astronomy 110 - survey of astronomy
DESCRIPTION
Astronomy 110 - Survey of Astronomy. Instructors : Nick Lee & Chao-Ling Hung Required Text : The Essential Cosmic Perspective, 2 nd Edition , by Bennett Lectures : MTWThF , 10:30-11:45 AM in HIGP 110. A little bit about your Instructors. Nicholas Lee ( [email protected] ) - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Astronomy 110 -Survey of Astronomy
Instructors: Nick Lee & Chao-Ling HungRequired Text: The Essential Cosmic Perspective, 2nd Edition, by Bennett Lectures: MTWThF, 10:30-11:45 AM in HIGP 110
A little bit about your Instructors
• Nicholas Lee ([email protected])– 4th year graduate student at IfA, Manoa– Current research: What drives the star formation
in the brightest galaxies?• Chao-Ling Hung ([email protected])– 2nd year graduate student at IfA, Manoa– Current research: How does the appearance and
structure of galaxies change throughout the universe?
Science Is Not…
• A list of previously known facts about nature• A list of equations handed down from Ancient
times• A set of laws that were discovered by Dead
White Guys a long time ago and are kept from the general public
Science Is…
• a continuing process that – seeks to understand the rules and laws of nature– uses systematic observations– uses mathematical models– experimentally tests ideas
• subject to independent verificationThese are the components of the scientific method (observe, theorize, predict, test and modify) used to comprehend the universe.
What is astronomy?
• Study of the Universe that we live in• Basically everything outside of Earth’s atmosphere• Solar System• Planets, Stars, Galaxies• Dark Matter, Dark Energy• Origin and fate of Universe• Alien life?? • Not just the what, but the why and the how!
• Make observations using telescopes• Analyze data/results of observation• Create theories about what is seen and what might
exist yet unseen• Create computer models that simulate what occurs in
the universe• Invent, design, and build instruments that let us see
beyond the Earth!
BUT, most astronomers do NOT spend much time looking through telescopes
What do Astronomers do?
A scientific theory is a collection of ideas that explain a phenomenon in a way that is consistent with laws, observations and experiments.
Goals of this Class
Help you develop…• A basic understanding of the central ideas of
astronomy• The skills and motivation to pursue lifelong
learning and become a valuable member of society
• An understanding and appreciation of the scientific method and how scientific ideas evolve
• An excitement for doing science!
NOT Goals of the Class
• Make you memorize equations• Turn you into math majors• Force you to sit through a boring lecture 5
days/week writing notes as fast as you can• Teach you everything I know about astronomy
This is an ACTIVE Learning Class
• This is not a traditional lecture class, so it may feel weird at first.
• You are not competing with your peers• You will be discussing problems with your
classmates to solve problems TOGETHER• This is much more like a real science or work
environment• You are now actively involved in your own
learning, not simply passive observers.
“Lecture has often been described as the process of taking the information contained in the teachers notes and transferring them into the students notes without the information passing through the brains of either”
Research shows the traditional approach doesn’t
work!
0
25
50
75
100
Pretest Post-Lecture Post-Lecture Tutorial
Percent
Correct
30%
52%
72%
( N ~ 100 )
Research shows that Active Learning Techniques Help!
Research on a Lecture-Tutorial Approach to Teaching Introductory Astronomy for Non–Science Majors, Prather, E. E.; Slater, T. F.; Adams, J. P.; Bailey, J. M.; Jones, L. V.; Dostal, J. A., Astronomy Education Review, 3(2) 2005
Ranking Tasks: Gender Effect?
0
25
50
75
100
Pretest
Post-Lecture
Post-Ranking TasksStudy Trial
Percent
Correct
( N ~ 100 )
Female Male
Ranking Tasks benefited both groups equally.
Ranking Tasks: High vs. Low Pretests Groups?
0
25
50
75
100
Pretest
Post-Lecture
Post-Ranking TasksStudy Trial
Percent
Correct
( N ~ 100 )
11%
59%
76%
55%
64%76%
Upper Median Group
Lower Median Group
Ranking Tasks benefited both groups equally.
So What is Active Learning?
• Think-Pair Share Questions• Ranking Tests• Post-Lecture Tutorials
Read – Come to class preparedRisk – Be open with your opinions and your questions. Listen to and encourage everyone’s ideas so they can take risks too.Relax – Don’t take criticism of your ideas personally. Change your mind when evidence shows that you should.Respect – Act towards your peers as you would have been act to you.Reason – Play the skeptic, but be critical of reasoning, ideas, and data. Not people.Restate – Try to paraphrase another’s explanation if it is unclear to you. Focus on coming to the best possible answer as a group.
Details (see syllabus)
• Class website: http://www.ifa.hawaii.edu/users/clhung/Astro110.html
• Grading– Homeworks 20%– Participation 20%– Exams 30% each
• Homeworks are assigned through Mastering Astronomy, and due every Tuesday @ 5 pm.
• NO cell phones, laptops, etc. in class
Mastering Astronomy
• When you buy your books for this class, you should get an access code for mastering astronomy.
• Sign up at masteringastronomy.com with the following information:– Your Access Code– Course Code: LEE12SUM– School’s Zipcode: 96822
• If you bought a used book, you need to buy an access code online.
A tiny bit of Math
• Since astronomical numbers are so large, we need a better way to describe them – scientific notation
• Two terms – Digit and Exponent• 1,500,000,000,000 = 1.5 trillion = 1.5 x 1012
• The exponent of 10 is the number of places the decimal point must be shifted.
• Positive exponent: decimal point shifted to right• Negative exponent: decimal point shifted to left
1.5 x 10-4 = 0.00015
Math with exponents
• Adding/subtracting:– All numbers are converted to same power of 10
and then the digits are added or subtracted.Example: (4.215 x 10-2) + (3.2 x 10-4) =
(4.215 x 10-2) + (0.032 x 10-2) = 4.247 x 10-2
• Multiplication/Division– Digit terms are multiplied/divided normally and
the exponents are added/subtractedExample: (3.4 x 106)(4.2 x 103) = (3.4)(4.2) x 10(6+3) =
14.28 x 109 = 1.428 x 1010
Lecture Tutorial
• Break up into groups of 2-3– NO MORE THAN 3
• In your group, work through the following:– Sun Size (pages 105-107)– Discuss the answers – don’t be silent!
• I will be roaming around if you need help…• If your group finishes, check your answers
with another group
Final Announcements
• Bring your ABCD cards and Lecture-Tutorial books to class everyday!
• Homework 0 is due this Friday at 5 pm – Introduction to Mastering Astronomy
• Homework 1 will be put on the website tomorrow and will be due next Tuesday @ 5 pm
• Check the class website for lecture slides, syllabus, and other important information.