NSCI 111-L Intro to Astronomy LAB
Dr.
Johnny B. Holmes Summer Session I (June) 2008
CATALOG DESCRIPTION: NSCI 111-L INTRODUCTION TO ASTRONOMY LAB
Laboratory to accompany NSCI 111.
Corequisite: enrollment in NSCI 111.
TEXT: Manual of lab experiments available (for free) via on line word documents for
each experiment .
INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Johnny B. Holmes, Professor of Physics
Office: Buckman 207, phone: 321-3448; Home: 383-9045
e-mail:
jholmes@cbu.edu
PREREQUISITES BY TOPIC: Basic algebra.
GOALS:
1. To provide a hands-on experience with
some of the properties of motion and light used in astronomy.
2. To acquaint the student with lab
techniques.
3. To show the limitations of experimental
verification of scientific theories.
EXPERIMENTS:
1. Using Your Star Chart
2. Reflection and Refraction of Light
3. The Telescope
4. * The Spectrograph: Colors of Light and
Emission of Light by Atoms
5. * Circular Motion and Planetary Orbits -
a laboratory analogy
6. Retrograde Motion and Planetary Orbits -
computer simulations
7. Parallax and Distance Measurement
8. * Determining Distance from Light
Measurements
9. Investigating Radioactivity
10. Electromagnetism
Opportunities for night viewing
sessions with an eight inch telescope will be available. These will be
scheduled as interest and weather permit.
GRADING: Each of the 9 lab sessions will be worth up to 20
points based on your participation and an oral report at the end of the session
(180 points). Each of the three experiments marked with an * requires a written
report worth up to 100 points (300 points). This makes for a total of 480
points. Attendance at night viewing sessions is optional and up to 10 bonus
points will be awarded for the first one attended. (No points will be awarded
for any subsequent session attended.)
A:
Be present for all 9 lab sessions and accumulate at least 459 points.
B:
Be present for at least 8 lab sessions and accumulate at least 420 points.
C:
Be present for at least 7 lab sessions and accumulate at least 380 points.
D:
Be present for at least 6 lab sessions and accumulate at least 360 points.
F:
Anything less than the minimum requirements for a D.
Written reports are due at the
beginning of lab the Tuesday after the lab is completed. (This gives you one
week-end to write the report). There will be a penalty of 5 points per class
day for each day a written report is late. Any late reports will not be
accepted after Thursday, July 3. For more information on the written reports
see the guide at the bottom of the page.
ABSENCES:
If you know you will miss a lab, you may
make arrangements with the instructor before the lab to make the lab up at a
later time. If you miss a lab without notice and wish to make up the lab, you
may do so by Thursday, July 3, but there will be a 10 point penalty.
SCHEDULE FOR LABS:
|
1 |
T |
June 3 |
|
|
|
2 |
R |
June 5 |
|
|
|
3 |
T |
June 10 |
|
|
|
4 |
R |
June 12 |
* |
|
|
5 |
T |
June 17 |
|
|
|
6 |
R |
June 19 |
* |
Circular Motion and Planetary Orbits & Retrograde Motion and Planetary Orbits |
|
7 |
T |
June 24 |
|
|
|
8 |
R |
June 26 |
* |
|
|
9 |
T |
July 1 |
|
|
|
10 |
R |
July 3 |
|
None |
WRITTEN LAB REPORT GUIDE:
