters
C. Cepheid variable stars
1. Period-luminosity relation for Cepheid variable stars
2. Discovery of other galaxies using the period-luminosity relation
IV. Stellar masses
A. Determination of the mass of a star by observing binary star systems
B. Stars with varying masses and their distribution
V. Nuclear fusion in stars
A. Gravity and gravitational equilibrium
B. Fusion reactions
C. Energy production and transport
VI. Stellar evolution
A. Stellar spectral sequence
B. Hertzsprung-Russell Diagrams and stellar evolution
1. Nebulae
2. Main sequence stars
3. Giant (Red Giant) stars
4. Supergiant stars
5. White dwarf stars
C. Life cycle of a lower mass star
D. Life cycle of a high mass star
E. Deaths of stars and mass loss
1. Planetary nebulae
2. Supernovae
a) Type II supernovae
b) Type I supernovae
VII. The core phase of stellar evolution
A. White dwarfs
B. Neutron stars and pulsars
C. Black holes
VIII. Albert Einstein's Theories of Relativity
A. General relativity
B. Special relativity
C. Twin paradox and time dilation
IX. The interstellar medium
A. Dust
B. Gas
1. HI Regions
2. HII Regions
XI. Star Clusters
A. Open clusters
B. Globular clusters
XII. The Milky Way Galaxy
XIII. Other galaxies
A. Hubble classifications of galaxies
B. Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN'S)
C. Clusters of galaxies
D. Large-scale structure of the universe
XIII. Cosmology
A. Edwin Hubble and his discovery of universal expansion
1. The Hubble Law
2. The Hubble Constant
B. The Big Bang theory
1. Eras of universal history
2. Evidence for the Big Bang theory
C. Dark matter
1. Evidence for dark matter
2. Possible dark matter candidates
D. Gravitational lensing
E. Dark energy and the acceleration of universal expansion
XIV. Life in the universe
A. Possibility of extraterrestrial life and contact
B. The Drake Equation
Additional topics may include:
I. The magnitude system
A. Photometry
B. Apparent magnitude
C. Absolute magnitude
D. Distance modulus
II. Extra-solar planets
III. Optical Systems
A. Image formation
B. Lenses and mirrors
C. Telescopes types
D. Cameras
Assignments:
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1. Reading from the textbook or instructor prepared materials (averaging one chapter per week, roughly 20-30 pages).
2. Homework assignments (3-11).
3. Research paper, 1000-2500 words, using at least two outside sources (0-1).
4. In-class activities (5-20).
5. Exams (2-4) and/or quizzes (6-12), and a final exam.
Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.
| Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing. | Writing
10 - 30% |
| Homework assignments, research paper | |
| Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills. | Problem Solving
10 - 30% |
| Homework assignments, in class exercises | |
| Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams. | Skill Demonstrations
0 - 0% |
| None | |
| Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams. | Exams
60 - 80% |
| Multiple choice, completion, true/false, matching items, problem solving, essay questions | |
| Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories. | Other Category
0 - 10% |
| Attendance and participation | |
Representative Textbooks and Materials:
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Discovering the Universe: Comins and Kaufmann, Freeman, 2014
Pathways to Astronomy: Schneider and Arny, McGraw Hill, 2014
The Cosmic Perspective: Stars, Galaxies, and Cosmology: Bennett et al, Pearson, 2013
Lecture Tutorials for Introductory Astronomy: Prather et al., Pearson, 2012
Stars and Galaxies: Seeds and Backman, Brooks/Cole, 2014
Astronomical Tidbits - A Layperson's Guide to Astronomy, Waxman, Gerald D., Authorhouse, 2010
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