Physics 110, Spring 2021

Course Information:

Prof. Matthew Buckley (office: Serin W329, mbuckley@physics.rutgers.edu)

Lectures: Tuesday/Friday 12:10-1:30, Scott-135 (College Ave)

Office Hours: TBA. 

Course Description

This course describes the properties of gravity, light, stars and galaxies, and the past, present and future of the Universe. There are no college-level prerequisites, but typical high school algebra and science preparation are assumed. The companion course, PHY109, covers the historical foundations of astronomy, the tools and techniques used by modern astronomers, the planets, moons, and minor bodies of our solar system, and the processes by which they formed. The two courses are independent; if you wish to take both, they can be taken in either order or concurrently.

Note that this course is intended for non-science majors. Students with two semesters each of physics and calculus should consider taking PHY341 and/or PHY342, instead. Those courses cover much of the same material as PHY110 and PHY109, but at a more advanced level.

Public observing nights at the Schommer Observatory (on the roof of Serin) take place on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Thursdays of each month, weather and COVID-19 permitting.

Textbook

The textbook for this course is the free online textbook Astronomy, available at https://openstax.org/details/books/astronomy?Instructor%20resources

Grading

Your final grade will be calculated from the homework (30%), midterm exam (20%), final exam (25%), and class participation including poll quizzes (25%). A final grade of 90% or higher will guarantee you an A for the class.

I is impossible to get a good final grade without attending lectures and taking the in-class quizzes.

• Homework will be assigned for each lecture, in the form of reading ahead of the lecture and answering several homework questions online via Canvas Assignments.  

• In class participation quizzes will be conducted through iClicker once we are in-person. For on-line lectures we will use zoom polls.

• It is important to do your (own!) homework because you cannot cram Astronomy & Cosmology right before an exam. Academic Integrity requires you do your own homework.

• We will also have in-class conceptual quizzes throughout the lecture, so attendance at lectures is required. I will drop the equivalent of five lectures' points in determining your in-class quiz grade. Any absences beyond three must be excused, via a dean's note.

• There will be a midterm exam (March 11) during the regular class period. The final exam covers the second half of the course and is scheduled by the University (exact time and place to be announced). 

  There will be make-up exams for those who have an excused absence for either the midterm exam or the final exam. Only those people who are unable to attend the regular exams because of a class conflict, a medical/family emergency (which must be documented with a dean's note), or other serious and unforeseen event (which must be documented with a dean's note) will be allowed to take the make-up exam. The only exception is if — in my estimation — COVID-19 rates are so high that public health demands I allow for unexcused absences. I will clearly announce this during the exam weeks. To take the make-up exam, you must have a valid conflict and get permission from me.

  All exams will be multiple choice, computer graded, and closed book. Calculators are not required, though I will provide one if you need it.

  Important: During the midterm and final exams, you will be asked to present the appropriate identification: i.e., a valid Rutgers student ID card. Students lacking the appropriate identification may not be allowed to take the exam!

Student Accommodations

If you require special accommodation in the course, please speak with me as early in the semester as possible. Visit this link for information on Rutgers policies.

COVID-19 Accommodations

I know we are all extremely tired of this pandemic. I know how difficult it is for you as students. I expect we will be able to return to in-person instruction early in February. Once we do, all of us must do what we can to help restrict the spread of COVID-19. I know how hard it is after two years to still be asked to do this, but the healthy of people around us demands it.

My goal in this course is two-fold: I want you to learn astronomy, and I want you to remain safe and healthy. I will do what I can to ensure you are not penalized in this class for circumstances outside your control, or for making good decisions for your health and all our health. I am allowing 5 unexcused, no-questions-asked absences from the in-class quizzes. After 5, I reserve the option to ask for documentation if necessary.

I do not want people to feel they have to make the decision between this course and making unsafe decisions. If you are concerned, or dealing with circumstances caused by the pandemic that are affecting your ability to do your best in this class, please email me. The sooner you let me know, the more options we have to find the best available solution.

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to maintain the highest level of academic integrity. You must follow the university policy on academic integrity. 

Use of external sources to obtain solutions to homework assignments or exams is cheating and is a violation of the University Academic Integrity policy. Cheating in the course may result in penalties ranging from a zero on an assignment to an F for the course to expulsion from the University. Posting of homework assignments, exams, recorded lectures, or other lecture materials to external sites without the permission of the instructor is a violation of copyright and constitutes a facilitation of dishonesty, which may result in the same penalties as explicit cheating. 

Not only does the use of such sites violate the University's policy on Academic Integrity, using such sites interferes with your achievement of the learning you are paying tuition for. Assignments, quizzes, and exams are given not simply to assign grades, but to promote the active learning that occurs through completing assignments on your own. Getting the right answer is much less important than learning how to get the right answer. This learning is critical to your success in subsequent courses and your careers.

Almost all original work is the intellectual property of its authors. These works include syllabi, lecture slides, recorded lectures, homework problems, exams, and other materials, in either printed or electronic form. The authors hold copyrights in these works, which are protected by U.S. statutes. Copying this work or posting it online without the permission of the author violates the author's rights. More importantly, these works are the product of the author's efforts; respect for these efforts and for the author's intellectual property rights is an important value that members of the university community take seriously.

How to Succeed in this Course

• Read the appropriate text sections before each class so that you get the maximum benefit from the lectures. Focus on concepts rather than memorization.

• After reading the material, try several of the mathematical questions at the end of each chapter and check your answers against the solutions in the back of the book.

• Do all of the assigned homework problems and make sure you understand the answers.

• Attend all lectures with your iClicker. Come prepared with questions on the material.

• If you have any questions/concerns about the material, please talk to me during office hours or immediately after the lectures.

• Most importantly, have fun! Astronomy is a beautiful subject and the Universe we live in is amazing! Don't forget that you picked this course because you thought it would be interesting - make the most of your time!

Course Schedule