First-Year Courses in Astronomy (Division 326)

Winter Term, 2000 (September 8 - December 22, 1999)

Introductory Courses and Courses for Non-Concentrators.

Astronomy 101/111 discusses our explorations of the solar system. Astronomy 102/112 deals with stars and the rest of the Universe beyond the solar system. Students in Astronomy 101 and 102 attend a weekly discussion section. Students in Astronomy 111 and 112 actively participate in a laboratory which meets in the evening each week. None of these courses is a prerequisite for any of the others. High school mathematics through plane geometry is useful. All students in each course will have opportunities for a planetarium visit and for evening observations with telescopes.

Section 001.

Instructor(s): Gary Bernstein (garyb@umich.edu)

Credits: (4).

Course Homepage: http://www.astro.lsa.umich.edu/Course/Bernstein102/

Astronomy 102 students attend the same lectures as Astronomy 112 students (see course description below). Instead of laboratory sections, Astronomy 102 incorporates weekly one-hour discussions and associated exercises, which is considered along with examinations and quizzes for course grades.

Section 007.

Instructor(s): Timothy Paglione (paglione@umich.edu)

Credits: (4).

Course Homepage: No Homepage Submitted.

Astronomy 102 students attend the same lectures as Astronomy 112 students (see course description below). Instead of laboratory sections, Astronomy 102 incorporates weekly one-hour discussions and associated exercises, which is considered along with examinations and quizzes for course grades. Cost:2 WL:4 (Bernstein and Paglione).

Section 001.

Instructor(s): Richard Sears (rlsears@umich.edu)

Credits: (4).

Course Homepage: No Homepage Submitted.

This course presents an introduction to the field of astronomy and astrophysics with an emphasis on the discoveries from space exploration. The first third of the course deals with understanding the history of astronomy, orbits, gravitation, optics, and the properties of light and matter. The rest of the course explores the properties, origin and evolution of the major planets, asteroids, comets, the Sun, and other components of the Solar System with particular emphasis on comparative aspects with respect to the Earth. The origin and formation of the Solar System and the origin of life will also be discussed. This course is intended for non-science concentrators with a basic high school math and science background. Astronomy 111 has a two-hour laboratory section every week. Astronomy 101 has a one-hour discussion section. Course requirements include assigned reading, section meetings, homework, observations, quizzes, midterm, and a final examination. Laboratory sections include observations with telescopes.

Section 001.

Instructor(s): Gary Bernstein (gbernste@umich.edu)

Credits: (4).

Course Homepage: http://www.astro.lsa.umich.edu/Course/Bernstein102/

This course is intended primarily for non-science concentrators, who wish to understand the phenomena and properties of the universe beyond our solar system. There are no astronomy prerequisites, and a basic high school math background (e.g., not calculus) will suffice. Students examine the widest possible range of interrelated natural phenomena, from sub-atomic particles to the Universe as a whole. Lectures inventory the different types of stars and examine how red giants, white dwarfs, black holes, supernovae, and people all fit together in one grand, remarkable scheme. The larger picture includes our Milky Way galaxy, less hospitable exploding galaxies, and enigmatic quasars. The present state of knowledge or speculation regarding the origin and ultimate fate of our universe will also receive special attention. It all came from somewhere, but where...and why? Course grades will be derived from scheduled quizzes or exams, and laboratory exercises. Laboratory sections, which meet for two evening hours each week, will include planetarium demonstrations and observations with telescopes (weather permitting).

Section 006.

Instructor(s): Timothy Paglione (paglione@umich.edu)

Credits: (4).

Course Homepage: No Homepage Submitted.

This course is intended primarily for non-science concentrators, who wish to understand the phenomena and properties of the universe beyond our solar system. There are no astronomy prerequisites, and a basic high school math background <\i> (e.g., not calculus) will suffice. Students examine the widest possible range of interrelated natural phenomena, from sub-atomic particles to the Universe as a whole. Lectures inventory the different types of stars and examine how red giants, white dwarfs, black holes, supernovae, and people all fit together in one grand, remarkable scheme.

The larger picture includes our Milky Way galaxy, less hospitable exploding galaxies, and enigmatic quasars. The present state of knowledge or speculation regarding the origin and ultimate fate of our universe will also receive special attention. It all came from somewhere, but where...and why? Course grades will be derived from scheduled quizzes or exams, and laboratory exercises. Laboratory sections, which meet for two evening hours each week, will include planetarium demonstrations and observations with telescopes (weather permitting).

Section 001.

Instructor(s): Charles Cowley (cowley@umich.edu)

First-Year Seminar,

Credits: (3).

Course Homepage: No Homepage Submitted.

Our study of the history of matter in the Universe will take us from the beginnings of time to the present, and from the smallest elementary particles to massive stars and galaxies. This seminar will focus on the creation and evolution of the elements, which originated in the Big Bang and are still being made today in the centers of stars and in the explosive deaths of the most massive stars. The course will begin with a survey of the astronomical universe, from our planet Earth out to the farthest quasars and beyond. From there we will begin our study of the beginning of the matter in the Universe as we know it, following the evolution of the elements as we return to the present day, and investigating how we can determine the chemical composition of matter in space. Grading will be based on written assignments, quizzes, and class participation.

Section 001.

Instructor(s): Mario Mateo (mmateo@umich.edu)

Credits: (4).

Course Homepage: No Homepage Submitted.

Some of the most exciting phenomena and concepts in astronomy and astrophysics are explored in this survey course. One major theme is the structure and evolution of stars from their birth in giant molecular clouds through their death as white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes. Another important theme is galaxies, with discussions about the missing or dark matter in galaxies, galaxy-galaxy interactions, and the large-scale distribution of galaxies in the Universe. We conclude with an examination of the Big Bang, the Inflationary Universe, and the Cosmic Background radiation. This course is directed toward students with an interest in science and mathematics. There are problem sets and a weekly two-hour laboratory using telescopes .