Date                            Topic                    Reading Assignment

Monday, Oct. 11     Motion and Gravity (continued)
                      Orbital Motion
                      Using Kepler's third law to         pp 36-38, 407
                      measure mass
                      M1+M2=D[AU]3/P[yr]2
                    Energy
                    Moon Project, due Monday Nov 1

Wednesday, Oct 13  Light and Matter                       Chapter 2
                      How do we learn about the universe?
                        By analyzing the light we receive.
                      Light is an electromagnetic wave    section 2.1, 2.2
                        with frequency(f), period(P),
                        & wavelength(lambda)
                             f = 1/P, lambda = cP = c/f
                      Spectrum of light                   Figure 2.8
                       Light is particles (photons)       section 2.6
                        with frequency(f),energy(e), and wavelength
                        ephoton=hf=hc/lambda
                      Atom - nucleus orbited by electrons section 2.6
                      Homework #4, due Wednesday Oct 20

Monday, Oct 18        Thermal radiation                   section 2.4
                        Hotter -> Bluer
                        Hotter -> Brighter
                        Larger -> Brighter

                      Spectra:  The Key to the Universe   Chapter 2
                      Thermal radiation                   section 2.4
                      Emission & Absorption of Light:
                        Spectra                           section 2.6

Wednesday, Oct 20     Telescopes                          Chapter 3
                      Telescopes collect light            section 3.1
                      Detectors record light              section 3.3
                      Quiz 2: (Light)                     Chapters 2-3
                      Homework #4 Due NOW
                      Homework #5, due Wednesday Oct 27

Monday, Oct 25     Earth                                  Chapter 5, 6
                      Atmosphere:                         sections 5.3, 6.8
                        Composition,
                        Heating and Cooling,
                        Greenhouse effect
                        Formation, Escape of gases to space

Wednesday, Oct 27     Surface:                            section 5.7
                        plate tectonics
                        impact cratering
                        erosion
                      Interior:                           sections 5.5, 5.9, 6.7
                        core, mantle, crust, lithosphere 
                        differentiation
                      Homework #6, due Wednesday Nov 3

Monday, Nov 1      Other Planets                          Chapters 6, 7, 8
                      Terrestrial planets                 Chapter 6
                        (Mercury, Venus, Mars - like Earth)
                        High density - mostly rocks, iron
                        Small mass, 
                        Inner planets
                      Jovian Planets                      Chapter 7, 8
                        Low density - mostly H, He, ices
                        Large mass, 
                        Outer planets
                      Homework #5 Due NOW
                      Moon Project, due NOW

Wednesday, Nov. 3  Formation of the Solar System          Chapters 4, 11
                      Characteristic Properties           section 4.3
                        Terrestrial and Jovian Planets,
                        Disk Shaped orbits,            
                        Angular momentum distribution     MP 4.1
                        Common ages
                      Solar Nebula Theory                 sections 11.4, 4.3 4.4
                        1. Condensation
                        2. Accretion
                        3. Dispersal of Solar Nebula
                      Other Planetary Systems             interlude 4.2
                      Homework #6, due NOW

Monday,  Nov. 7     Quiz 3, Planets: (Warm-up for Exam 2) Chapters 4-8, 11
                    Review for Midterm #2

Wednesday,  Nov. 10 Midterm Exam #2                       Chapters 2-8, 11

1. Use Kepler's Third Law to determine the masses of astronomical objects.
2. Identify the concept of energy. Understand the concept of conservation of energy.
3. Describe the structure of an atom. Describe the relation between temperature and motion.
4. Describe the relationship between light type, wavelength, photon energy and source temperature.
   
5. Describe the process of absorption and emission of photons by atoms.
6. State the functions of a telescope and a detector.
7. Describe Earth's structure: its interior, surface and atmosphere. Describe how its internal structure is determined. Describe the development of the theory of plate tectonics. Describe the energy balance on Earth: heating and cooling, heat distribution from the tropics to the arctic. Describe Earth's evolution: differentiation of the interior, outgassing of the atmosphere, evolution of the surface.
8. Describe the Greenhouse Effect and global warming of the Earth.
9. Compare and contrast the structure and evolution of the terrestrial planets.
10. Describe, compare and contrast the structure and evolution of the Jovian planets.
11. Compare and contrast the Jovian and Terrestrial planets as groups.
12. Describe the nature and role of comets and asteroids.
13. Identify 3 characteristic properties of the solar system.
14. Describe the Solar Nebula Theory of planet formation. Evaluate how it for the solar system and "extrasolar" planetary systems.
15. Apply the paradigm of scientific model building to theories of planet structure and evolution.

Visions of the Universe