PROFESSOR: Michael Shull (Office: Duane C-328A)
TEACHING ASSISTANT: None for this class
TIME AND PLACE: Lectures: MWF (10:00-10:50 am) in Duane G-131.
COURSE HOME PAGE: http://casa.colorado.edu/~mshull/astrophysics2/
GOALS OF THIS COURSE:
This class offers an introduction to the astrophysics of galaxies,
quasars, and other extragalactic objects. This is the second semester of
a two-semester astrophysics sequence, intended primarily for majors
in Astrophysics, Physics, or other mathematics/science disciplines.
Students are presumed to have the required mathematical and physics
background (Third-semester Calculus and Physics).
The overall goal is to familiarize you with current astronomical
observations and the physical processes that govern galaxies, quasars,
clusters, black holes, galaxy formation, and cosmology.
I encourage regular class attendance and student engagement.
I will hand out regular homework sets (50% of total grade).
It will be in your interest to attend class regularly, to keep
up with lecture material and reading. I will base 10% of the total
grade on the effectiveness of your class participation.
The major topics to be covered in ASTR 3830 include:
OTHER READING:
At various times throughout the term, I will provide required supplementary
readings In class, I sometimes introduce "Science News" headlines on astronomical
discoveries relevant to the course. You are also encouraged to bring
in astronomy news stories if they seem interesting. I am happy
to spend a few minutes each class talking about these contemporary events.
For those of you who wish to read about Cosmology in more detail,
here is a useful link to a
Cosmology Tutorial,
a Web-Tutorial, written by Ned Wright of UCLA, complete with Frequently Asked
Questions, News of the Universe, even sections on "Cosmology and Religion"
and "Cosmology and Art".
PREREQUISITES:
First-semester Astrophysics-1 (ASTR 3730),
Third-semester Calculus (MATH 2400 or APPM 2350),
and Third-semester Physics (PHYS 2130 or PHYS 2170)
MATHEMATICAL SKILLS REQUIRED:
Calculus through third-semester implies familiarity with multi-variable
calculus and vector calculus (divergence, curl). You will need these
tools in some of the course material dealing with gravitational
potential theory, electromagnetic theory, and radiation processes.
ADDITIONAL COURSE INFORMATION
(All students are expected to read this)
TOTAL GRADE:
20% - In-class exams (Jan 21, Mar 7, Apr 15); no make-ups (drop lowest grade)
50% - Homework Assignments (weekly) - submit in class on due-date
20% - Final Examination (Sat April 30, from 7:30-10:00 pm)
10% - Effectiveness of your Class Participation
EXAMS: Tests will comprise 40% of the total grade: 20% (final exam) and
20% (your two best scores on the 3 mid-course exams).
The three mid-course exams are Jan 21, Mar 7, and Apr 15. No make-ups;
I will drop your lowest score of the three mid-course tests.
HOMEWORK: There will be regular homework over the semester, counting
for 50% of your total grade.
These assignments should be turned in during class (no e-mail)
or placed in my departmental box on the due-date.
FINAL EXAM:
The final exam will be on Saturday April 30 (7:30 - 10:00 pm)
in Duane G-131. The test will be cumulative (based on the entire course).
It will be similar in form to the other exams, but may include a few
short essay questions.
Check your final exam schedule. If you have three or more finals
scheduled for Apr 30, please talk to me or send email to:
michael.shull@colorado.edu before Feb 22th
regarding the other finals you will be taking that day.
Don't plan on leaving Boulder before May 1.
TRACKING YOUR GRADES:
If you have any questions about your grades, please see me during office
hours, or make an appointment.
INCOMPLETES: The College of Arts and Sciences has strict rules about
"Incomplete" grades. Basically, I can give you grade of "Incomplete"
only in case of an emergency that is beyond your control, and I must
have written documentation. Moreover, your current grade must be
passing at the time the emergency occurs.
DISABILITIES: If you qualify for accommodations because of a
disability, please submit to me a letter from Disability Services in a
timely manner so that your needs may be addressed. Disability Services
determines accommodations based on documented disabilities.
