Astro 3
The Nature of the Universe
Fall 2022
Introduction
This course provides a broad introduction to astronomy and our
place in the universe. We will start by discussing the mind-bogglingly
vast range in physical scales spanned by astronomy,
and then learn how we can perform astronomical observations
in our everyday lives.
We will then follow the history of astronomy as a science,
reviewing the fundamental physical concepts of motion,
energy, gravity, and light on which it
is based, along with the tools used to make astronomical measurements.
After these preliminaries, we will delve into the nature of
planets, stars, galaxies, and the Universe as a whole. At the
end of this course, students should appreciate the beauty
and power of the scientific method as it applies to astronomy.
Course Information
Professor:
Alice Shapley
aes@astro.ucla.edu
Phone: 206-3768
Office: 3-931 PAB
Office Hours: Thursday 3:00-4:00 pm
TAs:
Anna Wolz
awolz@ucla.edu
Office: 1-116 Knudsen
Office Hours: Tuesday 1:00-2:00 pm
Lectures:
Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 11:00 am - 11:50 am, Kinsey Pavilion 1220B
Discussion Sections (all in Knudsen 1116):
2A Monday 2:00 pm - 3:50 pm; TA: Joseph Marcinik
2B Monday 6:00 pm - 7:50 pm; TA: Joseph Marcinik
2D Tuesday 11:00 am - 12:50 pm; TA: Anna Wolz
2E Wednesday 8:00 am - 9:50 am; TA: Anna Wolz
2F Wednesday 12:00 pm - 1:50 pm; TA: Anna Wolz
Textbook, etc.:
The Essential Cosmic Perspective (9th Edition, 2022) by Bennett, Donahue, Schneider, Voit (required). The textbook may be purchased new, used, or in digital form. See more information in the syllabus regarding the UCLA Inclusive Access program.
Astro 3 Lab Manual: Package of Lab exercises for discussion
sections (required).
A simple calculator is HIGHLY recommended, though not required.
Grading:
- Lab Assignments
20%: Weekly required assignments completed during 2-hour discussion section.
- Homework
10%: Weekly on-line quizzes based on lectures and reading (10 questions/week).
- First Midterm
20%: Multiple-choice in-class exam (October 17th).
- Second Midterm
20%: Multiple-choice in-class exam (November 9th).
- Final Exam
30%: Primarily multiple-choice exam (December 7th).
Lab assignments are required. You must attend lab starting week 2 of the quarter.
Labs for the course will be performed in the lab classroom (Knudsen 1116)
during the 2-hour discussion section, and are to be handed in
at the conclusion of the discussion section. Attendence is required
for labs. If you miss a lab for a valid reason, you should
try to attend another section that same week (not later in the
quarter). To attend another section, you must have written agreement from both
your TA and the alternate section's TA in advance.
If for whatever reason this is not possible then contact your TA within
7 days after the missed lab to discuss an alternate assignment
for make-up credit. ONLY ONE MAKE-UP WILL BE ALLOWED PER QUARTER.
Other missed labs will earn you a zero score. You must complete at least 5 labs or else
you will receive an "Incomplete" in Astro 3. DON'T LET
THIS HAPPEN. Exams may draw from topics covered during lab sessions.
Homework will be assigned roughly every week (starting week 1)
and will consist of on-line quizzes based on lectures and reading
(~10-15 questions per week), in addition to the reading assignments
from the textbook. Quizzes will be due at 10 pm on each Monday, unless
otherwise announced. No late homework will be accepted. At
least 5 homework assignments must be turned in to pass the course.
Exams will consist of two midterms in class, each worth 20%, and a
final exam worth 30%. The first midterm will take place on Monday, October
17th, and the second one on Wednesday, November 9th. The final
exam will be on Wednesday, December 7th, from 3:00 - 6:00 pm.
The exams will be (almost) exclusively based on
multiple choice questions.
Extra Credit opportunities will be announced during the quarter.
Learning Outcomes:
Based on lectures, hands-on laboratory exercises, and weekly homework quizzes, students will engage in the scientific process of inquiry, analysis, problem-solving, and quantitative reasoning. They will also acquire an informed appreciation of scientists, scientific research, and technology, make evidence-based decisions, discuss the interactions between humans and their physical world, and explain the origin and physical processes governing the Earth and the surrounding universe.
GE Credit Acknowledgement:
Upon successful completion of this course, students will satisfy the General Education requirement in the area of Foundations of Scientific Inquiry: Physical Sciences, including a laboratory/demo component. The laboratory component is fulfilled through 8 2-hour in-class laboratory assignments.
Prerequisites:
We will review all the basic physical concepts required for understanding
the material in the course. However, we expect a knowledge of
entry-level UC mathematics (algebra, geometry, and basic trigonometry).
COVID Policies and Resources:
Ensuring a safer campus depends on each of us following the latest UCLA health and safety guidelines. While campus policies must be modified to address changing local, state, and national orders and guidance, the current campus protocols are available at https://covid-19.ucla.edu/covid-protocols-at-a-glance/
Course Website: