vcc.ca
PHYS 1110: Introduction to Astronomy
Effective date
May 2017
Department
UT Sciences
School
Arts and Sciences
Description
This course offers a survey of astronomy designed primarily for non-science students, with a strong emphasis on active learning outside the classroom. It covers the development of astronomy, naked-eye observations of the night sky, modern observational equipment and techniques, the solar system, stellar evolution, galaxies, the Hubble expansion, the Big Bang, dark matter, dark energy, and startling new theories of the origin and destiny of the universe. Students will conduct lab activities involving night-sky observations, as well as introductory experiments in some of the basic physics that astronomers use to explore the cosmos.
Credits
3.0
Year of study
1st Year Post-secondary
Prerequisites
Precalculus 11 with a C or VCC MATH 0861/0871 with a C or 72% on the VCC Intermediate algebra assessment or equivalent.
Corequisites
None
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Identify major stars and constellations as well as commonly used coordinate systems for viewing the sky.
- Describe major contributors and their contributions to the development of astronomy.
- Apply the wave, ray and particle models of light.
- Explain the operation of and distinction between optical telescopes.
- Describe the evolution of the solar system.
- Explain the causes of the seasons, eclipses, precession, phases of the Moon and tides.
- Identify the various types and features of bodies in the solar system.
- Describe the prominent features of the Sun.
- Describe how stars are categorized (incl. apparent magnitude, absolute magnitude, star luminosity and the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram).
- Discuss the current view of the birth, life and death of stars (incl. quasars, pulsars and black holes).
- Identify types and structures of galaxies and clusters of galaxies.
- Explain the current view of the big bang and the expansion of the Universe.
- Explain stellar parallax.
- Complete lab reports by taking simple measurements and performing appropriate analysis.
Prior Learning Assessment & Recognition (PLAR)
None
Hours
Lecture, Online, Seminar, Tutorial: 45
Clinical, Lab, Rehearsal, Shop, Kitchen, Simulation, Studio: 15
Total Hours: 60
Clinical, Lab, Rehearsal, Shop, Kitchen, Simulation, Studio: 15
Total Hours: 60
Instructional Strategies
Lectures, concept-development worksheets, in-class discussions, assigned readings, and laboratory work. Students will conduct seven labs: 1) Triangulation and error analysis, 2) Night sky observation/virtual lab, 3) Lenses and image formation, 4) Spectroscopy, 5) Moons of Jupiter (virtual lab), 6) Dynamics in 2D, 7) Measuring the Hubble expansion (virtual lab). An observatory field trip may take place as well.
Grading System
Letter Grade (A-F)
Passing grade
D
Evaluation Plan
|
Type |
Percentage |
Assessment activity |
|
Assignments |
15 |
Four homework assignments |
|
Project |
15 |
Four observational project write-ups |
|
Lab Work |
15 |
6-7 lab reports |
|
Quizzes/Tests |
25 |
2 tests |
|
Final Exam |
30 |
|
Course topics
- - The view from Earth: Observational fundamentals of astronomy. - The ancient mystery of planetary motion and the birth of the scientific method. - More physics essentials for astronomers: The nature of light and matter. - Astronomical tools from basic to state-of-the-art. - Our solar system: Origins and properties of the planets, moons and the sun. - A survey of other stars and solar systems. - The lives of stars. - Galaxies and other large-scale structure in the universe. - The origin and destiny of the cosmos.
Notes:
- Course contents and descriptions, offerings and schedules are subject to change without notice.
- Students are required to follow all College policies including ones that govern their educational experience at VCC. Policies are available on the VCC website at:
https://www.vcc.ca/about/governance--policies/policies/. - To find out if there are existing transfer agreements for this course, visit the BC Transfer Guide at https://www.bctransferguide.ca.