Contact: 303-492-8671, Willard 322, and
http://www.Colorado.EDU/disabilityservices
CU HONOR CODE:
I expect all CU students to be aware of
and to follow the CU Honor Code as well as the CU Policy on Classroom and
Course-Related behavior. Please come on time, and do not disrupt the
attention of other students by conversation or leaving the classroom
early with excess noise.
Students and faculty each have responsibility for maintaining an appropriate
learning environment. Those who fail to adhere to such behavioral standards may
be subject to discipline. Professional courtesy and sensitivity are especially
important with respect to individuals and topics dealing with differences of
race, culture, religion, politics, sexual orientation, gender, gender variance,
and nationalities. All students of the University of Colorado at Boulder are
responsible for knowing and adhering to the academic integrity policy of this
institution. Violations of this policy may include: cheating, plagiarism, aid
of academic dishonesty, fabrication, lying, bribery, and threatening behavior.
All incidents of academic misconduct will be reported to the Honor Code
Council (honor@colorado.edu; 303-725-2273). Students who are found to be in
violation of the academic integrity policy will be subject to both academic
sanctions from the faculty member and non-academic sanctions (including but
not limited to university probation, suspension, or expulsion). Other
information on the Honor Code can be found at
http://www.colorado.edu/policies/honor.html
and at
http://www.colorado.edu/academics/honorcode/
NOTE: It's fine to help each other with homework; we encourage you to
do so, and will also offer help during office hours. But simply copying
other people's work without trying to understand it is cheating. The
reason homework is assigned is for YOU to learn what you need for the
course, and what you hand in should show us that YOU personally
understand it. If we find two or more homework assignments with
answers that are so exactly alike that we suspect unthinking copying,
we will split the credit for the work equally between each submitter
(note that this means you also must be careful not to let others copy
your work!). If you worked
with another student on homework assignments to the point where you
suspect that you may have very similar answers, please write so on the
front page of the homework assignment (e.g. "I collaborated with:
Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton and Stephen Hawking on this assignment."
) Similarly, we'd like to know if you received help with a
given problem from a tutor- this will not change your grade, but will
allow us to track which questions are challenging students the most.
If you copy text or other information from any source for any reason,
you must also include a citation to that source (for example,
Bennett et al., "The Cosmic Perspective," p. 461;
or From " Astronomy Picture of the Day Website,
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html, Authors
& editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (USRA).) Doing
this will keep you from plagiarizing, and will allow us to appreciate
your good scholarship.
If a student is caught cheating on
a quiz or exam, the minimum penalty will be a grade of F on that exam
and the maximum will be an F in the course. University
policy requires us to report any cheating incident to the Honors
Council.
PERSONAL BEHAVIOR (University Policy):
Students and faculty each have responsibility for
maintaining an appropriate learning environment. Students who fail to
adhere to such behavioral standards may be subject to discipline.
Faculty have the professional responsibility to treat all students with
understanding, dignity and respect, to guide classroom discussion and
to set reasonable limits on the manner in which they and their students
express opinions. Professional courtesy and sensitivity are especially
important with respect to individuals and topics dealing with
differences of race, culture, religion, politics, sexual orientation,
gender variance, and nationalities. Class rosters are provided to
the instructor with the student's legal name. I will gladly honor your
request to address you by an alternate name or gender pronoun. Please
advise me of this preference early in the semester so that I may make
appropriate changes to my records. See policies at
http://www.colorado.edu/policies/classbehavior.html
and at
http://www.colorado.edu/studentaffairs/judicialaffairs/code.html#student_code
The University of Colorado at Boulder policy on Discrimination and
Harassment (http://www.colorado.edu/policies/discrimination.html),
the
University of Colorado policy on Sexual Harassment and the University
of Colorado policy on Amorous Relationships applies to all students,
staff and faculty. Any student, staff or faculty member who
believes she/he has been the subject of discrimination or harassment
based upon race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability,
religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status should contact the
Office of Discrimination and Harassment (ODH) at 303-492-2127 or the
Office of Judicial Affairs at 303-492-5550. Information about the
ODH and the campus resources available to assist individuals regarding
discrimination or harassment can be obtained at
http://www.colorado.edu/odh