WINTER 2001
This information effective for Winter 2001.
Check with instructor the first day of class for any changes.
WINTER 2001
This information effective for Winter 2001.
Check with instructor the first day of class for any changes.
Winter 2001
MWF 11:00AM-12:10PM,
Classroom Unit 1
Instructor: Burt Jones
Office: Room 473A, Kerr Hall, Ex. 92384
e-mail: jones@ucolick.org
Text: Kaufmann and Freedman, Universe, available at Bay Tree Book Store
This course will provide a broad introduction to the study of stars. This course is intended for non-science majors. The emphasis will be on the reasoning and evidence behind our current knowledge of and theories about the nature stars, how stars form, and how they end their life. We will begin with a brief description of the naked eye night sky. Next, we will review or learn some simple basic physics (gravity, light, and atoms) for understanding the physical nature of stars and learn about telescopes and instruments that go on them. The nearest star, and the only one on which we can see surface detail, is the Sun. We will spend some time studying the Sun and its Activity. This background will allow us to understand how the distances, sizes, masses, and composition of stars are determined and the main criteria by which we classify stars. We will then look at how stars are distributed in space, and the clues this distribution gives to the origin of our home galaxy. The last part of the course will deal with stellar evolution: how stars come into being, how they lead their lives, and how they die.
There will be three lectures per week, and one discussion section. There will be two mid-term exams, and a final. The exams will be essay questions and problems. There will also be a set of weekly homework problems. The final pass-fail grade will be determined on the basis of 40% final, 25% each midterm, and 10% homework.
I will keep two copies of my lecture notes on two hour reserve in the Science Library. In addition, copies of my lecture notes will be available from Slug Books.
I will try to organize a field trip to Lick Observatory sometime during the quarter. This will provide an opportunity to visit a working observatory and to observe celestial objects through a large telescope.
The following are the topics to be covered: