PHYS 131 (Online, Section 900)

Survey of the Universe

Fall 2019-2020

Instructor: Professor Gordon Richards Lecture: Online
Office: Disque 812 Phone: 215-895-2713
e-mail: gtr@physics.drexel.edu Office Hours: Tues 2-3pm, Thurs 2-3pm (or by appt.)
Text: The Astro Venture from Penn State http://www.physics.drexel.edu/~gtr/teaching/phys131/PHYS131online_Fall2019.html/

Course Description:
Physics course descriptions, credit hours, and enrollment restrictions can be found at this link. "Survey of the Universe" provides an overview of modern astronomy, including the scientific method; telescopes; stars and star clusters; stellar evolution; galaxies and the large-scale structure of the universe; and the Big Bang. It also includes visits to a local observatory.

This quarter the class will be divided into roughly equal-length periods for each of four major Units:

  1. Basic Astronomy and the Nighttime Sky: gravity; seasons; phases of the Moon & eclipses; the night sky & constellations; properties of light, spectroscopy; telescopes
  2. The Solar System: properties of the planets in our Solar System, including the Earth and its Moon, as well as moons of other planets; laws of planetary motion; formation of the solar system
  3. Stars: the Sun & properties of stars (how they work, mass, luminosity, temperature, color); stellar birth and death; white dwarfs, neutron stars, black holes
  4. Galaxies and Cosmology: structure and composition of the Milky Way Galaxy, including star clusters, nebulae, and stellar remnants; different types and sizes of galaxies; galaxy evolution; dark matter & dark energy; the Big Bang & history of the Universe

Course Purpose:
"Survey of the Universe" is just that--a broad-brush course covering topics from seasons and lunar phases to stars to galaxies to the history of the universe--essentially all of astronomy in 10 weeks! This is a three-credit elective course that is not required for any major or minor. While it is designed for students that might not take another science course at Drexel, it also is appropriate for STEM students. It is what many other universities would call "Astronomy 101" (except that students get the added bonus of having a physics course on their transcript!). Ultimately the purpose is to give students an understanding of how application of the Scientific Method has enabled humankind to learn about the universe from near to far.

This online course is designed to engage students in an investigation of astronomy in a more active way so that they will achieve a greater understanding and to convey the idea that astronomy has relevance to many people, through appreciation of beauty of astronomical objects.

Prerequisites:
There are no prerequisites for PHYS 131.

Expected Learning Outcomes:
This course will address the Drexel Learning Priorities: Communication, Critical Thinking, Information Literacy, Self-Directed Learning, and Technology Use. In addition to the detailed learning outcomes, upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

Course Materials:
Required Text: There is no required text -- all material is provided in the "video game" developed by our colleagues at the Pennsylvania State University. You will download a standalone game program for $80 (which is less than the cost of the traditional textbook and other online course materials). Please sign up using your Drexel e-mail (e.g., xyz123@drexel.edu).

Required Technologies: Students will need a computer that can run the video game, according to these system requirements.

Assignments and Assessments:

Requirement Summary:

  • Complete all the parts of the four video game "Units" by their due dates (see course schedule below). The Units are divided into 2-3 "Parts" each, and there will be intermediate deadlines for completing each Part.
  • Take three of the four mid-term Unit tests; taking all four is strongly recommended, and your best three scores will count towards the final grade.
  • Attend a local telescope open house event and write a half-page summary of your experience (submitted through Blackboard).
  • Engage in 3 of the 4 discussion questions posted in the course's Blackboard forum (one for each Unit).
  • Take the final exam (during exam week).

Lecture: No class meetings -- all material is delivered online. However, local online students may attend the lectures for Section 001 face-to-face class in Week 1 of the quarter if they think that will help them get started with the course.

Homework: The weekly "homework" is to complete the online assignments as indicated by the course schedule below.

Telescope Visit: Students are required to gain practical experience by observing through a telescope once during the quarter. For example at one of the open house nights offered in the Philadelphia (or locally for students outside of the region) as noted below.

Grade Scale: The guaranteed grading boundaries (i.e., you will receive at least this grade if you have this final average) are >93.0% A; >90.0% A-; >87.0% B+; >83.0% B; >80.0% B-; >77.0% C+; >70.0% C; >60.0% D.

Grade Rubric:

  • 2% of the course grade from the initial (first time) scores on the inline quizzes from Copper the robot for each unit = 8% total
  • and another 2% based on best scores of the Copper quizzes for each unit = 8% total
  • 18% for each of the three highest (of four) unit exams = 54% total for unit exams
  • 5% for attending (and writing a summary of) a telescope open house event
  • 5% for participating in three discussion forums
  • 20% for the cumulative final exam

Acadmic Policies:
Students are expected to be familiar with Drexel's policies on
Academic Integrity, Plagiarism, Dishonesty and Cheating: www.drexel.edu/provost/policies/academic_dishonesty.asp
Course Adding/Dropping: drexel.edu/provost/policies/course-add-drop/ and
Course Withdrawal: drexel.edu/provost/policies/course-withdrawal.

Students may not copy one another's work. This is considered cheating and will be dealt with in the following manner. The first infraction will result in a zero for all parties involved. The second infraction will result in an F for the course and a report to the office of academic affairs.

Student with disabilities requesting accommodations and services at Drexel University need to present a current accommodation verification letter (AVL) to faculty before accommodations can be made. AVL's are issued by the Office of Equity and Diversity (OED). For additional information, contact OED at drexel.edu/oed/disabilityResources/students/, 3225 Arch St., Suite 011, Philadelphia, PA 19104, 215.895.1401 (V), or 215.895.2299 (TTY).

For Health and Counseling needs, students can find further information at
drexel.edu/counselingandhealth/student-health-center/overview/
drexel.edu/counselingandhealth/counseling-center/overview/

Finally, changes to the parameters of the course may need to be made during the quarter. In the case of such events, students will be notified by the instructor through their official Drexel e-mail.

Tentative Course Schedule

Note that deadlines largely follow the lecture schedule of the face-to-face class. You may complete the assignments ahead of time, including taking the Unit Tests (deadline 11:59pm) a day earlier than listed.

Week (Ending) Assignment Link
1 (9/24) Introduction, Download/Test Video Game
1 (9/26) Complete Unit 1, Part 1
2 (10/1) Complete Unit 1, Part 2
2 (10/3) Complete Unit 1, Part 3
3 (10/8) Take Unit 1 Test Review Unit 1 Encyclopedia
3 (10/10) Complete Unit 2, Part 1
4 (10/15) Complete Unit 2, Part 2
4 (10/17) Complete Unit 2, Part 3
5 (10/22) Instructor away at conference
5 (10/24) Instructor away at conference
6 (10/29) Take Unit 2 Test Review Unit 2 Encyclopedia
6 (10/31) Complete Unit 3, Part 1
7 (11/5) Complete Unit 3, Part 2
7 (11/7) Complete Unit 3, Part 3
8 (11/12)
8 (11/14) Take Unit 3 Test Review Unit 3 Encyclopedia
9 (11/19)
9 (11/22) Complete Unit 4, Part 1
10 (11/26)
10 (11/28) Thanksgiving
11 (12/3) Complete Unit 4, Part 2
11 (12/5) Take Unit 4 Test Review Unit 4 Encyclopedia
Exam Week (12/9-13) Final Exam Deadline TBD

Last Modified: 13 September 2019