This course of study is an exploration of the Earth as our home and as a planetary member of the Solar System. It is the human intellect confronting the physical manifestations of the laws of Nature. We will proceed in a developmental / historical manner, exploring:

the motions of the celestial objects, the motions of objects on the Earth: their interconnectedness

the Copernican Revolution and Newton's Laws: the causes and nature of motion

the motions of the Earth's crust and the structures of landforms: seismic risk to populations

the Earth's interior and atmosphere: weather, climate, global meteorological patterns and cycles

the nature of waves: sound and light carrying information and energy

the characteristics of matter, radiation, energy: their forms and uses

the lives of the stars: energy source for Planet Earth and the creation of the elements.

In addition to this page of information, there is an astronomy information page http://astro4.ast.villanova.edu/ar/ar.htm you can monitor for general information and late-breaking news of things astronomical.

COURSE CONTENT:

• Introduction and Course overview

  The starting and ending points of the course: Notes

  
  
• The process of Scientific Discovery

  Observation and Experimentation

  the nature of science

  1.1, 1.2

  
  

• Kinematics of Motion

  Motion in the Heavens as observed from the Earth

  	early Greek observations: sky & earth	1.3, 1.4
  	Copernican revolution	1.5
  	Tycho & Kepler	1.6, 1.7
  	Galileo: on the WWW	pg. 42, 640, 651, 663

  Motion on the Earth: Notes

  	units of measurement: defined v. derived	2.2
  	motion: speed and acceleration	2.1, 2.4
  	Galileo & free-falling objects	2.5, 2.6

  
  

• Dynamics of Motion

  Newton's Laws of Motion: Notes

  	forces & motion	2.7
  	First Law: inertia	2.8
  	Second Law: force, mass, acceleration	2.9, 2.10
  	Third Law: mutual interaction	2.11

  Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation: Notes

  mass, distance, inverse-square

  2.12 - 2.14

  First Test------------------------------------------------

  Dynamics: Earth & Moon

  phases, eclipses, tides

  17.12, 17.13

  Motions: Time & Calendar from NIST

  	apparent v. mean solar time	notes
  	time zones & international date line Earthwatch; Screen shot	notes
  	calendar & seasons	notes
  	precession, leap days, leap seconds	notes

  
  
• Earth

  Wave phenomena; Notes

  	waves v. particles	notes
  	longitudinal v. transverse waves	7.1, 7.2
  	speed, wavelength, and frequency	7.3

  Dynamics of Motion

  	work	3.1
  	power	3.2
  	energy; Energy Table in Excel & Notes	3.3 - 3.6
  	momentum conservation in interactions; Notes & Ali Equation	3.8, 3.9

  Second Test------------------------------------------------

  Earth's Crust & Interior - Table of Contents

  	rocks and the Earth's surface:     sedimentary, metamorphic, igneous	14.1, 14.3 - 14.5, 14.17
  	layering near the Earth's surface, here,     or any image of the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon,     Monument Valley, or Painted Desert	notes
  	interior structure	15.7, 15.8
  	Alfred Wegener & Plate Map in PDF	16.2, 16.3
  	USGS - This Dynamic Earth	16.4 - 16.7
  	evolution of the Hawaiian Islands	16.7
  	crustal faulting & San Andreas Fault	15.6, 16.1
  	earthquakes & seismic waves: Seismic Monitor,     UPSeis, San Francisco 1906     "Earthquakes" on Power Point     Tsunami 26 December 2004:         Washington Post coverage (map & images)         Videos         USGS   PDF Poster Map	15.6, 15.7, 16.1
  	seismic waves: Simulator for Windows, Tutorial
  	geologic time     impacts & extinctions     asteroids, comets, & Shoemaker-Levy 9 v. Jupiter	16.12 - 16.18 17.3, 17.8

  Atomic Structure

  	forces in nature     "Forces" on Power Point
  	Planet Earth II --------------------------------
  	the atom     Brownian Motion	8.1, 8.2, 10.9
  	elements & compounds	10.1 - 10.3
  	elements: names, numbers, masses, isotopes	10.4 - 10.6
  	the Periodic Law     Periodic Table of the Elements     Table of Nuclides	10.9, 10.10
  	radioactivity     on Power Point	8.3 - 8.5
  	Age of the Earth - Geologic Time	16.10-16.18

  The Earth's Atmosphere

  	constituents	14.1
  	pressure & temperature v. height	5.5, 5.7, 14.1
  	winds & Coriolis effect     Global Wind Patterns	14.6
  	high/low pressure	14.7
  	weather patterns/forecasts     The Weather Channel     Hurricanes     Tornados	14.8 - 14.10
  	origin & evolution	14.11, 14.12
  	Test #1 --------------------------------

  Temperature & Heat

  	molecules & motion	notes
  	temperature and measurement	5.1
  	heat and flow     "Heat and Temperature" on PowerPoint	5.2
  	specific heat	notes
  	molecular motion	5.8, 5.9
  	evaporation and condensation	5.10 - 5.12

  
  
