ASTR 201 -- The Sun and Its Planets

Time and Location: TR 10:00 -- 11:20, Olin 313

Instructor: Professor Chris Mihos
  • Office: Sears 557
  • Office Hours: TR 1:00 -- 2:30
  • E-mail: mihos@cwru.edu
  • Phone: 368-3729
 Teaching Assistant: Bonnie Stayer
  • Office: Sears 552
  • Office Hours: M 10:30-11:30, W 10:30-12:30
  • E-mail: bxs59@cwru.edu
Website: http://burro.astr.cwru.edu/Academics/Astr201/

Textbook: The Cosmic Perspective by Bennett etal Grading Policy:

Homework
 40%
 Every 1-2 weeks
Quizzes
 30%
 Every 2-3 weeks; lowest score doesn't count
Quiz Dates:
  • Sep 9
  • Oct 2
  • Oct 16
  • Nov 13
  • Dec 4
Final Exam
 30%
 Dec 16 (12:30-3:30pm)
Possible Essay Questions

No late homeworks will be accepted, and makeup quizzes will not be offered -- in the case of illness or other severe crisis, contact me immediately and we can work out other arrangements. Also, no extra credit assignments will be given.

The grading scheme is as follows:

A
 90-100
B
 80-89
C
 70-79
D
 55-69
F
 <55



Tentative Schedule:

Week
 Dates
 Topic
 Chapters
1
 Aug 26
 Our Place in the Universe
 1

Aug 28
 Solar System Tour
 1
2
 Sep 2
 Discovering the Universe
 2

Sep 4
 The Science of Astronomy
 3
3
 Sep 9
 Matter and Energy
 4

Sep 11
 Universal Motion
 5
4
 Sep 16
 Gravity 5

Sep 18
 Gravity Continued
 5
5
 Sep 23
 Planetarium Trip
Cleveland Museum of Natural History
(here is a map)

Sep 25
 Light
 6
6
 Sep 30
 Telescopes
 7

Oct 2
 The Formation of the Solar System
 8
7
 Oct 7
 The Formation of the Solar System (Cont)
 8

Oct 9
 Extrasolar Planets
Planetary Geology
 9
8
 Oct 14
 Planetary Geology (Cont)
 9

Oct 16
 The Terrestrial Planets I
 9
9
 Oct 23
 The Terrestrial Planets II
Planetary Atmospheres
 10
10
 Oct 28
 Planetary Atmospheres II
 10

Oct 30
 Jovian Worlds
 11
11
 Nov 4
 Jovian Worlds (cont)
 11

Nov 6
 No Class
12
 Nov 11
 The Galilean Satellites
Other Moons and Rings
 11

Nov 13
 Asteroids
 12
13
 Nov 18
 Comets
Pluto
 12

Nov 20
 No Class
14
 Nov 25
 Earth Impacts
 12
15
 Dec 2/4
 Summary and Review
 1-12

Homework Assignments:

HW
 due date
 Assignment
 Solutions
1
 Sep 4
  • Review Questions: 1.1, 1.2, 1.12, 1.13, 2.2, 2.5, 2.7, 2.8
  • Problems: 1.9, 1.14
  • Write a 1-2 page summary of the "Tour of the Solar System" (p10-23). Briefly describe the planets and other objects in the solar system.
 Solutions
2
 Sep 11
  • Review Questions: 2.10, 2.12, 3.11, 4.7, 4.8
  • Problems: 2.11, 3.11, 4.6
 Solutions
3
 Sep 18
  • Review Questions: 4.3, 4.10, 4.12, 5.14, 5.16, 5.19, 5.20
  • Problems: 4.7, 4.13, 5.8, 5.13
 Solutions
4
 Sep 30
  • Review Questions: 6.3, 6.9, 6.11, 6.13
  • Problems 5.15, 6.5, 6.6, 6.7
 Solutions1
Solutions2
Solutions3
5
 Oct 14
  • Review Questions: 7.15, 8.9, 8.11, 8.18, 8.20
  • Problems: 6.14, 8.13, 8.18
  • Web Project: 7.2 (should be about one page long)
 Solutions1
Solutions2
6
 Oct 30
  • Review Questions: 9.4, 9.7, 9.16, 9.20
  • Problems: 9.5, 9.6, 9.7, 9.8
 Solutions
7
 Nov 11
  • Review Questions: 10.5, 10.6, 11.2, 11.8
  • Problems: 10.9, 10.12, 10.13, 11.12
  • Write a few pages describing how the carbonate-silicate cycle  could help regulate the Earth's climate, and why it couldn't work on Venus and Mars.
 Solutions
8
 Nov 25
  • Review Questions: 11.14, 11.25, 12.12, 12.14, 12.16 (5 points each)
  • Problems: 12.9, 12.12 (5 points each)
  • Web Project: 11.1 ( Galileo website, Cassini website ) (10 points)
  • Write a few pages comparing the Jupiter system to a "miniature solar system". How is the Jupiter system like the solar system? How is it different? Be sure to talk about things like formation history, physical properties, energy sources, rings and moons, Jupiter itself, and any other things you think are important. (10 points)
 Solutions