• Light and Matter

  The Nature of Light "Light" on PowerPoint

  	frequency & wavelength	notes
  	waves: reflection, refraction, interference, diffraction	7.10 - 7.12, 7.16, 7.17
  	light & particles	9.1 -9.7

  Light from Matter

  	solids, liquids, gases	notes
  	continuous thermal radiation	18.3
  	spectral lines	9.8 - 9.10

  Test #2 --------------------------------
  

  Space, Stars and Galaxies

  Characteristics of Stars

  	brightness: apparent v. absolute	18.8
  	distance	18.8
  	color <> temperature <> spectral class	18.3
  	radius	18.11
  	motions	18.10, 18.11
  	age (lifetime) see also below	18.7, 18.13
  	composition (from spectra)	18.2, 18.3
  	mass	18.11
  	Hertzsprung - Russell Relationship	18.12

  Stellar Power Sources

  	oxidation (no)	notes
  	contraction (no)	notes
  	fusion (yes)	8.6 - 8.9

  Stellar Evolution and End States

  	1 Solar Mass	18.13
  	10 Solar Masses	18.14
  	Pulsars & Black Holes	18.15, 18.16
  	Extrasolar Planets	19.11 - 19.13

  Einstein and Relativity

  	"Relativity" on PowerPoint	3.11 - 3.13
  	Cosmological Principles	19.1, 19.4, 19.6-19.9

One of the more important aspects of this course involves integrating concepts. In class, we explore seemingly separate and independent concepts to help you to see how they are indeed related in very fundamental ways. In order to carry this mechanism of discovery into your daily lives, you will be required to complete an independent project, and submit a project report sometime before the end of the Spring 2010 term in AST 1052. The project will be your investigation into some aspect related to Planet Earth and how it fits into the spirit of interdisciplinary approaches to learning.

In the Fall ...

.. a one-page project PROPOSAL is due on December 1, 2009. If it is acceptable, you will earn 50 points. You should discuss your proposed project with Dr. Maloney or Dr. Maurone prior to December 2.

In the Spring ...

.. a one to two page project REPORT is due on April 22, 2010. It must contain details of what you did, where you did it, and how the project relates to Planet Earth.

Possible topics for your project include:

• using the Internet to gather additional information relating to Planet Earth topics
• attending a nighttime observing session, at VU or some other observatory
• performing field work at a state or national park
• visiting a museum or planetarium
• performing a classical experiment from Planet Earth

Extensive class time is devoted to demonstrations and discussions. As such, your attendance is vital. Attendance is taken at the beginning of each class. If you arrive after attendance is recorded, it is recorded as an absence.

AST 1053 PLANET EARTH LABORATORIES - SPRING 2010

The lab practicum will be given during the last scheduled lab period. There will be a session in Mendel 241 (the simulations) and a session in Mendel 247 (the experimentations). You must complete both sessions. The practicum counts for two lab grades; 2/14, or about 15% of your overall grade.

You will be required to conduct simulations and observations similar to those you have been performing during the semester. Typical operations are,

• in the simulations -

  knowing definitions: e.g., celestial equator, ecliptic, zenith, celestial poles, conjuction, opposition

  turning on computer, logging into the network, and starting the software

  choosing between local and equatorial orientations

  finding and centering objects or positions, recording their positions (RA & DEC, and ALT & AZ)

  choosing whether or not to display the horizon and the daylight

  choosing whether or not to display the various guides (constellations, local, equatorial, and ecliptic)

  changing date, time, simulation time-step, field of view, and location on Earth

  navigating from place to place in the sky

  recording a particular event: e.g., sunrise, full Moon, eclipse...

  determining the period of revolution of, say, a moon around planet, or a planet around the Sun
  
  

• in the experimentations -

  turning on computer, logging into the network, and starting the software

  starting Datastudio

  opening a workbook

  recording data in a table

  dragging a data file to a graph

  removing connecting line on a graph

  renaming a graph or workbook

  fitting the points on a graph with the proper function

  printing out all or parts of the workbook

  using DataStudio calculator

As a community committed to the Augustinian ideals of truth, unity, and love, Villanova University prides itself on maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity and does not tolerate any form of academic dishonesty or misconduct. Violations of the University's Code of Academic Integrity (as found, for example, in Appendix I of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Enchiridion) will be treated as serious offenses. Violations of academic integrity include, but are not limited to, such activities as plagiarism, representing the work of another student as one's own, copying on tests, etc. The minimum penalty for such violations in this course will be an "F" for the assignment in question. The most serious offenses may lead to expulsion from the University, with a record of the reason for dismissal retained in the student's permanent file.

Each student in Planet Earth is expected to work independently, submitting his or her own work to be graded. Upon encountering a particularly difficult concept or assignment, students are encouraged to meet with the instructor for additional help.

It is the policy of Villanova to make reasonable academic accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. If you are a person with a disability please contact me after class or during office hours and make arrangements to register with the Learning Support Office by contacting 610-519-5636 or at nancy.mott@villanova.edu as soon as possible. Registration with the Learning Support Office is required in order to receive accommodations.